All businesses not identified in the "About Machinery and Tools" section below are required to report Business Tangible Personal Property, which includes furniture, fixtures, office equipment such as computers, cell phones and copiers, tools, shop equipment, and machinery. Miscellaneous and incidental tangible personal property with an original cost of less than $500 may be provided as an aggregate estimate of the total cost of all such property, in lieu of a specific itemized list. Only include software that is required to operate your computer such as Microsoft Windows, Android, iOS, Linux, etc. Do not report application software which is not taxable such as customized software or Microsoft Office Products. Do not report equipment used in the business that has an original cost of less than $25 and that is not classified as machinery and tools or merchant capital or short-term rental property.

All individuals or entities conducting business in the County are required to register with the Office of Revenue Administration, obtain a business license, and remit the appropriate BTPP tax return and payment by the May 1 deadline.

If a business does not own or rent tangible personal property, the business must still file a BTPP tax return every year stating that the business does not own or rent any personal business property located in Albemarle County.

Businesses that have been classified as the following are required to separately report machinery and tools:

• Manufacturer
• Miner
• Dairy
• Radio/Television broadcaster
• Dry Cleaner/Laundry business

If your business is classified as a processor or re-processor, the business is required to report both machinery and tools along with furniture, fixtures, and equipment.

Below is a list of what to file.

• All tangible personal property, machinery & tools, and expensed items in a business’s possession on January 1, organized by year of acquisition.
• Include fully depreciated/expensed items
• Report full cost of items
• Costs includes sale and use tax, freight, and installation
• Do not deduct trade allowance
• Do Not Include:
  
  • Daily rental property
  • Airplanes
  • Boats
  • Vehicles (licensed to operate on the highway)

Itemized List

An itemized list of all equipment owned and used by business MUST be attached to the BTPP return when filed with the Office of Revenue Administration.

File Taxes Online

Find the current itemized lists below which can be submitted via email, mail, or in person.

• Email: albemarlecountyfinance@albemarle.com
• Mailing Address: County of Albemarle, 401 McIntire Rd, Room 133, Charlottesville, VA 22902

Expensed Property

Please include all Internal Revenue Code Section 179 deductions.

Leased Property Belonging to Others

• Report the name and address of lessor
• Do not include cost for leased equipment on the form

The BTPP and M&T tax rate is $3.96 per hundred of assessed value.

All property is taxed for the entire year, even if the property is sold or moved out of Albemarle County after January 1 of the current tax year. You can find more information on business tax rates here.

Assessments of Business tangible personal property taxes are based on percentage of original cost and the purchase year of the property.

For example, property purchased last year (first year) will be assessed at 25% of the original purchase price. The assessment is then multiplied by the tax rate (0.0396) to calculate the tax due.

For additional information, contact Office of Revenue Administration at 434-296-5852.

Late Filing Penalties can be found here.