Virginia Law

Article 1. Tangible Personal Property Tax.

Tangible personal property shall consist of all personal property not otherwise classified by (i) § 58.1-1100 as intangible personal property, (ii) § 58.1-3510 as merchants' capital, or (iii) § 58.1-3510.4 as short-term rental property. "Tangible personal property" does not include fixtures, as defined in § 58.1-3295.3, if such fixtures are taxed in accordance with § 58.1-3295.3. Such tangible personal property is hereby segregated for and made subject to local taxation only pursuant to Article X, § 4 of the Constitution of Virginia.

Code 1950, §§ 58-829, 58-830; 1960, c. 418; 1970, c. 325; 1974, c. 445; 1975, cc. 47, 541; 1978, cc. 178, 656, 843; 1979, c. 576; 1980, c. 412; 1982, c. 633; 1984, cc. 675, 689; 2010, cc. 255, 295; 2022, cc. 671, 672.

The aggregate of all tangible personal property owned by any person, firm, association, unincorporated company, or corporation which is leased by such owner to any agency or political subdivision of the federal, state or local governments shall be subject to local taxation.

Code 1950, § 58-831.1; 1960, c. 239; 1975, c. 504; 1984, c. 675.

Any person, firm, association, unincorporated company, or corporation engaged in business for profit who or which leases, borrows or otherwise has made available to it any tangible personal property to be used in such business from any agency or political subdivision of the federal, state or local governments shall be liable to local taxation, unless otherwise exempted or partially exempted by state or local laws, to the same extent, in the same manner, and on the same basis as if the lessee were the owner thereof. This section shall not apply to any such property owned by the Virginia Port Authority and leased in connection with the operation of piers and marine terminals and related facilities, or to property owned by any transportation district organized under the Transportation District Act of 1964 (§ 33.2-1900 et seq.) and leased to provide transportation services.

Code 1950, § 58-831.2; 1960, c. 239; 1975, c. 504; 1980, c. 382; 1981, c. 442; 1984, c. 675.

A. Tangible personal property is classified for valuation purposes according to the following separate categories which are not to be considered separate classes for rate purposes:

1. Farm animals, except as exempted under § 58.1-3505.

2. Farm machinery, except as exempted under § 58.1-3505.

3. Automobiles, except those described in subdivisions 7, 8, and 9 of this subsection and in subdivision A 8 of § 58.1-3504, which shall be valued by means of a recognized pricing guide or if the model and year of the individual automobile are not listed in the recognized pricing guide, the individual vehicle may be valued on the basis of percentage or percentages of original cost. In using a recognized pricing guide, the commissioner shall use either of the following two methods. The commissioner may use all applicable adjustments in such guide to determine the value of each individual automobile, or alternatively, if the commissioner does not utilize all applicable adjustments in valuing each automobile, he shall use the base value specified in such guide which may be either average retail, wholesale, or loan value, so long as uniformly applied within classifications of property. If the model and year of the individual automobile are not listed in the recognized pricing guide, the taxpayer may present to the commissioner proof of the original cost, and the basis of the tax for purposes of the motor vehicle sales and use tax as described in § 58.1-2405 shall constitute proof of original cost. If such percentage or percentages of original cost do not accurately reflect fair market value, or if the taxpayer does not supply proof of original cost, then the commissioner may select another method which establishes fair market value.

4. Trucks of less than two tons, which may be valued by means of a recognized pricing guide or, if the model and year of the individual truck are not listed in the recognized pricing guide, on the basis of a percentage or percentages of original cost.

5. Trucks and other vehicles, as defined in § 46.2-100, except those described in subdivisions 4, and 6 through 10 of this subsection, which shall be valued by means of either a recognized pricing guide using the lowest value specified in such guide or a percentage or percentages of original cost.

6. Manufactured homes, as defined in § 36-85.3, which may be valued on the basis of square footage of living space.

7. Antique motor vehicles, as defined in § 46.2-100, which may be used for general transportation purposes as provided in subsection D of § 46.2-730.

8. Taxicabs.

9. Motor vehicles with specially designed equipment for use by individuals with disabilities, which shall not be valued in relation to their initial cost, but by determining their actual market value if offered for sale on the open market.

