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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>71974</law_id><section_number>58.1-638</section_number><catch_line>Disposition of state sales and use tax revenue</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>15.2-5928</reference><reference>15.2-5935</reference><reference>2.2-2320.2</reference><reference>29.1-101</reference><reference>29.1-101.01</reference><reference>33.2-1524</reference><reference>33.2-1527</reference><reference>33.2-2008</reference><reference>33.2-2109</reference><reference>33.2-2509</reference><reference>33.2-2600</reference><reference>33.2-2708</reference><reference>33.2-3701</reference><reference>33.2-500</reference><reference>58.1-2425</reference><reference>58.1-3851.1</reference><reference>58.1-3851.2</reference><reference>58.1-3851.3</reference><reference>58.1-608.3</reference><reference>58.1-611.1</reference><reference>58.1-638.1</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="58.1">Taxation</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="I">Taxes Administered by the Department of Taxation</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="6">Retail Sales and Use Tax</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The Comptroller shall designate a specific revenue code number for all the state <span class="dictionary">sales</span> and <span class="dictionary">use</span> tax revenue collected under the preceding sections of this chapter.
			The <span class="dictionary">sales</span> and <span class="dictionary">use</span> tax revenue generated by the one-half percent <span class="dictionary">sales</span> and <span class="dictionary">use</span> tax increase enacted by the 1986 Special Session of the General Assembly shall be paid, in the manner hereinafter provided in this section, to the Commonwealth Transportation Fund established pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Commonwealth Transportation Fund" href="/33.2-1524/">33.2-1524</a>. The Fund&#x2019;s share of such net revenue shall be computed as an estimate of the net revenue to be received into the state treasury each month, and such estimated payment shall be adjusted for the actual net revenue received in the preceding month. All payments shall be made to the Fund on the last day of each month. <a id="paragraph-259340" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-638/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">sales</span> and <span class="dictionary">use</span> tax revenue generated by a one percent <span class="dictionary">sales</span> and <span class="dictionary">use</span> tax shall be distributed among the counties and cities of the Commonwealth in the manner provided in subsections C and D. <a id="paragraph-259341" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-638/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The localities&#x2019; share of the net revenue distributable under this section among the counties and cities shall be apportioned by the Comptroller and distributed among them by warrants of the Comptroller drawn on the Treasurer of Virginia as soon as practicable after the close of each month during which the net revenue was received into the state treasury. The <span class="dictionary">distribution</span> of the localities&#x2019; share of such net revenue shall be computed with respect to the net revenue received into the state treasury during each month, and such <span class="dictionary">distribution</span> shall be made as soon as practicable after the close of each such month. <a id="paragraph-259342" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-638/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The net revenue so distributable among the counties and cities shall be apportioned and distributed upon the basis of the latest yearly estimate of the population of cities and counties ages five to 19, provided by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service of the University of Virginia. Such population estimate produced by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service of the University of Virginia shall account for <span class="dictionary">persons</span> who are domiciled in orphanages or charitable institutions or who are dependents living on any federal military or naval reservation or other federal property within the school division in which the institutions or federal military or naval reservation or other federal property is located. Such population estimate produced by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service of the University of Virginia shall account for members of the military services who are under 20 years of age within the school division in which the parents or guardians of such <span class="dictionary">persons</span> legally reside. Such population estimate produced by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service of the University of Virginia shall account for individuals receiving services in state hospitals, state training centers, or mental health facilities, <span class="dictionary">persons</span> who are confined in state or federal correctional institutions, or <span class="dictionary">persons</span> who attend the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind within the school division in which the parents or guardians of such <span class="dictionary">persons</span> legally reside. Such population estimate produced by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service of the University of Virginia shall account for <span class="dictionary">persons</span> who attend institutions of higher education within the school division in which the student&#x2019;s parents or guardians legally reside. To