Tax Relief For Spouses Of Military Personnel Killed In Action Approved

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted at its meeting on Tuesday to adopt a lower property tax rate for certain surviving spouses of armed forces personnel who died in the line of duty.

The new ordinance establishes a tax rate of $0.01 per $100 of assessed value, which was the lowest rate allowed under the Code of Virginia. The new rate is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2022 and there is no cap to how much of a reduction may be applied for.

In order for a surviving spouse to qualify for real estate tax relief, the service member must've been killed in action on or after Jan. 1, 2015.

"To be eligible, the surviving spouse must occupy the real property as their principal residence, the cannot remarry, and the late service member's death cannot be the result of criminal conduct," according to Fairfax County staff documents. "The separate class of real property may be taxed at a different rate than that imposed on the general class of property, but the tax rate must be greater than zero and cannot exceed the base tax rate."

In addition, the new option does no allow localities alter its valuation of real property in any way.

Surviving spouses can apply for tax relief by filling out an online application or contacting the Tax Relief & Exemptions office by calling 703-222-8234 (TTY 711) or emailing TaxRelief@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Homeowners are responsible for paying all of their real estate taxes until it has been determined they qualify for the real estate tax relief.

The county estimated the new ordinance would provide more than $456,000 in tax relief annually.