10. Motorcycles, mopeds, all-terrain vehicles, and off-road motorcycles as defined in § 46.2-100, campers and other recreational vehicles, which shall be valued by means of a recognized pricing guide or a percentage or percentages of original cost.

11. Boats weighing under five tons and boat trailers, which shall be valued by means of a recognized pricing guide or a percentage or percentages of original cost.

12. Boats or watercraft weighing five tons or more, which shall be valued by means of a percentage or percentages of original cost.

13. Aircraft, which shall be valued by means of a recognized pricing guide or a percentage or percentages of original cost.

14. Household goods and personal effects, except as exempted under § 58.1-3504.

15. Tangible personal property used in a research and development business, which shall be valued by means of a percentage or percentages of original cost.

16. Programmable computer equipment and peripherals used in business which shall be valued by means of a percentage or percentages of original cost to the taxpayer, or by such other method as may reasonably be expected to determine the actual fair market value.

17. Computer equipment and peripherals used in a data center, as defined in subdivision A 43 of § 58.1-3506, which shall be valued by means of a percentage or percentages of original cost, or by such other method as may reasonably be expected to determine the actual fair market value.

18. All tangible personal property employed in a trade or business other than that described in subdivisions 1 through 17, which shall be valued by means of a percentage or percentages of original cost.

19. Outdoor advertising signs regulated under Article 1 (§ 33.2-1200 et seq.) of Chapter 12 of Title 33.2.

20. All other tangible personal property.

B. Methods of valuing property may differ among the separate categories, so long as each method used is uniform within each category, is consistent with requirements of this section and may reasonably be expected to determine actual fair market value as determined by the commissioner of revenue or other assessing official; however, assessment ratios shall only be used with the concurrence of the local governing body. A commissioner of revenue shall upon request take into account the condition of the property. The term "condition of the property" includes, but is not limited to, technological obsolescence of property where technological obsolescence is an appropriate factor for valuing such property. The commissioner of revenue shall make available to taxpayers on request a reasonable description of his valuation methods. Such commissioner, or other assessing officer, or his authorized agent, when using a recognized pricing guide as provided for in this section, may automatically extend the assessment if the pricing information is stored in a computer. For any locality in which the commissioner of revenue or other assessing official adjusts the valuation of property described in subdivision A 3 to account for the amount of mileage on such vehicles, such adjustment shall also be provided to motorcycles described in subdivision A 10.

Code 1950, §§ 58-829, 58-829.3, 58-829.5; 1960, c. 418; 1970, cc. 325, 655; 1974, c. 445; 1975, cc. 47, 541; 1976, c. 567; 1978, cc. 155, 178, 656, 843; 1979, c. 576; 1980, c. 412; 1981, c. 236; 1982, c. 633; 1984, cc. 675, 689; 1985, c. 105; 1987, c. 568; 1991, cc. 253, 255; 1994, c. 827; 1996, c. 529; 1997, cc. 192, 250, 433, 457; 2006, c. 896; 2013, cc. 287, 652, 783; 2018, cc. 28, 292; 2022, c. 655; 2023, cc. 148, 149.

A. Notwithstanding any provision of § 58.1-3503, household goods and personal effects are hereby defined as separate items of taxation and classified as follows:

1. Bicycles.

2. Household and kitchen furniture, including gold and silver plates, plated ware, watches and clocks, sewing machines, refrigerators, automatic refrigerating machinery of any type, vacuum cleaners and all other household machinery, books, firearms and weapons of all kinds.

3. Pianos, organs, and all other musical instruments; phonographs, record players, and records to be used therewith; and radio and television instruments and equipment.

4. Oil paintings, pictures, statuary, curios, articles of virtu and works of art.

5. Diamonds, cameos or other precious stones and all precious metals used as ornaments or jewelry.

6. Sporting and photographic equipment.

7. Clothing and objects of apparel.

8. Antique motor vehicles as defined in § 46.2-100 which may not be used for general transportation purposes.

9. All-terrain vehicles, mopeds, and off-road motorcycles as defined in § 46.2-100.

10. Electronic communications and processing devices and equipment, including but not limited to cell phones and tablet and personal computers, including peripheral equipment such as printers.

