Fairfax County real estate taxes are due in two installments each year, on July 28 and December 5, and personal property taxes on vehicles are due October 5. When a Fairfax County property tax due date falls on a weekend or county holiday, it shifts to the next business day. In 2026, December 5 is a Saturday, so the second real estate installment is actually due Monday, December 7. Miss any of these dates and a 10% late penalty is added automatically.
Real Estate Installments: July 28 and December 5
Virginia law lets each locality set its own tax calendar and decide whether to collect in one payment or two.1Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 58.1-3916 – Counties, Cities, and Towns May Provide Dates for Filing Returns and Set Penalties, Interest, Etc Fairfax County splits the real estate bill in half:
- First installment: July 28
- Second installment: December 5
The county mails bills about 30 days before each installment, so expect the first bill in late June and the second around early November.2Fairfax County, Virginia. Tax Due Dates and Deadlines The 2026 proposed base rate is $1.1225 per $100 of assessed value.3Fairfax County, Virginia. Real Estate Tax Rates Your annual tax is that rate applied to your assessed value, split into two equal payments. Properties inside the Commercial and Industrial Tax District or the Transportation Improvement District carry an additional levy collected on the same schedule.
Vehicle and Personal Property Taxes: October 5 (or February)
Vehicle taxes follow a different calendar. There are two possible due dates depending on when the vehicle was registered in the county:
- October 5 for existing vehicles and any vehicle registered in Fairfax County before July 1.
- February 15 of the following year for vehicles purchased or moved into the county and registered on or after July 1. In 2026, February 15 falls on a Sunday and Presidents’ Day follows on Monday, so that deadline extends to Tuesday, February 17.2Fairfax County, Virginia. Tax Due Dates and Deadlines
The standard vehicle tax rate is $4.57 per $100 of assessed value, but Virginia’s Personal Property Tax Relief Act subsidizes a portion of the tax on the first $20,000 of assessed value for personal-use vehicles.4Fairfax County, Virginia. Vehicle Tax Rate5Fairfax County, Virginia. Vehicle Taxes and Fees The credit appears as a line-item reduction on your bill.
How to Pay Before the Deadline
The Department of Tax Administration takes payments several ways, and the fees vary.
- Online e-check: free.6Fairfax County, Virginia. Payment Options
- Credit or debit card, online or in person: a third-party processor charges a 2.5% service fee. On a $5,000 bill, that’s $125.
- In person at the Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 223, weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Drop box: check payments accepted 24 hours a day at the Government Center parking lot, with two additional drop-box locations at other county facilities.
- Mail: send a check with the payment voucher in the return envelope. The postmark date is what counts, not the date the county opens the envelope, so use certified mail if you’re close to the deadline.
If you pay online, get all the way to the confirmation screen and save the receipt. That’s your proof of payment date if anything is ever disputed.
Penalties If You Miss a Deadline
The penalty structure is different for real estate and vehicles, and vehicles get much more expensive fast.
Real Estate
A 10% late payment penalty is added automatically after each installment due date. Because there are two installments, you can be hit with a separate 10% penalty on each one you miss. Interest runs at 1% per year on top of the penalty.7Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration. I’ve Missed a Due Date. Now What?
Vehicles and Business Personal Property
The initial late penalty is also 10%, but it jumps to 25% once you’re more than 45 days past the due date. Interest accrues at 5% per year, five times the real estate rate.7Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration. I’ve Missed a Due Date. Now What? A $1,000 vehicle tax bill that’s 46 days late already carries $250 in penalties before interest is added.
If Your Mortgage Escrow Pays the Bill
If your mortgage includes an escrow account, your servicer collects a portion of the property tax each month and is responsible for paying the county on time. Federal rules require the servicer to keep escrow records and pay before penalties apply.8Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Escrow Accounts If a servicer misses a payment and the county charges a penalty, the servicer is generally responsible for it, not you.
Servicer mistakes still happen. Check each year that your escrow reflects the current tax amount. When Fairfax County reassesses and your bill changes, your monthly escrow payment is adjusted at the next annual escrow analysis, which sometimes surprises homeowners who aren’t watching for it.
Assessment Appeal Deadlines Are Separate
If you think your property is assessed above fair market value, the appeal deadlines don’t line up with the payment deadlines above. There are two paths, each with its own cutoff.
The administrative appeal to the Department of Tax Administration is the first option and covers residential properties (single-family homes, townhouses, duplexes, condos). The 2026 deadline was April 1 at 4:30 p.m., and the department will not accept late filings. A review can raise, lower, or leave your assessment unchanged.9Fairfax County, Virginia. Online Real Estate Appeal Application – Residential Properties Only Commercial properties use a separate paper application.
If you miss that window or want a second-level review, you can appeal to the Fairfax County Board of Equalization. The 2026 deadline is June 1 at 4:30 p.m., and all supporting evidence must be filed by that date. You carry the burden of proving the assessment exceeds fair market value or was not applied uniformly, and the board can raise, lower, or affirm your assessment.10Fairfax County, Virginia. Board of Equalization Assessment Appeals11Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code – Article 14 Boards of Equalization
An appeal doesn’t pause your payment deadlines. Pay the bill as issued to avoid the 10% penalty, and take any refund later if the appeal reduces your assessment.