Real Estate Taxes

Real estate taxes are assessed as of January 1st of each year.
Real estate is billed annually with a due date of November 1st. A 10% penalty for late payment is added after the due date. Interest is 10% annually and begins accruing the first day of the month following the due date. Failure to receive a tax bill does not relieve you of the penalty and interest charge applied to all past due bills.
Taxpayers may pay real estate tax bills "in advance" at the Citizen Self Service website.
If you have a question regarding the amount of the assessment, please contact the Commissioner of the Revenue. Please notify the Commissioner of the Revenue if there is a change of ownership or billing address.

Notice to New Home Buyers

You can possibly save costly penalties if, prior to the purchase of property and close of escrow, you make sure there are no prior delinquent taxes owing, and pre-arrange who pays the current year due and owing.
Please keep in mind that as a new property owner, Virginia law requires that you be responsible for the timely payment of taxes on your property. Do not wait to be notified or expect receipt of a tax bill. None may be forthcoming. Make it a matter of your personal attention and responsibility to find out what taxes are due and owing by you, as required by law.
In a normal escrow, current year taxes are usually pro-rated at the time of closing or escrow between the interested parties, based on the number of calendar days each party held ownership during the tax year. Pro-ration is a matter strictly between the parties involved. The Treasurer cannot adjust the taxes. The amount that is shown on the tax bill is the amount due by the party determined at the close of escrow. Check your title papers to see if you were credited or debited an amount for the time during the year you owned the property.

Botetourt County provides a real estate tax relief program for the elderly and the disabled based on income and net worth. Applications must be filed with the Commissioner of the Revenue annually by May 1st of the tax year.
To apply for Elderly and Disabled Tax Relief, please contact the Commissioner of the Revenue's Office at 540-928-2050.

Make sure that you receive bills for all property that you own. Check off the bills as you receive them and contact the Treasurer's office at 540-928-2030, option 2. if you are missing any bills. Under Virginia law, it is the responsibility of the taxpayer to obtain all tax bill(s) and to make timely payments.
Keep the Commissioner of the Revenue informed of any change in address so that future bills will be mailed to the correct address. You may email the Commissioner of the Revenue or call at 540-928-2050.
Mail your property tax payments early to make sure that the envelope is postmarked on or before the due date. According to Virginia law, the Treasurer must review the postmark date to determine if payment was mailed before the deadline.