The real estate tax rate
Amherst County taxes real estate at $0.56 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2026. The rate is set by the county Board of Supervisors and applies to the county’s assessed value of the land and buildings, not to the price a home sells for.
What that looks like on a bill
The math is simple: divide the assessed value by 100, then multiply by the rate.
| Assessed value | Yearly county real estate tax |
|---|---|
| $200,000 | $1,120 |
| $300,000 | $1,680 |
| $400,000 | $2,240 |
These are illustrations at the 2026 rate, not quotes. One county rate page (the Commissioner of the Revenue’s) showed a $0.61 real estate rate when we checked on October 7, 2026, while the Treasurer’s page shows $0.56 for 2026. Confirm with the Treasurer at (434) 946-9400 before you budget. A property’s actual assessment is on the county’s records, and we can pull it for any home you are considering.
When the bills are due
Real estate tax is paid in two installments, due July 1 and December 5. You can look up and pay a bill online through the county’s payment site, or in person at the Treasurer’s Office, 153 Washington Street, Amherst, (434) 946-9400.
Vehicle (personal property) tax
Cars, trucks and other vehicles are taxed at $3.45 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2026. Ownership is set as of January 1.
Virginia’s Personal Property Tax Relief Act lowers the bill on qualifying personal vehicles: the tax on the first $20,000 of value is reduced by 25.9%. Qualifying vehicles include personal cars, motorcycles, and pickup or panel trucks under 7,501 pounds.
Moving from out of state? Register your vehicle with Virginia and report it to the Commissioner of the Revenue so the bill is right from the start.
Living inside the Town of Amherst
The Town of Amherst lists $0.00 for both real estate and personal property tax, so a home in town pays the same county rates as one outside it. In-town owners do pay a yearly town vehicle license fee ($25 for a car, $11 for a motorcycle, $8 for a trailer), and the Town bills water, sewer and trash service separately.
Business equipment
Machinery and tools used in a business are taxed at $2.00 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2026, due December 7.
Taxes at closing
Real estate is assessed to the owner of record on January 1. When a home changes hands during the year, the taxes are prorated at closing, so the seller pays for the months they owned it and the buyer pays from the closing date on. Your settlement statement shows the exact split.
Who to call
- Tax bills and payments: Amherst County Treasurer, (434) 946-9400, 153 Washington Street, Amherst.
- Homes inside the Town of Amherst: Town Hall, (434) 946-7885, about the vehicle license fee and utility billing.
- A specific property: call us at 434-381-2279. We will look up the assessment and walk you through the full cost of owning it.
Sources
- Amherst County, Real Estate Tax (Treasurer): https://www.amherstcountyva.gov/325/Real-Estate
- Amherst County, Personal Property Tax: https://www.amherstcountyva.gov/324/Personal-Property-Tax
- Amherst County, Other Property Taxes (machinery and tools): https://www.amherstcountyva.gov/322/Other-Property-Taxes
- Town of Amherst, Taxes: https://amherstva.gov/administration/finance/taxes/
- Amherst County online tax payments: https://www.countyofamhersttax.com
Checked October 7, 2026. Rates and programs change; confirm with the office named before you rely on a figure.