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Virginia State Excise Taxes 2024 - Fuel, Cigarette, and Alcohol Taxes

Gasoline:
19.88¢ per gallon		 Cigarettes:
30¢ per pack		 Liquor:
$19.18 per gal		 Wine:
$1.51 per gal		 Beer:
26¢ per gal

What is an Excise Tax?

An excise tax is a tax directly levied on certain goods by a state or federal government. The most prominent excise taxes collected by the Virginia state government are the fuel tax on gasoline and the so-called "sin tax" collected on cigarettes and alcoholic beverages.

An excise tax is not the same thing as the Virginia Sales Tax.

The Virginia Sales Tax is collected as a percentage of the final purchase price of all qualifying sales, and is collected directly from the end consumer of the product.

Virginia's excise taxes, on the other hand, are flat per-unit taxes that must be paid directly to the Virginia government by the merchant before the goods can be sold. Merchants may be required to attach tax stamps to taxable merchandise to show that the excise tax was paid.

Even though excise taxes are collected from businesses, virtually all Virginia merchants pass on the excise tax to the customer through higher prices for the taxed goods.

Virginia per capita excise tax

Virginia collects an average of $461 in yearly excise taxes per capita, higher then 50% of the other 50 states.

Virginia General Excise Taxes - Gasoline, Cigarettes, and More

Virginia collects general excise taxes on the sale of motor fuel (gasoline and diesel), cigarettes (per pack), and cell phone service plans. Other general taxes, similar to excise taxes, may be collected on other items including transportation tickets, tanning salons, vehicle sales, gas guzzlers, firearms, and more.

Gas sales tax in Virginia - Virginia oil and gasoline excise taxes

Virginia Gas Tax

34th highest gas tax

The Virginia excise tax on gasoline is 19.88¢ per gallon, lower then 68% of the other 50 states. Virginia's excise tax on gasoline is ranked #34 out of the 50 states. The Virginia gas tax is included in the pump price at all gas stations in Virginia.

Tax on buying cigarettes in Virginia - Virginia cigarette excise taxes

Virginia Cigarette Tax

49th highest cigarette tax

The Virginia excise tax on cigarettes is $0.30 per 20 cigarettes, one of the lowest cigarettes taxes in the country. Virginia's excise tax on cigarettes is ranked #49 out of the 50 states. The Virginia cigarette tax of $0.30 is applied to every 20 cigarettes sold (the size of an average pack of cigarettes). If a pack contains more then 20 cigarettes, a higher excise tax will be collected.

Tax on phone service in Virginia - Virginia phone taxes

Virginia Cellphone Tax

43rd highest cellphone tax

The average tax collected on cell phone plans in Virginia is $6.56 per phone service plan, one of the lowest cellphone taxes in the country. Virginia's average cellphone tax is ranked #43 out of the 50 states. The Virginia cellphone tax is already included in the service plan price you pay to your service provider, and may be listed as "Misc. taxes and Fees" or "Other" on your monthly bill.

Automobile / Vehicle Tax In Virginia - Virginia car road tax

Virginia Car Tax

Virginia collects a registration fee and a title fee on the sale or transfer of cars and motorcycles, which are essentially renamed excise taxes. Unlike standard excise taxes, however, the end consumer must pay the tax directly to the Virginia Department of Transportation and receive documentation (registration and title papers) proving the fees were paid.

Virginia Alcohol Excise Taxes - Liquor, Wine, and Beer

Virginia collects special excise taxes on the sale of all types of alcohol, subdivided into specific taxes on wine, beer, and liquor (hard alcohol other then wine and beer). Alcohol taxes are sometimes collectively referred to as "sin taxes", which also include excise taxes on cigarettes, gambling, drugs, and certain other items.

Please note that the IRS also collects a federal excise taxes on alcoholic beverages, which are included separately from Virginia's alcohol taxes in the final purchase price.

Tax on beer in Virginia - Virginia beer excise taxes

Virginia Beer Tax

24th highest beer tax

The Virginia excise tax on beer is $0.26 per gallon, higher then 52% of the other 50 states. Virginia's beer excise tax is ranked #24 out of the 50 states. The Virginia beer tax is already added to the purchase price of all beer bought in Virginia, whether in kegs, bottles, or cans.

Tax on buying wine in Virginia - Virginia wine excise taxes

Virginia Wine Tax

7th highest wine tax

The Virginia excise tax on Wine is $1.51 per gallon, one of the highest wine taxes in the country. Virginia's excise tax on wine is ranked #7 out of the 50 states. The Virginia wine tax is already added to the purchase price of all wine bought in Virginia.

Tax on buying liquor in Virginia - Virginia Liquor & Spirits excise taxes

Virginia Liquor Tax

3rd highest liquor tax

The Virginia excise tax on liquor is $19.18 per gallon, one of the highest liquor taxes in the country. Virginia's excise tax on Spirits is ranked #3 out of the 50 states. All liquor stores in Mississippi are state-owned. As a result, excise taxes for hard alcohol are set by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS). The Virginia liquor tax applies to all hard alcohol (alchoholic beverages other then beer and wine), and is already included in the purchase price by the retailer.

Virginia Excise Tax Deductions & Refunds

Can I deduct my Virginia Excise taxes?

Unlike the Virginia Sales Tax, excise taxes are not generally deductible on Virginia income tax returns or on your federal tax return. However, the IRS occasionally allows certain excise taxes to be deducted for certain tax years.

Vehicle Tax Deduction
Virginia sales and excise taxes on cars or vehicles bought during 2009 may be deducted once from your federal tax return. You cannot deduct excise taxes for vehicles bought during other years.
Phone Tax Deduction
You may deduct excise taxes paid on long-distance phone calls between the years of 2003 and 2006 from your federal tax return.

Can I get a Virginia Excise Tax Refund?

While sales tax refunds are available for goods that are purchased in Virginia and exported, Virginia excise taxes paid on goods are generally non-refundable. Incentives may exist allowing certain state of federal excise taxes to be refunded on goods bought for specific uses, but such incentives change frequently.

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Virginia Excise Tax - References

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