Real Estate Tax

The City of Alexandria levies a tax each calendar year on all real estate located in the City that is subject to taxation. Residential and commercial property is assessed at 100% of the estimated fair market value as of January 1 of each year.

Real Estate Assessment
Computation and Collection of Tax
Payment Methods
Disabled Veterans' Exemption
Contact Information
Additional Resources
- Real Estate Tax History and Payments
- Department of Real Estate Assessments
- "Making Sense of Your Real Estate Assessment" Podcast
  - Available under FYI Alexandria on the Air and Housing & Real Estate
- Real Estate Tax Relief and Deferral Programs

Real Estate Assessment

Assessment notices are mailed to property owners in February. Owners who wish to contest their property assessment may lodge an appeal. For information on real estate assessment procedures, Board of Equalization and Assessment Review and the appeals process, please visit the Department of Real Estate Assessments.

You may view ownership, sales, tax history, and assessment information for a property or make real estate tax payments here. Assessed values and other real estate assessment data are extracted from the official assessment records for all properties in the City of Alexandria.

Computation and Collection of Tax

Real estate taxes are calculated by multiplying the property's assessed value by the real estate tax rate. On May 2, 2011, the City Council set the real estate tax rate at $0.998 per $100 for the tax year beginning January 1, 2011. For example, in tax year 2011, the real estate tax on a residence assessed at $200,000 is $1,996 ($200,000 x 2011 tax rate of $0.998 per $100).

Real estate taxes are billed and payable in two installments. The first tax bill is mailed in May and is due by June 15. The second tax bill is mailed in October and is due by November 15. (Sample Real Estate Tax Bill)

If taxes are included in your mortgage payments, the City will bill your bank or mortgage company for taxes due. If your taxes are not paid through your bank or mortgage company and you do not receive a tax bill, please contact the Treasury Division. You are still responsible for paying the tax before the due date. Failure to receive a bill does not relieve a tax payer from payment of the tax, penalty and interest.

Payment Methods

Real estate tax payments, if not made by the taxpayer’s bank or mortgage company, can be mailed to:

Treasurer's Office
P.O. Box 34750
Alexandria, VA 22334-0750

For other payment methods, see: “Six Easy Ways to Pay”

Automatic Bank Debit Program

Through the Automatic Bank Debit Program, taxpayers may register to make real estate tax payments monthly or have the lump sum of the tax amount due automatically debited on each of the two tax due dates. This program has proven to be popular with those who prefer making monthly payments and with those who may travel a great deal and may either forget the bill or be out of town when the tax payment falls due. (Example: preauthorized monthly payment schedule).

Disabled Veterans' Exemption

The City offers a full real estate tax exemption to any veteran who has been rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or its successor agency pursuant to federal law to have a 100 percent service-connected, permanent and total disability, and who occupies the real property as his/her primary place of residence. The surviving spouse of a veteran eligible for the exemption may also qualify.