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1. I'm new to the City, what is personal property tax?

Welcome to the City of Roanoke! The Office of the Commissioner of the Revenue thanks you for choosing to live in the "Star City." All vehicles must be registered with our office within 30 days of moving to the City of Roanoke. Registration may be completed by fax, mail, phone, online form, or in person at our downtown location. Please have your registration card(s) available. Remember to report all address/vehicle changes to the Commissioner of the Revenue's office within 30 days. Commissioner of the Revenue

2. I'm moving out of the City, what do I do if I am moving to a prorating locality?

We require a copy of your filing form, decal/license tax application, new assessment bill, or a paid receipt from the prorating locality to which you move. The paid receipt must include vehicle information and the beginning tax date. You can forward this information to our office via fax, mail, or phone. Your City of Roanoke account will be prorated once we receive this information. Prorating Localities Page

3. I'm moving out of the City, what do I do if I am not moving to a prorating locality?

If you move from the City of Roanoke to a nonprorating locality within Virginia, you are not eligible for a refund. Since a nonprorating locality will not tax you for a portion of the year, your taxes are due to the City of Roanoke for the full year.

4. What do I do if I am moving out of Virginia?

We will accept the vehicle registration in the state you moved to, showing the actual date of registration. You can forward this information to our office via fax, mail, phone, or online. Your city of Roanoke account will be prorated once we receive this information.

5. What do I need to do if I am buying or selling a vehicle?

Taxpayers are required by state law to report any vehicle purchases or acquisitions within 30 days to their local commissioners of the revenue. Timely notification will avoid a late filing penalty.

6. What do I do if I am leasing a vehicle.

You must report to our office any leased vehicles that are garaged or parked in the City. All vehicles from leasing companies, including company cars provided by your employer, are to be reported to us within 30 days. Regardless of the party responsible for the payment of the tax, the lessee is required to notify our office.

7. I am a college student, what do I need to know about personal property tax?

Personal property tax on automobiles used or owned by college students is paid to the locality in which the owner(s) of the vehicle(s) resides, regardless of where the vehicle is garaged or parked.

8. I am active duty, what do I need to know about personal property tax?

If you legally reside in Virginia but you are stationed in another state in compliance with military orders, you are not subject to personal property tax in another state. You are required to pay personal property taxes to the Virginia locality where you maintain your legal domicile or home of record although the physical location of your vehicle(s) is outside of Virginia during this period of military service. If your home of record is not in Virginia, your license tax is waived.

9. What do I do with my personal property tax if I am a disabled veteran or former prisoner of war?

The license tax is waived for owners of disabled veteran (DV) tags or former prisoner of war (POW) tags.

10. I am in the National Guard, what are my rates?

The license tax is reduced to $14 for owners of vehicles with National Guard tags.

11. What is my license tax for an antique or vintage vehicle?

In the 1st year of registration, the license tax is reduced to $5 for owners of vehicles with a permanent antique plate with expiration of 99/99/99. The license tax is waived in each year thereafter.