What is the sales tax rate in Richmond, Virginia?

The combined sales tax rate in Richmond is 6%. It is made up of Virginia's 4.3% state rate, a 1% local option tax, and a 0.7% regional transportation tax that applies in the Central Virginia region including Richmond.

Why are groceries taxed differently?

Virginia applies a reduced 1% rate to qualifying food for home consumption and certain essential personal hygiene products. Most unprepared groceries fall under this lower rate rather than the full 6%, which is why the calculator offers a grocery option.

Are restaurant meals taxed at the grocery rate?

No. Prepared food and restaurant meals are taxed at the full general rate, and Richmond also adds a separate local meals tax on top. This calculator covers the state and local sales tax; restaurant meals additionally carry the city meals tax not included here.

Is the regional transportation tax always included?

Yes, for Richmond. The 0.7% regional transportation tax applies across the Central Virginia planning district, so any purchase in the city carries it, bringing the combined general rate to 6%.

How accurate is this calculator?

The 6% general and 1% grocery rates are current statewide and regional figures for Richmond. Rates can change with legislation, and specific items may have exemptions. Use this for everyday estimates and verify unusual cases against Virginia Tax guidance.

Richmond Combined Sales Tax Calculator

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Sales tax in Richmond is a stack of three pieces — the Virginia state rate, a local option, and a regional transportation tax — that together come to 6% on general merchandise. Groceries get a break. This calculator applies the right rate and shows your tax and total instantly.

How it works

The rate depends on what you are buying:

general rate  = 4.3% state + 1.0% local + 0.7% regional = 6.0%
grocery rate  = 1.0% (qualifying food for home consumption)
tax           = price × rate
total         = price + tax

The reduced 1% grocery rate covers most unprepared food for home consumption and some essential hygiene items. Prepared and restaurant food is taxed at the full general rate and carries an additional city meals tax not modeled here.

Example and tips

A $50 general purchase in Richmond carries $3.00 in sales tax for a $53.00 total. The same $50 spent on qualifying groceries carries just $0.50, for a $50.50 total — a real saving that adds up across a year of shopping. When budgeting a Richmond restaurant bill, remember the city meals tax sits on top of this sales tax, so dining out is taxed noticeably higher than the 6% shown here.