such estimate, the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Education shall add the population of students with disabilities, ages two through four and 20 through 21, as provided to the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Education by school divisions. The revenue so apportionable and distributable is hereby appropriated to the several counties and cities for maintenance, operation, capital outlays, debt and interest payments, or other expenses incurred in the operation of the public schools, which shall be considered as funds raised from local resources. In any county, however, wherein is situated any incorporated town constituting a school division, the county treasurer shall pay into the town treasury for maintenance, operation, capital outlays, debt and interest payments, or other expenses incurred in the operation of the public schools, the proper proportionate amount received by him in the ratio that the school population of such town bears to the school population of the entire county. If the school population of any city or of any town constituting a school division is increased by the annexation of territory since the last estimate of school population provided by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, such increase shall, for the purposes of this section, be added to the school population of such city or town as shown by the last such estimate and a proper reduction made in the school population of the county or counties from which the annexed territory was acquired. <a id="paragraph-259343" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-638/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> Beginning July 1, 2000, of the remaining <span class="dictionary">sales</span> and <span class="dictionary">use</span> tax revenue, the revenue generated by a two percent <span class="dictionary">sales</span> and <span class="dictionary">use</span> tax, up to an annual amount of $13 million, collected from the <span class="dictionary">sales</span> of hunting equipment, auxiliary hunting equipment, fishing equipment, auxiliary fishing equipment, wildlife-watching equipment, and auxiliary wildlife-watching equipment in Virginia, as estimated by the most recent U.S. <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Commerce, Bureau of the Census National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, shall be paid into the Game Protection Fund established under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Game Protection Fund" href="/29.1-101/">29.1-101</a> and shall be used, in part, to defray the cost of <span class="dictionary">law</span> enforcement. Not later than 30 days after the close of each quarter, the Comptroller shall transfer to the Game Protection Fund the appropriate amount of collections to be dedicated to such Fund. At any time that the balance in the Capital Improvement Fund, established under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Capital Improvement Fund" href="/29.1-101.01/">29.1-101.01</a>, is equal to or in excess of $35 million, any portion of <span class="dictionary">sales</span> and <span class="dictionary">use</span> tax revenues that would have been transferred to the Game Protection Fund, established under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Game Protection Fund" href="/29.1-101/">29.1-101</a>, in excess of the net operating expenses of the Board, after deduction of other amounts which accrue to the Board and are set aside for the Game Protection Fund, shall remain in the general fund until such time as the balance in the Capital Improvement Fund is less than $35 million. <a id="paragraph-259344" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-638/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> 1. Of the net revenue generated from the one-half percent increase in the rate of the state <span class="dictionary">sales</span> and <span class="dictionary">use</span> tax effective August 1, 2004, pursuant to enactments of the 2004 Special Session I of the General Assembly, the Comptroller shall transfer from the general fund of the state treasury to the Public Education Standards of Quality/Local Real Estate Property Tax Relief Fund established under &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Public Education Standards of Quality/Local Real Estate Property Tax Relief Fund established" href="/58.1-638.1/">58.1-638.1</a> an amount equivalent to one-half of the net revenue generated from such one-half percent increase as provided in this subdivision. The transfers to the Public Education Standards of Quality/Local Real Estate Property Tax Relief Fund under this subdivision shall be for one-half of the net revenue generated (and collected in the succeeding month) from such one-half percent increase for the month of August 2004 and for each month thereafter. <a id="paragraph-259345" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-638/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Beginning July 1, 2013, of the remaining <span class="dictionary">sales</span> and <span class="dictionary">use</span> tax revenue, an amount equal to the revenue generated by a 0.125 percent <span class="dictionary">sales</span> and <span class="dictionary">use</span> tax shall be distributed to the Public Education Standards of Quality/Local Real Estate Property Tax Relief Fund established under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Public Education Standards of Quality/Local Real Estate Property Tax Relief Fund established" href="/58.1-638.1/">58.1-638.1</a>, and be used for the state&#x2019;s share of Standards of Quality basic aid payments. <a