11. All other tangible personal property used by an individual or a family or household incident to maintaining an abode.

The classification above set forth shall apply only to such property owned and used by an individual or by a family or household primarily incident to maintaining an abode.

The governing body of any county, city or town may, by ordinance duly adopted, exempt from taxation all of the above classes of household goods and personal effects.

B. Notwithstanding any provision set forth above, household appliances in residential rental property used by an individual or by a family or household incident to maintaining an abode shall be deemed to be fixtures and shall be assessed as part of the real property in which they are located.

For purposes of this subsection, "household appliances" shall mean all major appliances customarily used in a residential home and which are the property of the owner of the real estate, including, without limitation, refrigerators, stoves, ranges, microwave ovens, dishwashers, trash compactors, clothes dryers, garbage disposals and air conditioning units.

Code 1950, § 58-829.1; 1958, c. 72; 1984, cc. 675, 768; 1997, c. 250; 2006, c. 896; 2013, c. 783; 2014, c. 279.

A. Farm animals, grains and other feeds used for the nurture of farm animals, agricultural products as defined in § 3.2-6400, farm machinery and farm implements are hereby defined as separate items of taxation and classified as follows:

1. Horses, mules and other kindred animals.

2. Cattle.

3. Sheep and goats.

4. Hogs.

5. Poultry.

6. Grains and other feeds used for the nurture of farm animals.

7. Grain; tobacco; wine produced by farm wineries as defined in § 4.1-100 and other agricultural products in the hands of a producer.

8. a. Farm machinery and farm implements other than the farm machinery and farm implements described in subdivision 10, which shall include (i) equipment and machinery used by farm wineries as defined in § 4.1-100 in the production of wine; (ii) equipment and machinery used by a nursery for the production of horticultural products; (iii) any farm tractor as defined in § 46.2-100, regardless of whether such farm tractor is used exclusively for agricultural purposes; (iv) motor vehicles that are used primarily for agricultural purposes, for which the owner is not required to obtain a registration certificate, license plate, and decal or pay a registration fee pursuant to § 46.2-665, 46.2-666, or 46.2-670; and (v) privately owned trailers as defined in § 46.2-100 that are primarily used by farmers in their farming operations for the transportation of farm animals or other farm products as enumerated in subdivisions 1 through 7. For purposes of this section, "nursery" means any premises where nursery stock is propagated, grown, fumigated, treated, packed, stored, or otherwise prepared for sale or distribution, and "nursery stock" means all trees, shrubs, woody vines (including ornamentals), bush fruits, grapevines, fruit trees, and nut trees offered for sale and distribution; all buds, grafts, scions, and cuttings from such plants; and any container, soil, and other packing material with such plants or plant products. "Nursery stock" also means herbaceous plants and any florist or greenhouse plants.

b. Farm machinery, farm equipment, and farm implements, other than farm machinery and farm implements described in subdivision 10, used by an indoor, closed, controlled-environment commercial agricultural facility, including property described in subdivisions 8 a and b of § 58.1-609.2, for the production of agricultural products. For purposes of this subdivision, "indoor, closed, controlled-environment commercial agricultural facility" shall include indoor vertical farming or a greenhouse.

9. Equipment used by farmers or farm cooperatives qualifying under § 521 of the Internal Revenue Code to manufacture industrial ethanol, provided that the materials from which the ethanol is derived consist primarily of farm products.

10. Farm machinery designed solely for the planting, production or harvesting of a single product or commodity.

11. Unless exempted by subdivision 8, privately owned trailers as defined in § 46.2-100 that are primarily used by farmers in their farming operations for the transportation of farm animals or other farm products as enumerated in subdivisions 1 through 7.

12. Unless exempted by subdivision 8, motor vehicles that are used primarily for agricultural purposes, for which the owner is not required to obtain a registration certificate, license plate, and decal or pay a registration fee pursuant to § 46.2-665, 46.2-666, or 46.2-670, or pickup or panel trucks or sport utility vehicles for which the owner is required to obtain a permanent farm use placard pursuant to § 46.2-684.2.

