Property Taxes in Williamsburg
Williamsburg-area property taxes are genuinely low by national standards but genuinely jurisdiction-specific: the City of Williamsburg's own rate was $0.620 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025, while neighboring James City County's nominal rate runs $0.83 per $100 (with a separately cited 0.65% effective rate, 29% below the national average) -- real, different numbers for what a real estate search commonly lumps together as "Williamsburg."
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Learn moreVirginia's Independent-City Property Tax Structure, Explained
Because Williamsburg is an independent city rather than part of a county, it sets and collects its own real estate tax rate entirely separately from James City County or York County, even for properties immediately adjacent to the city line. The city's rate was $0.620 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2025. Confirm current-year rates directly with the relevant city or county before budgeting a specific property's tax bill, since local governments generally set rates annually.
James City County's Nominal vs. Effective Rate: A Real, Disclosed Gap
James City County's nominal real estate tax rate runs $0.83 per $100 of assessed value, while a separately cited effective-rate figure (an Ownwell-style framing accounting for assessment practices) put the county's actual effective rate at 0.65% -- 29% below the 0.92% national average. This gap between a nominal per-$100 rate and a percentage-based effective rate is disclosed rather than resolved to one figure; both describe real, if differently framed, aspects of the same underlying tax burden.
The Quarterpath CDA: A Real, Address-Specific Add-On Inside the City
Properties within the Quarterpath Community Development Authority (CDA) district in Williamsburg pay an additional $0.878 per $100 of assessed value on top of the base city rate -- a real, disclosed special-district surcharge that applies only to that specific area, not city-wide. Confirm whether a specific city address falls within this district before assuming the base $0.620 rate is the complete real estate tax picture.
Virginia's Distinctive Vehicle Personal-Property Tax Runs Alongside Real Estate Tax
Separate from real estate tax, Virginia's annual vehicle personal-property ('car') tax applies at $3.50 per $100 of assessed value in the City of Williamsburg or a cited 4% (effectively $4.00 per $100) in James City County -- both jurisdictions offer relief on a vehicle's first $20,000 of value at an annually-set percentage. This is a genuinely distinctive Virginia tax structure most newcomers from other states don't anticipate, and it's billed and paid separately from real estate tax.
No Virginia-Specific Senior Property Tax Relief Program Was Confirmed This Pass
This research pass did not independently confirm the specific eligibility rules or savings amount of any Williamsburg- or James City County-specific senior/disabled real estate tax relief program, though such local programs are common across Virginia localities. Retirees and buyers 65+ specifically weighing property tax as part of a relocation decision should confirm directly with the relevant city or county Commissioner of the Revenue whether a senior exemption or deferral program currently applies and what its income/asset thresholds are.
Key takeaways
- The City of Williamsburg's own real estate tax rate ($0.620/$100, TY2025) is entirely separate from James City County's ($0.83/$100 nominal; 0.65% cited effective rate) -- confirm which jurisdiction a specific property is in before budgeting a tax bill.
- James City County's effective rate (0.65%, 29% below the 0.92% national average) is genuinely low by national standards, even though its nominal per-$100 rate looks higher at first glance than the city's.
- Properties within the Quarterpath Community Development Authority district in Williamsburg pay an additional $0.878/$100 on top of the base city rate -- a real, address-specific add-on, not a city-wide charge.
- Virginia's separate, annual vehicle personal-property tax ($3.50/$100 city; ~4%/James City County) runs alongside real estate tax -- a genuinely distinctive cost most newcomers from other states don't anticipate.
- No Williamsburg- or James City County-specific senior property tax relief program was independently confirmed this pass -- retirees should confirm current eligibility directly with the relevant Commissioner of the Revenue.
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