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Vehicle Personal Property Tax - Forms & Filing Procedures

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1. How does a new resident (or business owner) located in Loudoun County or in one of Loudoun's towns obtain a personal property return?

You have 60 days after locating taxable property in Loudoun County or in one of Loudoun's incorporated towns (Hamilton, Hillsboro, Leesburg, Lovettsville, Middleburg, Purcellville, and Round Hill) to file a personal property tax return with the Commissioner of the Revenue. This process can be completed online or in person, Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm at one of our office locations:

• Leesburg Office
  1 Harrison St. SE
  1st Floor
  Leesburg, VA 20175
  Ph: 703-777-0260
• Sterling Office
  21641 Ridgetop Cir.
  Ste. 100
  Sterling, VA 20166

2. If I register in person, what information must I bring?

You must bring a valid driver's license or state-issued identification, a copy of your vehicle's title, or registration (temporary or permanent), or a bill of sale.
Insurance cards, signed titles, tax receipts from other localities and expired vehicle registrations are NOT acceptable forms of documentation for registration.

3. Does titling and registering my vehicle with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) automatically register the vehicle with Loudoun County?

No. Although some vehicle information is downloaded from DMV to the county system, you are still personally responsible for registering your vehicle with the county within 60 days of purchasing a vehicle or moving a vehicle into the county.

4. Do I need to register my vehicles in Loudoun County even if they are already registered in the state of Virginia?

Yes. Every vehicle garaged in Loudoun County must be registered with the Loudoun County Commissioner of the Revenue. This can be done in person or online. To register your vehicle, you'll need to submit your valid state vehicle registration. If you have moved your vehicle from another Virginia jurisdiction, you'll need to supply a copy of your most recent paid vehicle personal property tax receipt or a copy of your most recent certified vehicle personal property tax filing.

5. If I submit a change of address to the DMV, the U.S. Postal Service, or an incorporated town, do I still need to notify Loudoun County of an address change?

Yes. A mailing address change submitted to the post office or reported to the DMV or an incorporated town does not change the taxable situs of a vehicle for local tax purposes. If property is moved into or out of Loudoun or one of Loudoun’s incorporated towns, please notify the Commissioner of the Revenue to ensure that our personal property tax records are accurate and up to date. Vehicles are normally taxable where they are garaged, parked or stored, regardless of where the owner resides or receives mail.

6. What do I need to do if I move my property into or out of one of Loudoun’s incorporated towns or change my mailing address?

Incorporated towns are separate taxing authorities. If your property is moved into or out of an incorporated town or if there is a change in your mailing address, you must notify the incorporated town(s), the DMV, and the Commissioner of the Revenue.

7. How can I find out whether an address is within an incorporated town?

If you do not know whether an address is within the limits of one of Loudoun’s incorporated towns, you may look it up online here.

Under "Billing District" one of the following will be displayed in the “Miscellaneous” section if the address is within a town’s corporate limits.

Billing District / Incorporated Town

• HAMILTON - Hamilton
• HILLSBORO - Hillsboro
• LSBRGTOWN - Leesburg
• LVTSVLE TN - Lovettsville
• MIDDLEBURG - Middleburg
• PVILLE TWN - Purcellville
• ROUND HILL - Round Hill

If anything else appears in the Billing District field, the address is NOT within an incorporated town.

8. My car is registered out-of-state. Do I still need to register my car with Loudoun County?

Yes, if you intend to have your car garaged, parked or stored in Loudoun County for 30 days or more, you must register the vehicle in Loudoun County and purchase the appropriate decal. All vehicles not displaying a current Loudoun County or Town decal, even those registered out-of-state, are subject to ticketing. Your car is assessed property tax for the length of time it is located in Loudoun County.

To register your vehicle, you'll need to submit your valid out-of-state vehicle registration. This must be done in person Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at one of our office locations:

• Leesburg Office
  1 Harrison St. S.E. 1st Floor
  Leesburg, VA 20175
  Ph: 703-777-0260
• Sterling Office
  21641 Ridgetop Cir. Ste. 100
  Sterling, VA 20166

9. Do I need to file a personal property return for my vehicle, trailer, or boat every year?

Vehicles garaged in Loudoun County must be registered with the Loudoun County Commissioner of Revenue within 60 days of being moved to Loudoun County or one of Loudoun's incorporated towns (Hamilton, Hillsboro, Leesburg, Lovettsville, Middleburg, Purcellville, or Round Hill).

The first year after registration, you will be sent a notification each January as a reminder to file your personal property tax declaration online. You are not required to file online if you still own the property and there are no ownership, address or other changes. If you would like to report that your vehicle, trailer, or boat has been sold or moved, or report a vehicle’s unusually high mileage as of January 1, the online filing must be submitted by the annual filing deadline of February 1. Changes to your address or phone number may also be reported online. Please note that taxes are billed to the name in which the vehicle or trailer is registered with DMV.

For further information or assistance, please contact the Commissioner of the Revenue.

10. Do I need to file a personal property return for my airplane or mobile home every year?

Yes. You must declare for taxation these types of property each year. The first year after registration, you will be sent a notification each January as a reminder to file your personal property tax declaration online. You are required to file online by the annual filing deadline of February 1 even if you still own the property and there are no ownership, address or other changes.

For further information or assistance, please contact the Commissioner of the Revenue.

11. Is there a late filing penalty for failure to file a return by the prescribed deadline?

Yes. Loudoun County Ordinance 860 directs the Commissioner of the Revenue to impose a penalty of 10% of the tax assessable for the non-filing or late filing of a tax return. This penalty becomes a part of the tax due.

12. How do I substantiate that my motor vehicle with specially designed equipment for use by the handicapped qualifies for a lower tax rate?

Provide the Commissioner of the Revenue with copies of the vehicle sales contract or purchase order and invoices for the vehicle’s modifications.

13. Can I obtain the personal tax return forms online?

Yes. If your vehicle is titled in Virginia, and you would like to file electronically, here are your options:

• Registering cars, trucks, motorcycles, and motor homes
• Registering Campers and Trailers
• Registering boats, airplanes, or mobile homes

For non-Virginia titled vehicles, or to print a form for mailing or faxing to the address below, download the Vehicle Personal Property Tax Form or Boat, Airplane, and Mobile Home Personal Property Tax Form.

Robert S. Wertz, Jr.
Commissioner of the Revenue
P.O. Box 8000
Leesburg, VA 20177-9804
Ph: 703-777-0260
Fx: 703-777-0263

Please keep a copy of the completed form for your records.

14. How do I report the move, sale or disposal of vehicles or report mailing address changes for an existing account?

Complete the Personal Property Tax Declaration.

15. To what address should I send a tax filing if I want to use overnight mailing services?

Most overnight mailing services will not deliver to a post office box. Please use the following address for overnight mailing services:

Commissioner of the Revenue
1 Harriston St. S.E.
1st Floor Mailstop #32
Leesburg, VA 20175