Sales tax in Petersburg city, Virginia
The sales tax rate in Petersburg city, Virginia is 5.3%. That is a 4.3% state rate plus a 1% local rate, which is legally a city rate covering the whole county, and it is the same at every address in the county.
What is the sales tax rate in Petersburg city?
| Virginia state rate | 4.3% |
|---|---|
| Local rate covering the county | 1% |
| Combined rate | 5.3% |
Why the rate here is not the whole story
Virginia charges a 4.3 percent state tax and the city of Petersburg levies the 1 percent local option sales tax that every Virginia county and city has adopted, giving 5.3 percent at every address here, the rate that applies across most of the state. Since 2026 every Virginia county and city may add a further 1 percent local sales tax for school construction if voters approve it at a referendum, and this locality has not done so. Petersburg is an independent city, not part of any county, so it is its own taxing locality and Virginia Tax lists it separately. Virginia towns and special districts cannot levy a general sales tax of their own, so a single rate covers the whole locality. Groceries and essential personal hygiene products are taxed at a reduced 1 percent everywhere in Virginia, which is the local share only, so that reduced rate sits outside the general rate shown here.
How do I find the exact rate for an address in Petersburg city?
The rate is the same across Petersburg city, but if you are collecting tax it is worth confirming against the source. Use Virginia's own lookup. A vendor's calculator is not the state speaking.
Who has to collect sales tax in Petersburg city?
A seller with a physical presence in Virginia collects at the rate for the address where the sale takes place. A remote seller collects once it passes Virginia's economic nexus threshold, which is a separate question from the rate and is covered on our sales tax nexus checker. Marketplace facilitators generally collect on behalf of their sellers.
How does Petersburg city compare?
See Virginia sales tax for the statewide picture, including the average local rate and what is exempt. Property tax is a separate tax with separate rules: property tax in Petersburg city.
Sources
- Petersburg city rates: Virginia Department of Taxation, Sales and Use Tax Rates by Locality, worksheet "Jan 2026 - Present" (rates effective January 1, 2026), https://www.tax.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/inline-files/sales-and-use-tax-rates-by-locality-by-date.xlsx, cross-checked against the same Department's rate chart in the Form ST-1 package (Rev. 10/24) and the rate table on https://www.tax.virginia.gov/retail-sales-and-use-tax
- Collected and verified September 9, 2026. Confidence: P on the rate components, P on the range (P read on a primary agency page, S strong but indirect, U unverified).