Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP)
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling in Virginia. Trained counselors go through your costs and choices with you, and they don't sell plans.
Taxes
Property tax relief for seniors in Virginia
Virginia has no statewide property tax break for older homeowners.
Instead, state law lets each county, city and town offer its own exemption, deferral or mix of both for homeowners 65 and older, with its own income and net worth limits. Ask your county or city tax office what it offers and how to apply.
How to apply in Virginia
- In person
- Apply to your own county, city or town. Each locality sets its own form, rules and deadline by ordinance.
Who may qualify in Virginia
| Age | 65 or older (localities may also include people who are permanently and totally disabled). A married couple may qualify if either spouse is 65. |
|---|---|
| Income and net worth limits | Set by each locality, if it chooses. Income counts the year before and includes owners and relatives living in the home, but not live-in caregivers. |
| Home | You may qualify if you own the home and it is your only dwelling. Homes held in a revocable trust or certain life estates count. |
| Years living in the locality | A locality can't require you to have lived there for a set time |
Source: Virginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System) (source 1)
What you may get
| What it's worth | Set by each locality: a full or partial exemption, a deferral, or both. A locality may limit it to the part of the tax that has gone up since you turned 65. |
|---|---|
| Land covered | The home and up to 10 acres |
Source: Virginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System) (source 1)
Dates, renewals and waiting lists
| Application deadline | Set by each locality |
|---|---|
| Renewal | Set by each locality |
Source: Virginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System) (source 1)
How Virginia is different
Where Virginia's rules differ from the federal rules for Property tax relief for seniors.
- No statewide program: limits and amounts differ from one county or city to the next
- Localities may require back taxes to be paid, or set up on a payment plan of up to 72 months, before relief starts
Source: Virginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System) (source 1)
Good to know
- Renters: these local programs are for people who own and live in their home. Leaseholds don't count.
- Localities may also offer a separate deferral of part of a real estate tax increase, open to all owners.
Source: Virginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System) (source 1)
Free help
Free help with this in Virginia
Division for the Aging
Your local Area Agency on Aging can help with meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support and applying for benefits.
More help in Virginia
Property tax relief in another state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
- Virginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System), Code of Virginia § 58.1-3210. Exemption or deferral of taxes on property of certain elderly individuals and individuals with disabilities (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Virginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System), Code of Virginia § 58.1-3212. Local restrictions and exemptions (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Virginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System), Code of Virginia § 58.1-3219. Deferral of portion of real estate tax increases (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
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