Alexandria Mails 2023 Personal Property Tax Bills

For Immediate Release:  September 1, 2023

The City of Alexandria has mailed 2023 personal property tax bills to all registered vehicle owners, with payment due on or before Thursday, October 5.  The 2023 personal property tax rate remains the same as last year at $5.33 per $100 of assessed valuation. 

Economic factors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased car values on a national basis for Tax Year 2022.  While vehicle appreciation resulting from these economic forces has dropped considerably over the past year, values on average had not completely returned to normal as of January 1, 2023.  Rather than tax the full market value as allowed by law, the Alexandria City Council adopted an Assessment Ratio of 90% for Tax Year 2023.  Before calculating the tax due, the City applied a discount of 10% to the market value (published in the January edition of the recognized pricing guide of the National Automobile Dealers’ Association, or NADA).  Vehicle owners could still see an increase on their specific vehicle compared with last year, as the change in market value varies widely by vehicle model and year.  Both the original and reduced assessments are shown on this year’s tax bills.

City Council also prioritized the amount of State Car Tax Relief applied to vehicles with lower assessments.  Beginning in 2022, any qualifying personal use vehicle assessed at $5,000 and below receives 100% tax relief.  Raising the ceiling from $1,000 to $5,000 reduced the tax due to zero on more than 30,000 vehicles at the time of billing.  The City is mailing $0.00 due tax bills this year, where applicable, so vehicle owners are aware of the relief they’re receiving. The $0.00 due tax bills are for information only and should not be returned in the payment envelopes. 

For comprehensive information regarding vehicle personal property taxes, please visit alexandriava.gov/CarTax.  

Late payment penalty and interest will be assessed on all personal property taxes that are not paid or postmarked by the due date.  The late payment penalty is ten percent of the tax billed to the taxpayer, or $10, whichever is greater.  No penalty may exceed the amount of tax billed.  Interest on taxes and late payment penalties accrues at an annual rate of 10 percent for the first year and five percent for each year thereafter, beginning October 6, 2023, and continues until the entire outstanding balance is paid.

The Code of Virginia doesn’t allow for waiver of tax, penalty, or interest due to inability to pay or failure to receive a tax bill.  Vehicle owners who don’t receive a personal property tax bill in the mail should contact the City’s Treasury Division at payments@alexandriava.gov, or call 703.746.4800, Option 2, to request a bill before October 5. 

The Finance Department is open to assist taxpayers during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  However, vehicle owners are encouraged to use one of the City’s convenient and contact-free payment options, which are available 24 hours per day.

• Online: Payments can be made online by credit card (fee applies) or eCheck (no fee) at alexandriava.gov/Payments.
• By Mail: Checks or money orders can be mailed to: City of Alexandria, P.O. Box 34710, Alexandria, VA 22334-0710.
• 24-Hour Royal Street Drop Box: Checks or money orders may be placed in the drop box on the Royal Street side of City Hall 24 hours per day.  Payments must be in the drop box by midnight on October 5, 2023, to be considered on time.
• In Person: Treasury Division, City Hall, Room 1510, or at the new West End Finance Office, 4850 Mark Center Drive, Second Floor, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For information on vehicle personal property tax registration, late filing penalties, address changes, assessments, the Personal Property Tax Relief Act (State Car Tax Relief) or appeals, please contact vehicletax@alexandriava.gov.  For information on payments or late payment penalties and interest, please contact payments@alexandriava.gov.  For information on delinquent taxes or delinquent collection actions, please contact collections@alexandriava.gov.  Please note that prior year delinquencies may have been placed with the City’s private collection agency, Nationwide Credit Company (NCC).  NCC can be reached at 703.840.7524.

Taxpayers can also contact the Department of Finance concerning taxes by phone at 703.746.4800.

Si necesita ayuda en Español, por favor llame al 311 o 703.746.4311 (Alex311).