id="paragraph-259346" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-638/#F2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> For the purposes of the Comptroller making the required transfers under subdivision 1 and 2, the <span class="dictionary">Tax Commissioner</span> shall make a written certification to the Comptroller no later than the twenty-fifth of each month certifying the <span class="dictionary">sales</span> and <span class="dictionary">use</span> tax revenues generated in the preceding month. Within three calendar days of receiving such certification, the Comptroller shall make the required transfers to the Public Education Standards of Quality/Local Real Estate Property Tax Relief Fund. <a id="paragraph-259347" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-638/#F3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> (Contingent expiration date) Beginning July 1, 2020, of the remaining <span class="dictionary">sales</span> and <span class="dictionary">use</span> tax revenue, an amount equal to 20 percent of the revenue generated by a one-half percent <span class="dictionary">sales</span> and <span class="dictionary">use</span> tax, such as that paid to the Commonwealth Transportation Fund as provided in subsection A, shall be paid to the Commonwealth Transportation Fund established pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Commonwealth Transportation Fund" href="/33.2-1524/">33.2-1524</a>.
			The Commonwealth Transportation Fund&#x2019;s share of the net revenue distributable under this subsection shall be computed as an estimate of the net revenue to be received into the state treasury each month, and such estimated payment shall be adjusted for the actual net revenue received in the preceding month. All payments shall be made to the Fund on the last day of each month. <a id="paragraph-259348" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-638/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="H"><p><span class="prefix-number">H.</span> (Contingent expiration date) <a id="paragraph-259349" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-638/#H"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="H1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The additional revenue generated by increases in the state <span class="dictionary">sales</span> and <span class="dictionary">use</span> tax from Planning District 8 pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="(For contingent effective date, see Acts 2020, c. 1235; for contingent expiration date, see Acts 2013, c. 766) Additional state sales tax in certain counties and cities" href="/58.1-603.1/">58.1-603.1</a>, <a class="law" title="(For contingent effective date, see Acts 2020, c. 1235; for contingent expiration date, see Acts 2013, c. 766) Additional state use tax in certain counties and cities" href="/58.1-604.01/">58.1-604.01</a>, <a class="law" title="(Contingent effective date -- see note*) Use tax on motor vehicles, machinery, tools and equipment brought into Virginia for use in performing contracts" href="/58.1-604.1/">58.1-604.1</a>, and <a class="law" title="(Contingent effective date -- see note*) Vending machine sales" href="/58.1-614/">58.1-614</a> shall be deposited by the Comptroller in the fund established under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Northern Virginia Transportation Authority Fund" href="/33.2-2509/">33.2-2509</a>. <a id="paragraph-259350" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-638/#H1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="H2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The additional revenue generated by increases in the state <span class="dictionary">sales</span> and <span class="dictionary">use</span> tax from Planning District 23 pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="(For contingent effective date, see Acts 2020, c. 1235; for contingent expiration date, see Acts 2013, c. 766) Additional state sales tax in certain counties and cities" href="/58.1-603.1/">58.1-603.1</a>, <a class="law" title="(For contingent effective date, see Acts 2020, c. 1235; for contingent expiration date, see Acts 2013, c. 766) Additional state use tax in certain counties and cities" href="/58.1-604.01/">58.1-604.01</a>, <a class="law" title="(Contingent effective date -- see note*) Use tax on motor vehicles, machinery, tools and equipment brought into Virginia for use in performing contracts" href="/58.1-604.1/">58.1-604.1</a>, and <a class="law" title="(Contingent effective date -- see note*) Vending machine sales" href="/58.1-614/">58.1-614</a> shall be deposited by the Comptroller in the fund established under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Hampton Roads Transportation Fund" href="/33.2-2600/">33.2-2600</a>. <a id="paragraph-259351" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-638/#H2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="H3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> (For contingent expiration date, see Acts 2020, c. 1235) The additional revenue generated by increases in the state <span class="dictionary">sales</span> and <span class="dictionary">use</span> tax from Planning District 15 pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="(For contingent effective date, see Acts 2020, c. 1235; for contingent expiration date, see Acts 2013, c. 766) Additional state sales tax in certain counties and cities" href="/58.1-603.1/">58.1-603.1</a>, <a class="law" title="(For contingent effective date, see Acts 2020, c. 1235; for contingent expiration date, see Acts 2013, c. 766) Additional state use tax in certain counties and cities" href="/58.1-604.01/">58.1-604.01</a>, <a class="law" title="(Contingent effective date -- see note*) Use tax on