13. Trucks or tractor trucks as defined in § 46.2-100, that are primarily used by farmers in their farming operations for the transportation of farm animals or other farm products as enumerated in subdivisions 1 through 7 or for the transport of farm-related machinery.

14. Farm machinery and farm implements, other than the farm machinery and farm implements described in subdivisions 8 and 10, which shall include equipment and machinery used for forest harvesting and silvicultural activities.

15. Farm machinery and farm implements, other than the farm machinery and farm implements described in subdivisions 8, 10, and 14, which shall include season-extending vegetable hoop houses used for in-field production of produce.

B. The governing body of any county, city or town may, by ordinance duly adopted, exempt in whole or in part from taxation, or provide a different rate of tax upon, all or any of the above classes of farm animals, grains and feeds used for the nurture of farm animals, farm vehicles, and farm machinery, implements or equipment set forth in subsection A.

C. Grain; tobacco; wine produced by farm wineries as defined in § 4.1-100; and other agricultural products, as defined in § 3.2-6400, shall be exempt from taxation under this chapter while in the hands of a producer.

1976, c. 560; 1979, c. 576; 1980, c. 314; 1984, cc. 150, 675; 1993, c. 866; 1998, c. 332; 2004, c. 556; 2012, c. 272; 2018, cc. 30, 618; 2019, c. 259; 2020, c. 251; 2023, cc. 85, 86, 344; 2024, cc. 87, 88.

A. The items of property set forth below are each declared to be a separate class of property and shall constitute a classification for local taxation separate from other classifications of tangible personal property provided in this chapter:

1. a. Boats or watercraft weighing five tons or more, not used solely for business purposes;

b. Boats or watercraft weighing less than five tons, not used solely for business purposes;

2. Aircraft having a maximum passenger seating capacity of no more than 50 that are owned and operated by scheduled air carriers operating under certificates of public convenience and necessity issued by the State Corporation Commission or the Civil Aeronautics Board;

3. Aircraft having a registered empty gross weight equal to or greater than 20,000 pounds that are not owned or operated by scheduled air carriers recognized under federal law, but not including any aircraft described in subdivision 4;

4. Aircraft that are (i) considered Warbirds, manufactured and intended for military use, excluding those manufactured after 1954, and (ii) used only for (a) exhibit or display to the general public and otherwise used for educational purposes (including such flights as are necessary for testing, maintaining, or preparing such aircraft for safe operation), or (b) airshow and flight demonstrations (including such flights necessary for testing, maintaining, or preparing such aircraft for safe operation), shall constitute a new class of property. Such class of property shall not include any aircraft used for commercial purposes, including transportation and other services for a fee;

5. All other aircraft not included in subdivision 2, 3, or 4 and flight simulators;

6. Antique motor vehicles as defined in § 46.2-100 which may be used for general transportation purposes as provided in subsection D of § 46.2-730;

7. Tangible personal property used in a research and development business;

8. Heavy construction machinery not used for business purposes, including land movers, bulldozers, front-end loaders, graders, packers, power shovels, cranes, pile drivers, forest harvesting and silvicultural activity equipment except as exempted under § 58.1-3505, and ditch and other types of diggers;

9. Generating equipment purchased after December 31, 1974, for the purpose of changing the energy source of a manufacturing plant from oil or natural gas to coal, wood, wood bark, wood residue, or any other alternative energy source for use in manufacturing and any cogeneration equipment purchased to achieve more efficient use of any energy source. Such generating equipment and cogeneration equipment shall include, without limitation, such equipment purchased by firms engaged in the business of generating electricity or steam, or both;

10. Vehicles without motive power, used or designed to be used as manufactured homes as defined in § 36-85.3;

11. Computer hardware used by businesses primarily engaged in providing data processing services to other nonrelated or nonaffiliated businesses;

12. Privately owned pleasure boats and watercraft, 18 feet and over, used for recreational purposes only;

13. Privately owned vans with a seating capacity of not less than seven nor more than 15 persons, including the driver, used exclusively pursuant to a ridesharing arrangement as defined in § 46.2-1400;

