Sales tax in Southampton County, Virginia

Updated

The sales tax rate in Southampton County, Virginia is 6%. That is a 4.3% state rate plus a 1% county rate, and it is the same at every address in the county. That rate was read from Virginia's own published schedule and checked on September 9, 2026.

What is the sales tax rate in Southampton County?

Sales tax rate components in Southampton County, Virginia
Virginia state rate4.3%
Southampton County rate1%
Combined rate6%

How much sales tax is that on a purchase in Southampton County?

At 6%, a $100 purchase carries $6.00 in sales tax and a $1,000 purchase $60.00. That is general merchandise; Virginia taxes some categories, often groceries, differently, as the note below explains.

Among Virginia's 133 counties, Southampton County's rate ranks 12th highest, level with 27 other counties. See every Virginia county.

Sales tax in counties next to Southampton County

Southampton County borders 9 counties, 3 of them in another state. The lowest rate next door is 5.3% in Greensville County, VA, which is $7.00 less on a $1,000 purchase than Southampton County's rate.

Southampton County and its neighbors, highest rate first
CountyCombined sales tax
Hertford County, NC7%
Gates County, NC6.75%
Northampton County, NC6.75%
Isle of Wight County, VA6%
Franklin city, VA6%
Suffolk city, VA6%
Southampton County, VA (this county)6%
Greensville County, VA5.3%
Surry County, VA5.3%
Sussex County, VA5.3%

Why the rate here is not the whole story

Virginia charges a 4.3 percent state tax and Southampton County levies the 1 percent local option sales tax, and the General Assembly imposes a 0.7 percent regional transportation tax across the whole Hampton Roads region on top of that, giving 6 percent at every address here. The 0.7 percent is set by state law for the entire region rather than chosen by this locality, so the 1 percent local option is the only part it levies itself. 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 Southampton County?

Use Virginia's own address lookup.

Who has to collect sales tax in Southampton County?

Any seller with a physical presence in Virginia collects at the rate for the address of the sale; a remote seller does once it passes Virginia's economic nexus threshold. Virginia sales tax covers the statewide rules and what is exempt.

Work out your own numbers

Sources