What is the sales tax rate in Virginia Beach?

Virginia Beach has a 6% combined sales tax rate. That is Virginia's 4.3% state tax, a 1% local option tax, and a 0.7% Hampton Roads regional transportation tax that applies across the region.

Are groceries taxed in Virginia Beach?

Yes, but at a reduced rate. Unprepared food (groceries) and certain essential personal hygiene items are taxed at Virginia's reduced 1% rate statewide, instead of the full 6% combined rate.

What is the Hampton Roads regional tax?

It is an extra 0.7% sales tax levied across the Hampton Roads region, including Virginia Beach, to fund regional transportation projects. It is the reason the area's rate is 6% rather than Virginia's base 5.3%.

Is prepared restaurant food taxed differently?

Prepared and restaurant food does not qualify for the reduced grocery rate and is subject to the full 6% sales tax. Virginia Beach also levies a separate local meals tax on restaurant food, which this tool does not include.

Does this include the meals tax?

No. This calculator covers the general sales tax only. Virginia Beach adds a separate local prepared-meals tax on restaurant purchases, so your dining bill may be higher than the 6% shown here.

Virginia Beach Combined Sales Tax Calculator

Email me this result

Get this tool's output sent to your inbox, plus one useful tool a week. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Virginia Beach sales tax made simple

Virginia Beach charges a 6% combined sales tax — higher than Virginia’s 5.3% base because of the Hampton Roads regional add-on. This calculator breaks down the rate and shows your exact out-the-door total, applying Virginia’s reduced grocery rate when it qualifies.

How it works

The tool adds the three components of the rate, then applies the correct rate for the item type:

state rate     = 4.3%
local rate     = 1.0%
regional rate  = 0.7%   (Hampton Roads)
combined       = 6.0%

groceries      = 1.0% reduced statewide rate
tax            = amount * rate
total          = amount + tax

General merchandise and prepared food pay the full 6%. Unprepared groceries and essential personal hygiene products qualify for Virginia’s reduced 1% food rate, which the tool applies when you select groceries.

Tips and example

A 100 general purchase owes 100 * 0.06 = 6.00 in tax for a 106.00 total. The same 100 spent on unprepared groceries owes only 100 * 0.01 = 1.00, for a 101.00 total — a meaningful difference on a large grocery run.

Note this is the general sales tax only. Restaurant meals also carry Virginia Beach’s separate local meals tax, so dining out costs more than the 6% shown here.