14. Motor vehicles specially equipped to provide transportation for individuals with physical disabilities;

15. Motor vehicles (i) owned by members of a volunteer emergency medical services agency or a member of a volunteer fire department or (ii) leased by volunteer emergency medical services personnel or a member of a volunteer fire department if the volunteer is obligated by the terms of the lease to pay tangible personal property tax on the motor vehicle. One motor vehicle that is owned by each volunteer member who meets the definition of "emergency medical services personnel" in § 32.1-111.1 or volunteer fire department member, or leased by each volunteer member who meets the definition of "emergency medical services personnel" in § 32.1-111.1 or volunteer fire department member if the volunteer is obligated by the terms of the lease to pay tangible personal property tax on the motor vehicle, may be specially classified under this section, provided the volunteer regularly responds to emergency calls. The volunteer shall furnish the commissioner of revenue, or other assessing officer, with a certification by the chief of the volunteer emergency medical services agency or volunteer fire department, that the volunteer is an individual who meets the definition of "emergency medical services personnel" in § 32.1-111.1 or a member of the volunteer fire department who regularly responds to calls or regularly performs other duties for the emergency medical services agency or fire department, and the motor vehicle owned or leased by the volunteer is identified. The certification shall be submitted by January 31 of each year to the commissioner of revenue or other assessing officer; however, the commissioner of revenue or other assessing officer shall be authorized, in his discretion, and for good cause shown and without fault on the part of the volunteer, to accept a certification after the January 31 deadline. In any county that prorates the assessment of tangible personal property pursuant to § 58.1-3516, a replacement vehicle may be certified and classified pursuant to this subsection when the vehicle certified as of the immediately prior January date is transferred during the tax year;

16. Motor vehicles (i) owned by auxiliary members of a volunteer emergency medical services agency or volunteer fire department or (ii) leased by auxiliary members of a volunteer emergency medical services agency or volunteer fire department if the auxiliary member is obligated by the terms of the lease to pay tangible personal property tax on the motor vehicle. One motor vehicle that is regularly used by each auxiliary volunteer fire department or emergency medical services agency member may be specially classified under this section. The auxiliary member shall furnish the commissioner of revenue, or other assessing officer, with a certification by the chief of the volunteer emergency medical services agency or volunteer fire department, that the volunteer is an auxiliary member of the volunteer emergency medical services agency or fire department who regularly performs duties for the emergency medical services agency or fire department, and the motor vehicle is identified as regularly used for such purpose; however, if a volunteer meets the definition of "emergency medical services personnel" in § 32.1-111.1 or volunteer fire department member and an auxiliary member are members of the same household, that household shall be allowed no more than two special classifications under this subdivision or subdivision 15. The certification shall be submitted by January 31 of each year to the commissioner of revenue or other assessing officer; however, the commissioner of revenue or other assessing officer shall be authorized, in his discretion, and for good cause shown and without fault on the part of the auxiliary member, to accept a certification after the January 31 deadline;

17. Motor vehicles owned by a nonprofit organization and used to deliver meals to homebound persons or provide transportation to senior citizens or individuals with disabilities in the community to carry out the purposes of the nonprofit organization;

18. Privately owned camping trailers as defined in § 46.2-100, and privately owned travel trailers as defined in § 46.2-1500, which are used for recreational purposes only, and privately owned trailers as defined in § 46.2-100, which are designed and used for the transportation of horses except those trailers described in subdivision A 11 of § 58.1-3505;

19. One motor vehicle owned and regularly used by a veteran who has either lost, or lost the use of, one or both legs, or an arm or a hand, or who is blind or who is permanently and totally disabled as certified by the Department of Veterans Services. In order to qualify, the veteran shall provide a written statement to the commissioner of revenue or other assessing officer from the Department of Veterans Services that the veteran has been so designated or classified by the Department of Veterans Services as to meet the requirements of this section, and that his disability is service-connected. For purposes of this section, a person is blind if he meets the provisions of § 46.2-100;

