Sales tax in Williamsburg city, Virginia
The sales tax rate in Williamsburg city, Virginia is 7%. 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. That rate was read from Virginia's own published schedule and checked on September 9, 2026.
What is the sales tax rate in Williamsburg city?
| Virginia state rate | 4.3% |
|---|---|
| Local rate covering the county | 1% |
| Combined rate | 7% |
How much sales tax is that on a purchase in Williamsburg city?
At 7%, a $100 purchase carries $7.00 in sales tax and a $1,000 purchase $70.00. That is general merchandise; Virginia taxes some categories, often groceries, differently, as the note below explains.
Williamsburg city's rate is the highest in Virginia, shared with 2 other counties. See every Virginia county.
Sales tax in counties next to Williamsburg city
Williamsburg city borders 2 counties.
| County | Combined sales tax |
|---|---|
| James City County, VA | 7% |
| York County, VA | 7% |
| Williamsburg city, VA (this county) | 7% |
Why the rate here is not the whole story
Virginia charges a 4.3 percent state tax and the city of Williamsburg levies the 1 percent local option sales tax, and two taxes imposed by the General Assembly apply on top: 0.7 percent for the Hampton Roads region and a further 1 percent for the Historic Triangle, which covers only James City County, York County and the city of Williamsburg. That totals 7 percent at every address here, the highest general sales tax rate in Virginia. Neither regional tax is a local levy, so the 1 percent local option is the only part this locality sets for itself. Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg city?
Use Virginia's own address lookup.
Who has to collect sales tax in Williamsburg city?
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
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Sales tax calculator
Tax on a specific purchase at this county's rate, and the total you will actually pay.
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Do you have to collect?
Whether your sales into Virginia cross its economic nexus threshold. A different question from the rate.
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Property tax in Williamsburg city
The other local tax: effective rate and median bill for this county.
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Sales tax by county
Every US county, and how Virginia compares with the rest of the country.
Sources
- Williamsburg 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).