How Property Tax Works
The City of Newport News, Virginia operates an independent city property tax system that funds essential municipal services including public schools, police and fire protection, parks and recreation, and infrastructure maintenance. Property taxes are assessed based on the fair market value of real estate and personal property as determined by annual assessments conducted by the Commissioner of Revenue.
The current real estate tax rate is $1.18 per $100 of assessed value (equivalent to 1.18%), which is slightly above the Virginia statewide average of approximately 1%. Property owners should note that Newport News is an independent city, so there are no additional county-level taxes, but special assessment districts may apply additional levies for specific improvements or services in certain neighborhoods. All property tax assessments and collections are managed directly by the city rather than a separate county authority.