20. Motor vehicles (i) owned by persons who have been appointed to serve as auxiliary police officers pursuant to Article 3 (§ 15.2-1731 et seq.) of Chapter 17 of Title 15.2 or (ii) leased by persons who have been so appointed to serve as auxiliary police officers if the person is obligated by the terms of the lease to pay tangible personal property tax on the motor vehicle. One motor vehicle that is regularly used by each auxiliary police officer to respond to auxiliary police duties may be specially classified under this section. In order to qualify for such classification, any auxiliary police officer who applies for such classification shall identify the vehicle for which this classification is sought, and shall furnish the commissioner of revenue or other assessing officer with a certification from the governing body that has appointed such auxiliary police officer or from the official who has appointed such auxiliary officers. That certification shall state that the applicant is an auxiliary police officer who regularly uses a motor vehicle to respond to auxiliary police duties, and it shall state that the vehicle for which the classification is sought is the vehicle that is regularly used for that purpose. The certification shall be submitted by January 31 of each year to the commissioner of revenue or other assessing officer; however, the commissioner of revenue or other assessing officer shall be authorized, in his discretion, and for good cause shown and without fault on the part of the member, to accept a certification after the January 31 deadline;

21. Until the first to occur of June 30, 2029, or the date that a special improvements tax is no longer levied under § 15.2-4607 on property within a Multicounty Transportation Improvement District created pursuant to Chapter 46 (§ 15.2-4600 et seq.) of Title 15.2, tangible personal property that is used in manufacturing, testing, or operating satellites within a Multicounty Transportation Improvement District, provided that such business personal property is put into service within the District on or after July 1, 1999;

22. Motor vehicles which use clean special fuels as defined in § 46.2-749.3, which shall not include any vehicle described in subdivision 38 or 40;

23. Wild or exotic animals kept for public exhibition in an indoor or outdoor facility that is properly licensed by the federal government, the Commonwealth, or both, and that is properly zoned for such use. "Wild animals" means any animals that are found in the wild, or in a wild state, within the boundaries of the United States, its territories or possessions. "Exotic animals" means any animals that are found in the wild, or in a wild state, and are native to a foreign country;

24. Furniture, office, and maintenance equipment, exclusive of motor vehicles, that are owned and used by an organization whose real property is assessed in accordance with § 58.1-3284.1 and that is used by that organization for the purpose of maintaining or using the open or common space within a residential development;

25. Motor vehicles, trailers, and semitrailers with a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds or more used to transport property or passengers for hire by a motor carrier engaged in interstate commerce;

26. All tangible personal property employed in a trade or business other than that described in subdivisions A 1 through A 20, except for subdivision A 18, of § 58.1-3503;

27. Programmable computer equipment and peripherals employed in a trade or business;

28. Privately owned pleasure boats and watercraft, motorized and under 18 feet, used for recreational purposes only;

29. Privately owned pleasure boats and watercraft, nonmotorized and under 18 feet, used for recreational purposes only;

30. Privately owned motor homes as defined in § 46.2-100 that are used for recreational purposes only;

31. Tangible personal property used in the provision of Internet services. For purposes of this subdivision, "Internet service" means a service, including an Internet Web-hosting service, that enables users to access content, information, electronic mail, and the Internet as part of a package of services sold to customers;

32. Motor vehicles (i) owned by persons who serve as auxiliary, reserve, volunteer, or special deputy sheriffs or (ii) leased by persons who serve as auxiliary, reserve, volunteer, or special deputy sheriffs if the person is obligated by the terms of the lease to pay tangible personal property tax on the motor vehicle. For purposes of this subdivision, the term "auxiliary deputy sheriff" means auxiliary, reserve, volunteer, or special deputy sheriff. One motor vehicle that is regularly used by each auxiliary deputy sheriff to respond to auxiliary deputy sheriff duties may be specially classified under this section. In order to qualify for such classification, any auxiliary deputy sheriff who applies for such classification shall identify the vehicle for which this classification is sought, and shall furnish the commissioner of revenue or other assessing officer with a certification from the governing body that has appointed such auxiliary deputy sheriff or from the official who has appointed such auxiliary deputy sheriff. That certification shall state that the applicant is an auxiliary deputy sheriff who regularly uses a motor vehicle to respond to such auxiliary duties, and it shall state that the vehicle for which the classification is sought is the vehicle that is regularly used for that purpose. The certification shall be submitted by January 31 of each year to the commissioner of revenue or other assessing officer; however, the commissioner of revenue or other assessing officer shall be authorized, in his discretion, and for good cause shown and without fault on the part of the member, to accept a certification after the January 31 deadline;

