§ 58.1-3212 Local restrictions and exemptions
A. Pursuant to Article X, § 6 (b) of the Constitution of Virginia, the General Assembly hereby authorizes the governing body of a county, city or town to establish by ordinance net financial worth or annual income limitations as a condition of eligibility for any exemption or deferral of tax allowed pursuant to this article. If the governing body establishes an annual income limitation, the computation of annual income shall be based on adding together the income received during the preceding calendar year, without regard to whether a tax return is actually filed, by (i) owners of the dwelling who use it as their principal residence, (ii) owners’ relatives who live in the dwelling, except for those relatives living in the dwelling and providing bona fide caregiving services to the owner whether such relatives are compensated or not, and (iii) at the option of each locality, nonrelatives of the owner who live in the dwelling except for bona fide tenants or bona fide caregivers of the owner, whether compensated or not. A locality may provide in its ordinance that, for the purpose of the computation of annual income, if an individual described in clause (ii) and (iii) is permanently and totally disabled, any disability income received by such person shall not be included. If the governing body establishes a net financial worth limitation, net financial worth shall be based on adding together the net financial worth, including the present value of equitable interests, as of December 31 of the immediately preceding calendar year, of the owners, and of the spouse of any owner, of the dwelling. Nothing in this section shall be construed or interpreted as to preclude or prohibit the governing body of a county, city or town from excluding certain sources of income, or a portion of the same, for purposes of its annual income limitation or excluding certain assets, or a portion of the same, for purposes of its net financial worth limitation. Any county, city, or town that pursuant to this article provides for the exemption from, deferral of, or a combination program of exemptions from and deferrals of real property taxes may exempt or defer the real property taxes of the qualifying dwelling and the land, not exceeding ten acres, upon which it is situated. No local ordinance shall require that a citizen reside in the jurisdiction for a designated period of time as a condition for qualifying for any real estate tax exemption or deferral program established pursuant to § 58.1-3210.
B. A locality may, by ordinance, require that in order to qualify for an exemption or deferral under this section, a qualifying individual shall be required to either (i) pay all delinquent taxes, penalties, and interest assessed by the locality and incurred prior to becoming eligible for an exemption or deferral; (ii) enter into an installment agreement with the locality for the payment of all such delinquent amounts in installments over a period that is reasonable under the circumstances, but that in no event shall exceed 72 months; (iii) submit and obtain the treasurer’s agreement to an offer in compromise pursuant to § 58.1-3994 with respect to all amounts of delinquent taxes, penalties, and interest; or (iv) a combination thereof. Compliance with the installment or accepted offer in compromise shall be a requirement for remaining eligible for an exemption or deferral.
History
The record of this law’s original creation isn’t available online. It has been modified 17 times. Those modifications are cataloged by “The Acts of Assembly,” a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly’s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1972, chapters 315 and 616; in 1973, chapter 496; in 1974, chapter 427; in 1976, chapter 543; in 1977, chapters 48, 453, and 456; in 1978, chapters 774, 776, 777, 780, 788, and 790; in 1979, chapters 543, 544, 545, and 563; in 1980, chapters 656, 666, and 673; in 1981, chapter 434; in 1982, chapters 123 and 457; in 1984, chapters 267 and 675; in 1989, chapter 568; in 2011, chapters 438 and 496; in 2012, chapter 299; in 2014, chapter 767; in 2019, chapter 16; in 2025, chapters 522 and 536.
Code 1950, § 58-760.1; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 169; 1972, cc. 315, 616; 1973, c. 496; 1974, c. 427; 1976, c. 543; 1977, cc. 48, 453, 456; 1978, cc. 774, 776, 777, 780, 788, 790; 1979, cc. 543, 544, 545, 563; 1980, cc. 656, 666, 673; 1981, c. 434; 1982, cc. 123, 457; 1984, cc. 267, 675; 1989, c. 568; 2011, cc. 438, 496; 2012, c. 299; 2014, c. 767; 2019, c. 16; 2025, cc. 522, 536.