Supply issues fuel car tax increase for some Fairfax County residents – Tysons Reporter

Mazdas in a Fairfax automotive dealership lot (by way of Obi Onyeador/Unsplash)

Fairfax County residents who drive used automotives might get A greater car tax invoice this yr than they have been anticipating.

An unwidespread rise Inside The worth of used automotives will Finish in A imply tax enhance of $25 for about 12% of county residents, primarily People who personal cars worthd at $20,000 or much less, the Fairfax County Division of Tax Administration (DTA) said in a information launch yesterday (Tuesday).

“This COVID factor Is primarily making an influence on everyfactor right here,” said Juan Rengel, director of the DTA’s Private Property and Enterprise License Division. “What’s occurring with cars [is] We’re experiencing An enhance of about 5% in car worths of used automotives. Typically, used automotives depreciate in worth yr over yr. That’s not the case this yr.”

Based mostly on Fairfax County, The rise in assessments stems from a lowered current of cars As a Outcome of Of worldwide scarcitys in car parts, notably microchips, and an uptick in demand for used automotives over newly manuactualityured automotives from each clients and dealerships.

People holding onto their used automotives Rather than promoting them, low turnover in fleets for rental automotive corporations, and dealerships compensating for the scarcity in new cars by filling out their tons with used ones are all placing strain on the used automotive market, driving up prices, Rengel says.

He added that low Costs of curiosity have additionally been An factor, enabling extra people To buy loans To buy automotives.

Simply like the Reprimaryder of Virginia, Fairfax County calculates a car’s assessed worth based not on The acquisition worth, however pretty, Out tright here on the market worth of its particular yr, make, and mannequin over All of the gross sales for that car as of Jan. 1.

“Regardmuch less of the automotive worth is as of January 1, that’s what we use,” Rengel said.

Vehicle taxes Might be appealed if the proprietor believes their car has been overassessed based on physique damage, rusting, or extreme mileage, in accordance to the DTA.

Fairfax County’s current car tax price is $4.57 per $100 of assessed worth. Private property tax funds will Start to Exit Inside the mail quickly, with cost for current and new cars registered Inside the county Earlier to July 1 due on Oct. 5.

Rengel notes that Virginia partially relieves the tax burden on house proprietors by subsidizing a portion of The primary $20,000 of assessed worth for cars utilized For personal use. This yr, the state Pays 57.5% of the tax invoice, although house proprietors are required to certify to the county yrly that their car reprimarys licensed to acquire the subsidy.

Based mostly on Rengel, Fairfax County tasks That it will collect $496.7 million in personal property tax revenues this yr, all of Which might go into the county’s widespread fund that helps schools, public safety, human providers, and completely different authorities features.

Though it’s unwidespread for automotive worths to go up over the course of a yr, The proceedd uncertainty of the pandemic implys car taxes could enhance as quickly as extra subsequent yr.

“If factors proceed The biggest method They’re, We will see prices going up as quickly as extra in 2022, however Really, we’re speculating for 2022 at this level,” Rengel said.

Photograph by way of Obi Onyeador/Unsplash