33. Forest harvesting and silvicultural activity equipment, except as exempted under § 58.1-3505;

34. Equipment used primarily for research, development, production, or provision of biotechnology for the purpose of developing or providing products or processes for specific commercial or public purposes, including medical, pharmaceutical, nutritional, and other health-related purposes; agricultural purposes; or environmental purposes but not for human cloning purposes as defined in § 32.1-162.21 or for products or purposes related to human embryo stem cells. For purposes of this section, biotechnology equipment means equipment directly used in activities associated with the science of living things;

35. Boats or watercraft weighing less than five tons, used for business purposes only;

36. Boats or watercraft weighing five tons or more, used for business purposes only;

37. Tangible personal property which is owned and operated by a service provider who is not a CMRS provider and is not licensed by the FCC used to provide, for a fee, wireless broadband Internet service. For purposes of this subdivision, "wireless broadband Internet service" means a service that enables customers to access, through a wireless connection at an upload or download bit rate of more than one megabyte per second, Internet service, as defined in § 58.1-602, as part of a package of services sold to customers;

38. Low-speed vehicles as defined in § 46.2-100;

39. Motor vehicles with a seating capacity of not less than 30 persons, including the driver;

40. Motor vehicles powered solely by electricity;

41. Tangible personal property designed and used primarily for the purpose of manufacturing a product from renewable energy as defined in § 56-576;

42. Motor vehicles leased by a county, city, town, or constitutional officer if the locality or constitutional officer is obligated by the terms of the lease to pay tangible personal property tax on the motor vehicle;

43. Computer equipment and peripherals used in a data center. For purposes of this subdivision, "data center" means a facility whose primary services are the storage, management, and processing of digital data and is used to house (i) computer and network systems, including associated components such as servers, network equipment and appliances, telecommunications, and data storage systems; (ii) systems for monitoring and managing infrastructure performance; (iii) equipment used for the transformation, transmission, distribution, or management of at least one megawatt of capacity of electrical power and cooling, including substations, uninterruptible power supply systems, all electrical plant equipment, and associated air handlers; (iv) Internet-related equipment and services; (v) data communications connections; (vi) environmental controls; (vii) fire protection systems; and (viii) security systems and services;

44. Motor vehicles (i) owned by persons who serve as uniformed members of the Virginia Defense Force pursuant to Article 4.2 (§ 44-54.4 et seq.) of Chapter 1 of Title 44 or (ii) leased by persons who serve as uniformed members of the Virginia Defense Force pursuant to Article 4.2 (§ 44-54.4 et seq.) of Chapter 1 of Title 44 if the person is obligated by the terms of the lease to pay tangible personal property tax on the motor vehicle. One motor vehicle that is regularly used by a uniformed member of the Virginia Defense Force to respond to his official duties may be specially classified under this section. In order to qualify for such classification, any person who applies for such classification shall identify the vehicle for which the classification is sought and shall furnish to the commissioner of the revenue or other assessing officer a certification from the Adjutant General of the Department of Military Affairs under § 44-11. That certification shall state that (a) the applicant is a uniformed member of the Virginia Defense Force who regularly uses a motor vehicle to respond to his official duties, and (b) the vehicle for which the classification is sought is the vehicle that is regularly used for that purpose. The certification shall be submitted by January 31 of each year to the commissioner of the revenue or other assessing officer; however, the commissioner of revenue or other assessing officer shall be authorized, in his discretion, and for good cause shown and without fault on the part of the member, to accept a certification after the January 31 deadline;

