[Archived] Alexandria 2018 First Half Real Estate Tax Bills Mailed

The City of Alexandria has mailed bills for the first half 2018 real estate tax, refuse fee and stormwater utility fee to all property owners and/or mortgage companies. The 2018 real estate tax rate is $1.130 per $100 of assessed value, the annual refuse fee rate is $373 and the annual stormwater utility fee rate is $140.

First half real estate tax and fee payments are due Friday, June 15. Late payment penalty and interest will be assessed on all real estate taxes and fees that are not paid or postmarked by the due date. The late payment penalty is five percent of the tax if paid by June 30, 2018, and 10 percent of the tax if paid on or after July 1, 2018, or $10, whichever is greater. The late payment penalty is 10 percent of the refuse fee. Interest on tax and late payment penalty accrues at an annual rate of 10 percent for the first year and five percent for each year thereafter, beginning June 16, 2018, and continues until the entire outstanding balance is paid.  Interest accrues on unpaid refuse fees at an annual rate of 10 percent and stormwater utility fees at an annual rate of 6 percent, beginning June 16, 2018.There is no late payment penalty on stormwater utility fee.

Due to Federal tax law changes at the end of 2017, some property owners prepaid their 2018 (and future year) real estate taxes. Generally, real estate tax payments are deductible for income tax purposes for those who itemize their returns, while user fees such as refuse and stormwater utility are not deductible.  The City will follow this policy and apply prepayments to first half 2018 real estate tax rather than to refuse and stormwater utility fees.  Accordingly, first half real estate tax bills may include a first half tax balance, refuse fee and/or stormwater utility fee that are due by June 15, 2018.  Any remaining prepayment will be applied to the second half 2018 real estate tax during the next billing in late September. For additional information, please contact the Treasury Division at payments@alexandriava.gov or at 703.746.3902, Option 8.

In May 2017, the City of Alexandria adopted a stormwater utility fee to fund the City's Stormwater Management Program, including Chesapeake Bay cleanup mandates. In May 2018, all property owners were billed for half of the stormwater utility fee as a separate line item on the real estate tax bill, with the next half of the annual fee billed in October 2018.

To appeal the stormwater utility fee with the Director of the Department of Transportation & Environmental Services, please submit a Stormwater Utility Fee Appeal and Adjustment Request Form by June 15, 2018. Forms will be available on the City’s website at alexandriava.gov/Stormwater, and at the Stormwater Management Division, 2900‐B Business Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22314.

The Code of Virginia does not allow for waiver of tax, penalty, or interest due to inability to pay or failure to receive a tax bill. Property owners who do not receive a real estate tax bill in the mail and do not have their real estate taxes paid by their mortgage companies should contact the City’s Treasury Division at  payments@alexandriava.gov, or call 703.746.3902, Option 8, to request a bill before June 15. Detailed real estate tax balances and payment history are available 24 hours a day on the City’s website at  realestate.alexandriava.gov. Property owners who changed their mailing address but did not previously report this change to the City can update their address by contacting the Real Estate Assessor’s Office at  realestate@alexandriava.gov to ensure that future bills and correspondence are mailed to the correct address.

Additional information about the City’s real estate tax is available on the Finance Department website at  alexandriava.gov/RealEstateTax. Information on real estate assessments, appeals, or updating the property owner’s mailing address is available from the Real Estate Assessor’s Office at  alexandriava.gov/RealEstate. Information on payments, late payment penalty, and interest can be obtained through the Alexandria Tax Guide at  alexandriava.gov/TaxGuide or by contacting the Treasury Division.  Information on the stormwater utility fee is available at alexandriava.gov/Stormwater.

Si necesita ayuda en Español, por favor llame al 703.746.3907.