What is the property tax rate in Arlington County?

The combined effective property tax rate in Arlington County, Virginia is approximately 1.01%.

Arlington County Property Tax Calculator (2026) — Virginia Property Tax Almanac

Property Tax in Arlington County, 2026

A calculator and field guide for Arlington-area homeowners — and for anyone considering a move to Arlington County — including Virginia's 100% assessment ratio, the locality-set Real Estate Tax Relief for Elderly and Disabled (income-based), and the constitutional 100% Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption (passed by voters in 2010, effective Jan 2011).

Arlington County operates under Virginia's distinctive property tax structure. Virginia uses 100% assessment ratio (assessed at full fair market value) and each locality (county OR independent city) sets its own real estate tax rate. Virginia is unique among US states in having 38 independent cities that operate as both city and county for governance and tax purposes.

How the bill is built

Virginia's property tax calculation is straightforward. Step 1: Assessed Value. Arlington County Department of Real Estate Assessments reassesses your property at fair market value (some localities reassess annually, others biennially or longer). Step 2: Apply rate. Tax = AV × locality rate per $100. Arlington's combined rate is approximately $1.013 per $100 of AV. Total bill = (AV × rate) / 100. Step 3: Apply exemptions. Disabled veterans receive the full constitutional exemption (since 2011). Seniors and disabled residents may qualify for locality-set Real Estate Tax Relief programs.

Virginia's 100% Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption is one of the most-comprehensive in the United States. Approved by Virginia voters in 2010 (Constitution of Virginia, Article X, Section 6-A) and effective January 2011, the exemption provides FULL exemption from real estate tax on the dwelling and surrounding land (typically up to 1 acre) for veterans rated 100% service-connected disabled by the VA. Surviving spouses (unmarried) of 100% disabled veterans retain the exemption. Surviving spouses of US service members killed in action ALSO receive the full exemption regardless of veteran's disability status. No income limit applies.

Real Estate Tax Relief for Elderly and Disabled is locality-set. Each Virginia locality (county or independent city) sets its own income-based real estate tax relief program for residents 65+ and permanently disabled. Income limits and reduction percentages vary widely — Fairfax County provides up to 100% exemption with income under ~$72K; Henrico County provides up to 100% with income under ~$77K; Norfolk provides 25-100% sliding scale. Apply with your locality's Commissioner of the Revenue or Real Estate Assessor.

Independent cities operate as both city and county. Virginia's 38 independent cities (including Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Richmond) handle their own assessment, tax collection, and local government services — they are not part of any county. This is unique to Virginia in the United States. The independent city structure means residents pay one combined real estate tax to the city (covering both city AND former-county-equivalent services).

2026 Arlington County rate breakdown (dollars per $100 of AV (100% assessment ratio), Arlington district)

Taxing entity	Rate
Arlington County General + Schools (~$1.013 / $100 AV)	1.0130
Combined total	1.0130

As of April 26, 2026 · From Arlington County Department of Real Estate Assessments.

Note: Arlington County is **the smallest self-governing county in the United States** by area (just 26 square miles) but among the wealthiest by median household income (~$132K). Arlington is unique among Virginia counties for being entirely urban — there are no incorporated cities or towns within Arlington County. Anchored by the Pentagon (the world's largest office building by floor area), Arlington National Cemetery (the most-visited US national cemetery), and the rapidly-developing "Amazon HQ2" (now called National Landing) in Crystal City and Pentagon City.

Note: Arlington County effective property tax rates run approximately 1.013% — high by US standards but moderate within the DC metro. The Real Estate Tax Rate is ~$1.013 per $100 of AV (Virginia 100% assessment ratio applies). High home values (median ~$763K, with $1.5M+ common in Lyon Park, Aurora Highlands, and Country Club Hills) produce annual bills of $7,500-$15,000 typical. Like all Virginia localities, 100% disabled veterans receive full real estate tax exemption (state constitutional, since 2011).

