Virginia Law

Article 1. Exemptions Generally.

As used in this chapter the word "taxation" shall not be construed to include assessments for local improvements as provided for in Article 2 (§ 15.2-2404 et seq.) of Chapter 24 of Title 15.2, Article 2 (§ 15.2-2404 et seq.) of Chapter 24 of Title 15.2 or the charter of any city or town.

Code 1950, § 58-12.1; 1964, c. 470; 1984, c. 675.

Any property exempt from taxation pursuant to this chapter which is subsequently sold to a person not having tax-exempt status shall immediately become subject to taxation and be assessed therefor. The tax levied for the current year shall be prorated for the remainder of the tax year.

Code 1950, § 58-16.1; 1964, c. 178; 1984, c. 675.

Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to exempt from taxation the property of any person, firm, association or corporation who shall, expressly or impliedly, directly or indirectly, contract or promise to pay a sum of money or other benefit, on account of death, sickness or accident, to any of its members or other person.

Code 1950, § 58-13; 1984, c. 675.

A. Whenever any building or land, or part thereof, exempt from taxation pursuant to this chapter and not belonging to the Commonwealth is a source of revenue or profit, whether by lease or otherwise, all of such buildings and land shall be liable to taxation as other land and buildings in the same county, city or town. When a part but not all of any such building or land, however, is a source of revenue or profit, and the remainder of such building or land is used by any organization exempted from taxation pursuant to this chapter for its purposes, only such portion as is a source of profit or revenue shall be liable for taxation.

B. In assessing any building and the land it occupies pursuant to subsection A, the assessing officer shall only assess for taxation that portion of the property as is a source of profit or revenue and the tax shall be computed on the basis of the ratio of the space as is a source of profit or revenue to the entire property. When any such property is leased for portions of a year the tax shall be computed on the basis of the average use of such property for the preceding year.

C. In determining whether any building or land, or part thereof, is a source of revenue or profit, rent from the lease of the property applied to reduce indebtedness against the property by payment of the principal of an outstanding bond or note held by a political subdivision of the Commonwealth shall not constitute revenue or profit, provided that the property is leased to a lessee who is exempt from taxation pursuant to § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is used by such lessee exclusively for charitable purposes.

Code 1950, §§ 58-14, 58-16; 1950, p. 659; 1984, c. 675; 1996, c. 534.

A. The appropriate county, city or town assessing officer shall make and maintain an inventory and assessment of all tax-exempt real property and all such property immune from real estate taxation within his county, city or town, excluding streets, highways and other roadways. Such official shall identify such property by a general site description indicating the owner thereof and report such information on the land book along with an assessment of the fair market value of such property, the total assessed valuation for each type of exemption and a computation of total tax which would be due if such property were not exempt. A total of such assessed valuations and a computation of the percentage such exempt and immune property represents in relation to all property assessed within the county, city or town shall be published annually by such local assessing officer and a copy thereof shall be filed with the Department of Taxation on forms prescribed by the Department. All costs incurred pursuant to this section shall be borne by the county, city or town.

B. The appropriate county, city or town assessing officer shall also cause to be published, on an annual basis, at the same time and in the same publication, or in the same manner, as notice of the local real estate tax rates is published or otherwise posted, a statement indicating the aggregate assessed value of all real property exempted from taxation under §§ 58.1-3607 and 58.1-3608, and Articles 3, 4 and 5 of Chapter 36 of this title, and the total reduction in tax revenues resulting from such exemptions.

Code 1950, § 58-14.1; 1975, c. 612; 1976, c. 486; 1984, c. 675; 1989, c. 38.

The governing body of any county, city or town, after giving sixty days' written notice, may require by local ordinance any entity, except the Commonwealth, any political subdivision of the Commonwealth, or the United States, which owns real and personal property exempt pursuant to this chapter to file triennially an application with the appropriate assessing officer as a requirement for retention of the exempt status of the property. Such application shall show the ownership and usage of such property and shall be filed within the next sixty days preceding the tax year for which such exemption, or the retention thereof, is sought.

The local governing body may submit to the General Assembly a list of those organizations whose property is designated as tax exempt under § 58.1-3650.1 et seq. which the local governing body wants to remove from its exempt property list. Legislation including such a list must be introduced no later than the first calendar day of any session of the General Assembly unless requested by the Governor.

Code 1950, § 58-14.2; 1975, c. 613; 1984, c. 675; 1995, c. 346.

Repealed by Acts 2016, c. 305, cl. 2.