45. If a locality has adopted an ordinance pursuant to subsection D of § 58.1-3703, tangible personal property of a business that qualifies under such ordinance for the first two tax years in which the business is subject to tax upon its personal property pursuant to this chapter. If a locality has not adopted such ordinance, this classification shall apply to the tangible personal property for such first two tax years of a business that otherwise meets the requirements of subsection D of § 58.1-3703;

46. Miscellaneous and incidental tangible personal property employed in a trade or business that is not classified as machinery and tools pursuant to Article 2 (§ 58.1-3507 et seq.), merchants' capital pursuant to Article 3 (§ 58.1-3509 et seq.), or short-term rental property pursuant to Article 3.1 (§ 58.1-3510.4 et seq.), and has an original cost of less than $500. A county, city, or town shall allow a taxpayer to provide an aggregate estimate of the total cost of all such property owned by the taxpayer that qualifies under this subdivision, in lieu of a specific, itemized list;

47. Commercial fishing vessels and property permanently attached to such vessels; and

48. The following classifications of vehicles:

a. Automobiles as described in subdivision A 3 of § 58.1-3503;

b. Trucks of less than two tons as described in subdivision A 4 of § 58.1-3503;

c. Trucks and other vehicles as described in subdivision A 5 of § 58.1-3503;

d. Motor vehicles with specially designed equipment for use by individuals with disabilities as described in subdivision A 9 of § 58.1-3503; and

e. Motorcycles, mopeds, all-terrain vehicles, off-road motorcycles, campers, and other recreational vehicles as described in subdivision A 10 of § 58.1-3503.

B. The governing body of any county, city, or town may levy a tax on the property enumerated in subsection A at different rates from the tax levied on other tangible personal property. The rates of tax and the rates of assessment shall (i) for purposes of subdivisions A 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11 through 20, 22 through 24, and 26 through 47, not exceed that applicable to the general class of tangible personal property, (ii) for purposes of subdivisions A 7, 9, 21, and 25, not exceed that applicable to machinery and tools, and (iii) for purposes of subdivision A 10, equal that applicable to real property. If an item of personal property is included in multiple classifications under subsection A, then the rate of tax shall be the lowest rate assigned to such classifications.

C. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, for any qualifying vehicle, as such term is defined in § 58.1-3523, (i) included in any separate class of property in subsection A and (ii) assessed for tangible personal property taxes by a county, city, or town receiving a payment from the Commonwealth under Chapter 35.1 (§ 58.1-3523 et seq.) for providing tangible personal property tax relief, the county, city, or town may levy the tangible personal property tax on such qualifying vehicle at a rate not to exceed the rates of tax and rates of assessment required under such chapter.

Code 1950, §§ 58-829.2:1, 58-829.3, 58-829.5 to 58-829.9, 58-831.01; 1960, c. 418; 1970, c. 655; 1976, c. 567; 1978, c. 155; 1979, cc. 351, 576; 1980, c. 412; 1981, cc. 236, 445; 1982, c. 633; 1984, c. 675; 1985, c. 220; 1986, c. 195; 1988, c. 822; 1989, cc. 80, 694; 1990, cc. 677, 693; 1991, cc. 247, 330, 478; 1992, cc. 642, 680; 1993, c. 100; 1994, cc. 171, 221, 266, 631; 1995, c. 142; 1996, cc. 537, 603, 605; 1997, cc. 244, 250, 433, 457; 1999, cc. 289, 358; 2000, cc. 409, 413, 441, 442, 604; 2001, cc. 41, 447; 2002, cc. 6, 63, 148, 337; 2003, cc. 657, 670; 2004, cc. 4, 556, 591; 2004, Sp. Sess. I, c. 1; 2005, cc. 271, 325, 357; 2006, cc. 200, 231, 400; 2007, cc. 88, 322, 609; 2008, cc. 26, 94, 143; 2009, cc. 40, 44; 2010, cc. 264, 849; 2012, cc. 97, 288; 2013, cc. 39, 271, 287, 393, 652; 2014, cc. 50, 409; 2015, cc. 487, 502, 503, 593, 615; 2016, c. 483; 2017, cc. 116, 447; 2018, cc. 28, 292; 2020, cc. 64, 247, 251; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 347; 2022, cc. 30, 578; 2023, cc. 148, 149.