Note: For relocation buyers: Arlington is the canonical "urban Virginia" choice — Metro accessibility (Orange, Blue, Yellow, Silver lines), walkable Rosslyn-Ballston corridor, top-rated public schools (Arlington Public Schools consistently top 5 in Virginia), and the shortest possible DC commute. The trade-off is high home values, very limited new construction (Arlington is essentially built-out), and high effective property tax rates. The Amazon HQ2 development (~25,000 jobs by 2030) has further pressured housing prices.

Tax relief and exemptions for 2026

Virginia's homeowner tax relief is unusual: there is no statewide homestead exemption (unlike most US states). Instead, each locality (county or independent city) sets its own income-based Real Estate Tax Relief for Elderly and Disabled program. The constitutional 100% Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption (since 2011) is statewide.

Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption (constitutional)

Approved by Virginia voters in November 2010 (Constitution of Virginia, Article X, Section 6-A) and effective January 1, 2011, this is among the most-comprehensive disabled-veteran property tax exemptions in the United States. Veterans rated 100% service-connected disabled by the VA — including 100% individual unemployability ratings — receive full exemption from real estate tax on their primary residence (dwelling and surrounding land, typically up to 1 acre; localities can set higher limits). No income limit applies. Surviving spouses (unmarried) of 100% disabled veterans retain the exemption. Surviving spouses of US service members killed in action ALSO receive the full exemption, regardless of veteran's disability rating.

Apply with your locality's Commissioner of the Revenue or Real Estate Assessor with VA documentation of disability rating. Application is typically a one-time process; the exemption renews automatically unless circumstances change.

Real Estate Tax Relief for Elderly and Disabled (locality-set)

Each Virginia locality sets its own income-based program for residents 65+ or permanently disabled. Income limits and reduction percentages vary widely:

Fairfax County: up to 100% exemption (income under ~$72K), sliding scale up to ~$100K
Arlington County: up to 100% (income under ~$99K)
Henrico County: up to 100% (income under ~$77K)
Norfolk: 25-100% sliding scale (income under ~$67K)
Virginia Beach: up to 100% (income under ~$80K)

Apply annually with your locality's Commissioner of the Revenue or Assessor. Most localities require proof of age, income, and asset documentation.

Independent City structure

Virginia is unique among US states in having 38 independent cities that operate as both city and county for governance, assessment, and tax collection purposes. Independent cities (including Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Richmond among the largest) handle their own assessment and collect a single combined real estate tax — there is no separate "county" portion. This contrasts with most states where city residents pay both city and county property taxes. The independent city designation dates to 1871 and reflects Virginia's Reconstruction-era urban governance reforms.

Appealing your assessment

Virginia's appeal process runs through the local Board of Equalization (BOE) — each locality has its own. Homeowners file an Application for Review with the Arlington County Department of Real Estate Assessments typically within 30-90 days of receiving the annual reassessment notice (deadlines vary by locality). The BOE holds hearings during the assessment cycle — homeowners can present comparable sales, recent appraisals, or independent appraiser testimony. BOE decisions can be appealed to the local Circuit Court within 1 year. Some localities (including Fairfax) reassess annually; others reassess every 2-6 years.

Cities and towns in Arlington County

Arlington County contains 6 incorporated municipalities, ranging from Arlington to the smallest village. Search volume for property tax is often city-specific, so here is the complete list — with population from the 2020 US Census, rounded to the nearest 100.

Data: US Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census. Populations rounded. Cities marked as "split" straddle a county border — the portion inside Arlington County is subject to Arlington County's tax rolls, while the portion outside is subject to the adjacent county's.