motor vehicles, machinery, tools and equipment brought into Virginia for use in performing contracts" href="/58.1-604.1/">58.1-604.1</a>, and <a class="law" title="(Contingent effective date -- see note*) Vending machine sales" href="/58.1-614/">58.1-614</a> shall be deposited by the Comptroller in the fund established under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Central Virginia Transportation Fund" href="/33.2-3701/">33.2-3701</a>. <a id="paragraph-259352" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-638/#H3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="H4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> The additional revenue generated by increases in the state <span class="dictionary">sales</span> and <span class="dictionary">use</span> tax in any other Planning District pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="(For contingent effective date, see Acts 2020, c. 1235; for contingent expiration date, see Acts 2013, c. 766) Additional state sales tax in certain counties and cities" href="/58.1-603.1/">58.1-603.1</a>, <a class="law" title="(For contingent effective date, see Acts 2020, c. 1235; for contingent expiration date, see Acts 2013, c. 766) Additional state use tax in certain counties and cities" href="/58.1-604.01/">58.1-604.01</a>, <a class="law" title="(Contingent effective date -- see note*) Use tax on motor vehicles, machinery, tools and equipment brought into Virginia for use in performing contracts" href="/58.1-604.1/">58.1-604.1</a>, and <a class="law" title="(Contingent effective date -- see note*) Vending machine sales" href="/58.1-614/">58.1-614</a> shall be deposited into special funds that shall be established by appropriate legislation. <a id="paragraph-259353" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-638/#H4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="H5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> The net revenues distributable under this subsection shall be computed as an estimate of the net revenue to be received by the state treasury each month, and such estimated payment shall be adjusted for the actual net revenue received in the preceding month. All payments shall be made to the appropriate funds on the last day of each month. <a id="paragraph-259354" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-638/#H5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="I"><p><span class="prefix-number">I.</span> (For contingent expiration date, see Acts 2018, c. 850) The additional revenue generated by increases in the state <span class="dictionary">sales</span> and <span class="dictionary">use</span> tax from the Historic Triangle pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(For contingent expiration date, see Acts 2018, c. 850) Additional state sales and use tax in certain counties and cities of historic significance; Historic Triangle Marketing Fund" href="/58.1-603.2/">58.1-603.2</a> shall be deposited by the Comptroller as follows: (i) 50 percent shall be deposited into the Historic Triangle Marketing Fund established pursuant to subsection F of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(For contingent expiration date, see Acts 2018, c. 850) Additional state sales and use tax in certain counties and cities of historic significance; Historic Triangle Marketing Fund" href="/58.1-603.2/">58.1-603.2</a>; and (ii) 50 percent shall be deposited in the special fund created pursuant to subdivision D 2 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="(For contingent expiration date, see Acts 2018, c. 850) Additional state sales and use tax in certain counties and cities of historic significance; Historic Triangle Marketing Fund" href="/58.1-603.2/">58.1-603.2</a> and distributed to the localities in which the revenues were collected. The net revenues distributable under this subsection shall be computed as an estimate of the net revenues to be received by the state treasury each month, and such estimated payment shall be adjusted for the actual net revenue received in the preceding month. All payments shall be made to the appropriate funds on the last day of each month. <a id="paragraph-259355" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-638/#I"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="J"><p><span class="prefix-number">J.</span> If errors are made in any <span class="dictionary">distribution</span>, or adjustments are otherwise necessary, the errors shall be corrected and adjustments made in the <span class="dictionary">distribution</span> for the next quarter or for subsequent quarters. <a id="paragraph-259356" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-638/#J"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="K"><p><span class="prefix-number">K.</span> The term &#x201C;net revenue,&#x201D; as used in this section, means the gross revenue received into the general fund or the Commonwealth Transportation Fund of the state treasury under the preceding sections of this chapter, less refunds to <span class="dictionary">taxpayers</span>. <a id="paragraph-259357" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-638/#K"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 58-441.48; 1966, c. 151; 1976, c. 680; 1978, c. 773; 1980, c. 559; 1984, c. 675; 1986, Sp. Sess., c. 12; 1991, cc. 666, 713; 1992, c. 167; 1993, c. 793; 1995, cc. 539, 542; 1998, cc. 320, 905, 907; 1999, cc. 281, 397, 898; 2000, cc. 694, 707; 2001, c. 171; 2004, Sp. Sess. I, c. 3; 2010, cc. 113, 386, 629; 2012, cc. 476, 507, 779, 817; 2013, cc. 639, 766; 2015, cc. 609, 684; 2018, cc. 506, 850, 854, 856; 2019, c. 854; 2020, cc. 1230, 1235, 1275, 1283; 2022, c. 652.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
