Virginia Law

Article 3. Merchants' Capital Tax.

The capital of merchants is segregated for local taxation only; however, no county, city or town shall be required to impose a tax on such capital. However, no rate or assessment ratio in any county, city or town for merchants' capital shall be greater than such rate and ratio as was in effect in such county, city or town on January 1, 1978.

Code 1950, §§ 58-266.1, 58-832; 1950, p. 155; 1956, c. 242; 1964, c. 424; 1968, c. 619; 1970, cc. 231, 547; 1974, cc. 196, 438; 1975, cc. 23, 621; 1976, cc. 521, 719; 1977, c. 320; 1978, cc. 772, 799, 817; 1979, cc. 565, 568, 570; 1980, cc. 318, 736; 1981, cc. 419, 636; 1982, cc. 348, 548, 552, 554, 558, 633; 1983, c. 554; 1984, cc. 247, 675, 695; 1999, c. 200.

A. Merchants' capital is defined as follows: Inventory of stock on hand; daily rental vehicles as defined in § 58.1-1735; and all other taxable personal property of any kind whatsoever, except money on hand and on deposit and except tangible personal property not offered for sale as merchandise, which tangible personal property shall be reported and assessed as such.

B. For purposes of this section, a repair and service operation (i) carried on as an integral part of and in conjunction with a business that is primarily mercantile and (ii) the principal sales of such business are subject to the tax imposed by Article 9 (§ 58.1-1734 et seq.) of Chapter 17 or to the tax imposed by Chapter 24 (§ 58.1-2400 et seq.) of this title shall be deemed a mercantile business, and all capital, as defined herein, including all repair parts, materials and supplies associated with such repair and service operation shall be deemed merchants' capital.

C. For purposes of valuing lottery tickets as part of a dealer's inventory, cost shall include only the compensation payable to a licensed sales agent as provided by rules or regulations adopted by the Board consistent with the provisions of subdivision 11 of subsection A of § 58.1-4007. The value of lottery tickets shall not be based on the cost of the tickets to the merchant.

Code 1950, §§ 58-266.1, 58-833; 1950, p. 155; 1956, c. 242; 1964, cc. 424, 472; 1968, c. 619; 1970, cc. 231, 547; 1974, cc. 196, 438; 1975, cc. 23, 621; 1976, cc. 521, 719; 1977, cc. 56, 320; 1978, cc. 772, 799, 817; 1979, cc. 565, 568, 570; 1980, cc. 318, 736; 1981, cc. 145, 419, 636; 1982, cc. 348, 548, 552, 554, 558, 633; 1983, cc. 544, 554; 1984, cc. 247, 675, 695; 1987, cc. 572, 591; 1989, c. 589; 1990, c. 151; 1997, c. 853; 2009, cc. 480, 692; 2011, cc. 405, 639.

Merchants' capital reported as inventory of pharmaceutical wholesalers shall constitute a classification for local taxation separate from other classifications of merchants' capital as defined in § 58.1-3510. The governing body of any county, city or town may levy a tax on such inventory at different rates from the tax levied on other merchants' capital. The rates of tax and the rates of assessment shall not exceed that applicable generally to merchants' capital.

1997, c. 71.

Merchants' capital of (i) any wholesaler reported as inventory that is located, and is normally located, in a structure that contains at least 100,000 square feet, with at least 100,000 square feet used solely to store such inventory, and (ii) any retailer reported as inventory that is located, and is normally located, in a structure that contains at least 200,000 square feet, with at least 200,000 square feet used solely to store such inventory, shall constitute a classification for local taxation separate from other classifications of merchants' capital as defined in § 58.1-3510. The governing body of any county, city, or town may levy a tax on such inventory at different rates from the tax levied on other merchants' capital. The rates of tax and the rates of assessment shall not exceed that applicable generally to merchants' capital.

2018, c. 23; 2020, c. 541.

Repealed by Acts 2009, cc. 480 and 692, cl. 2, effective for tax years beginning on and after January 1, 2009.