City or town	Type	Population (2020)
Arlington County seat	unincorporated	235,000
Ballston	unincorporated	26,000
Rosslyn	unincorporated	16,660
Pentagon City	unincorporated	13,000
Clarendon	unincorporated	12,000
Crystal City	unincorporated	8,000

About city-level property tax rates: The rate breakdown and calculator on this page reflect the Arlington tax district. Other cities in Arlington County may pay into different school districts, city rates, and special districts — so their combined rates can differ, sometimes substantially. Always verify the specific rates for your address with the Arlington County Department of Real Estate Assessments before relying on any estimate.

Frequently asked questions

When are Virginia property taxes due?

Virginia real estate taxes are typically billed semi-annually. Arlington County: due June 5 and December 5 typically — check your locality's specific schedule. Late payments incur a 10% penalty plus interest at 10% annual rate. Most localities offer escrow-via-mortgage payment processing automatically.

How do Virginia's independent cities differ from counties?

Virginia is unique among US states in having 38 independent cities that are not part of any county — these cities operate as both city AND county for tax, governance, and assessment purposes. Residents of independent cities pay one combined real estate tax to the city (not separate city + county taxes). The independent city designation dates to 1871 (Constitutional Convention) and reflects Virginia's Reconstruction-era urban governance reforms. The five largest Virginia independent cities are Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Richmond, and Newport News.

How do I apply for the Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption?

Virginia's 100% Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption (state constitutional, since January 2011) provides full exemption from real estate tax on the primary residence. Apply with your locality's Commissioner of the Revenue or Real Estate Assessor with VA documentation showing 100% service-connected disability rating (including 100% individual unemployability ratings). No income limit applies. Surviving spouses (unmarried) of 100% disabled veterans retain the exemption. Surviving spouses of US service members killed in action ALSO receive the full exemption, regardless of veteran's disability status. Application is typically a one-time process; the exemption renews automatically.

How do I appeal my Virginia assessment?

File an Application for Review with the Arlington County Department of Real Estate Assessments typically within 30-90 days of receiving the annual reassessment notice (deadlines vary by locality). Most localities have a Board of Equalization (BOE) that holds hearings during the assessment cycle — homeowners can present comparable sales, recent appraisals, or independent appraiser testimony. BOE decisions can be appealed to the local Circuit Court within 1 year. Some localities (including Fairfax) reassess annually; others reassess every 2-6 years.

About Arlington County

Beyond the property tax — a few things you might not know about the place.

Weird fact

Arlington National Cemetery (in Arlington County) was originally **Robert E. Lee's family home** — Arlington House, built by George Washington's adopted grandson George Washington Parke Custis between 1802 and 1818, was inherited by Lee's wife Mary Custis Lee. When Lee resigned his US Army commission and joined the Confederacy in 1861, the federal government seized the property; in 1864, Quartermaster General Montgomery Meigs ordered Union dead to be buried in Mary Lee's rose garden specifically to make the property uninhabitable as a residence. Arlington National Cemetery now contains 400,000+ graves.

Hometown hero

Robert E. Lee

Lee (1807-1870) lived at Arlington House for thirty years before the Civil War, marrying Mary Anna Custis there in 1831 and raising seven children at the estate. Lee resigned his US Army commission at Arlington House on April 20, 1861, two days after Virginia voted to secede. Arlington House (the Robert E. Lee Memorial) sits at the highest point in Arlington National Cemetery, intentionally positioned by Quartermaster Meigs in 1864 so the cemetery's grounds would forever surround the Lee family home. The home is now a National Park Service unit administered as both a Lee memorial and a critique of slavery.

Biggest annual event

Marine Corps Marathon + Arlington National Cemetery commemorations

The Marine Corps Marathon (annual, late October, "The People's Marathon") is one of the largest marathons in the world by registration, drawing 30,000 participants annually. The course winds through Arlington and DC past the Pentagon, the Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima), and the Lincoln Memorial. Arlington National Cemetery hosts national-level Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Wreaths Across America events drawing 50,000+ attendees each — the most-attended US national cemetery commemorations.

Property Tax in Arlington County, 2026