Virginia Law

Article 13. Public Taking of Private Real Estate.

Any taxpayer whose lands, or any portion thereof, are in any year acquired or taken in any manner by the United States; the Commonwealth; a political subdivision; a church or religious body, which is exempt from taxation by Article X, Section 6 of the Constitution of Virginia; a surviving spouse of a member of the armed forces of the United States who was killed in action for that portion of the property that is exempt under § 58.1-3219.9; or a disabled veteran for that portion of the property that is exempt from taxation pursuant to § 58.1-3219.5, shall be relieved from the payment of taxes and levies from the date of divestment of such land for that portion of the year in which the property was taken or acquired. The county treasurers as to land situated in counties and the city treasurers and city collectors as to lands situated in cities shall receive from and receipt to the original owner of the lands so taken, for his proportionate part of the taxes and levies for the year and credit the payment on the tax tickets and shall return at the same time he makes his return of lands and lots improperly assessed, as required by law, the proportional part of the taxes and levies exonerated from taxation for any such year, indicating the date on which the property was acquired by the government or religious body. Such list, when approved by the proper authorities, shall be considered as a credit to any such treasurer or collector in the settlement of the accounts for such year.

Code 1950, §§ 58-818, 58-822; 1960, c. 58; 1962, c. 149; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 47; 1984, c. 675; 2012, c. 782; 2014, cc. 330, 757.

The clerk of the court of the county or city in which is recorded the transfer of title to such property shall furnish a certificate to the county or city treasurer showing the quantity of land so taken or acquired, and whether by the Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof; a church or religious body that is exempt from taxation by Article X, Section 6 of the Constitution of Virginia; a surviving spouse of a member of the armed forces of the United States who was killed in action for that portion of the property that is exempt from taxation pursuant to § 58.1-3219.9; or a disabled veteran for that portion of the property that is exempt from taxation pursuant to § 58.1-3219.5, the name of the former owner and a description of the property and the district or ward in which the property is situated, also the date of the recordation of the deed or order by which such property was taken or acquired by the Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof or any such church or religious body, as shown by the records in his office. Such certificate shall be sufficient evidence to the county and city treasurers to authorize them to receive and prorate the taxes and levies as herein authorized. In lieu of a printed paper copy of such certificate, the clerk may provide an electronic certificate or secure remote electronic access to such certificate to his county or city treasurer.

Code 1950, § 58-823; 1958, c. 431; 1960, c. 58; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 47; 1984, c. 675; 2012, c. 782; 2015, c. 577; 2017, c. 42.

Any such taxpayer, or his heirs, successors or assigns, who shall fail to have his taxes prorated by the county or city treasurer, as above provided, shall be entitled to apply to the appropriate court for proration of the taxes, as herein provided, in the same manner and within the same time as provided by law for the correction of erroneous assessments and refunding taxes erroneously charged; provided, however that in such proceedings such taxpayer shall be entitled to relief of interest and penalties only as to the proportionate part of the property so taken or acquired by the Commonwealth or any county or municipality thereof; a church or religious body that is exempt from taxation by Article X, Section 6 of the Constitution of Virginia; a surviving spouse of a member of the armed forces of the United States who was killed in action for that portion of the property that is exempt from taxation pursuant to § 58.1-3219.9; or a disabled veteran for that portion of the property that is exempt from taxation pursuant to § 58.1-3219.5.

Code 1950, § 58-824; 1960, c. 58; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 1; 1984, c. 675; 2012, c. 782; 2015, c. 577.

The clerk of the court of the county or city in which the lands described in § 58.1-3360 lie shall furnish a certificate to the Comptroller and to the county or city treasurer, showing the quantity of land taken or acquired by the government or religious body, the name of the former owner and a description of the date of the recordation of the deed by which such lands were so taken or acquired as shown by the records in his office. Such certificate shall be sufficient evidence to county and city treasurers and city collectors to authorize them to receive and prorate the taxes and levies as herein authorized. In lieu of a printed paper copy of such certificate, the clerk may provide an electronic certificate or secure remote electronic access to such certificate to the Comptroller and his county or city treasurer.

Code 1950, § 58-819; 1984, c. 675; 2017, c. 42.

Any taxpayer whose lands are taken and who has paid his taxes and levies for the whole year, shall be entitled to recover such portion of the taxes, as he would be relieved from paying under the terms of § 58.1-3360, on any lands that may have been taken or acquired by the government or religious body in the same manner as provided by law for the correction of erroneous assessments and reducing taxes erroneously charged. Any taxpayer, who has not paid the taxes or levies on any such lands so taken or acquired, shall also be relieved of interest and penalties therefor; however, he shall make payment for his proportion of the taxes and levies for the year during which the land was so taken or acquired, on or before July 1 of the year following.

Code 1950, §§ 58-820, 58-822; 1960, c. 58; 1962, c. 149; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 47; 1984, c. 675.

Any taxpayer whose lands are taken by condemnation, who appeals from the order or decree of the trial court vesting title in the lands in the United States and who, pending such appeal, pays the taxes and levies on such lands, accruing subsequent to such order or decree vesting title to such lands in the United States, shall, in the event the order or decree appealed from is affirmed, be entitled to recover the taxes and levies so paid from the date upon which the title in the lands was vested in, and the possession and control thereof exercised by, the United States, in the same manner as provided by law for the correction of erroneous assessments and refunding taxes erroneously charged. Such right to recover such taxes and levies shall extend to September 1 of the year following the date of final determination of such appeal.

Code 1950, § 58-821; 1984, c. 675.