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Finance Business Taxes
Please mail completed Meal Coupon and/or Room and Lodging Coupon to the Finance Department, 401 Lafayette St., Williamsburg, VA 23185, or place them in the drop box located at the main entrance to the Municipal Building. Mail must be postmarked on or before the 20th of the month or left in the drop by the end of the day on the 20th of the month the remittance is due to avoid penalty and interest.
- Prepared Food & Beverage Taxes (Meal Taxes)
- Transient Lodging Taxes (Room Taxes)
- Cigarette Stamp Taxes
- Tax on Alcohol License
Meal Tax - 5% of gross sales
Prepared Food & Beverage Tax (Meal Tax) Coupons
Prepared Food & Beverage Tax (Meal Tax) Registration
The city imposes and levies prepared Food and Beverage Taxes, commonly known as Meal Taxes. This tax is held in trust for the city and is not the business's property.
A Prepared Food and Beverage Tax (Meal Tax) coupon must be filed each month, even if there have been no sales. Payment can be made in person at the Finance Department located at 401 Lafayette Street, Williamsburg, VA, 23185 or postmarked by the Post Office on or before the 20th of each month. There is also a drop box at the front entrance to our building.
All food establishments are to register for and collect prepared food and beverage tax in addition to the state sales tax. For further information, see the City of Williamsburg code Sec. 18-271 through 282.
Late Fees / Penalties
Late fees and penalties are to be included with late payments.
The penalty is 10% or $10, whichever is greater, and is to be added each month payment is delinquent (if the tax is under $10 - the penalty is the same as the tax). Interest is 0.83% per month, beginning the first day of the month after payment is due. (for example, the April payment is due by May 20th. Penalty begins May 21st; interest begins June 1st.)
For additional assistance, contact 757-220-6155.
Room Tax - 5% of gross sales
Lodging Tax - $2 per room-night
Transient Lodging (Room/Lodging) Coupon
Transient Lodging (Room/Lodging) Registration
The city imposes and levies prepared Transient Lodging Taxes, commonly known as Room and Lodging Taxes. This tax is held in trust for the city and is not the business's property.
A Transient Lodging (Room/Lodging) coupon must be filed each month, even if there have been no sales. Payment can be made in person at the Finance Department located at 401 Lafayette Street, Williamsburg, VA, 23185 or postmarked by the Post Office on or before the 20th of each month. There is also a drop box at the front entrance of the Municipal Building.
All transient lodging establishments, including but not limited to public or private hotels, inns, hostelries, tourist homes or houses, motels, rooming houses, or other lodging places offering lodging for compensation, are to register for and collect transient occupancy tax in addition to the state sales tax. For additional information, view the City of Williamsburg's Code Section 18-236 through 245.
The $2 per room-night tax money is used for tourism development and promotion in the Historic Triangle Area. For further information, see the City of Williamsburg code Section 18-236 and Code of Virginia 58-1-3823 C.
Late Fees / Penalties
Late fees and penalties are to be included with late payments. The penalty is 10% or $10, whichever is greater, but should not exceed the amount of the tax (for example, if the tax is under $10, the penalty is the same as the tax). Interest is 0.83% per month, beginning the first day of the month after payment is due. (for example, the April payment is due by May 20th. Penalty begins May 21st; interest begins June 1st.)
For additional assistance, contact 757-220-6155.
Every local cigarette dealer shall purchase stamps to pay the tax levied and shall affix a stamp to each package of cigarettes before delivering or furnishing cigarettes to any seller. Our Cigarette Tax Stamp order form is available online. Refer to City Cody Article XI. Section 18-400 to Section 18-420 for additional information.
Cigarette Stamp Tax Order Form
Contact the Finance Department for additional information on local tax rates and stamping requirements at 757-220-6155.
In addition to the state alcoholic beverage license taxes provided for in the Code of Virginia, the city imposes license taxes on local wine and beer licensees and mixed beverages. Reference the Code of the City of Williamsburg Section 18-382 through 383 for additional information.
For additional assistance, contact 757-220-6155.