Virginia's state income tax tops out at 5.75% — and the top bracket kicks in at just $17,001. On a $65,000 salary, Virginia workers take home ~$51,146/year ($4,262/month). Full breakdown by salary, how VA compares to Washington and Maryland, and three moves to keep more.
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⚡ Quick Summary
- Virginia income tax tops out at 5.75% — and the top bracket kicks in at just $17,001
- On $65,000 salary (single, 2025): ~$51,146/year take-home ($4,262/month)
- No city or county income tax anywhere in Virginia — Richmond and Arlington workers pay state rate only
- Virginia and Washington DC have a reciprocity agreement — Virginia residents who work in DC only pay Virginia tax
How Virginia's income tax works
Virginia taxes income on a four-bracket progressive scale. The rates are modest at the bottom, but the top bracket of 5.75% kicks in at just $17,001 of taxable income — one of the lowest thresholds in the country. That means most working adults in Virginia pay 5.75% on the majority of their earnings.
| Taxable Income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $3,000 | 2% |
| $3,001 – $5,000 | 3% |
| $5,001 – $17,000 | 5% |
| $17,001 and above | 5.75% |
Before applying those brackets, Virginia subtracts its own standard deduction: $8,000 for single filers and $16,000 for married couples filing jointly. There's also a personal exemption of $930 per person. So a single filer earning $65,000 has a Virginia taxable income of $65,000 − $8,000 − $930 = $56,070.
📊 Key Number
Virginia's standard deduction of $8,000 is much lower than the federal $15,000 — so your Virginia taxable income is significantly higher than your federal taxable income on the same salary.
Virginia has no city or county income taxes on wages. It doesn't matter whether you work in Arlington, Richmond, Virginia Beach, or Roanoke — your paycheck is taxed at the state rate only. This is a real advantage over Maryland, where workers pay state tax plus a county tax.
Take-home pay at every salary level
These estimates assume a single filer, standard deductions, no 401(k) contributions, and 2025 federal and Virginia state rates.
| Annual Salary | Total Withheld | Take-Home/Year | Take-Home/Month | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $7,351 | $32,649 | $2,721 | 18.4% |
| $50,000 | $9,891 | $40,109 | $3,342 | 19.8% |
| $60,000 | $12,431 | $47,569 | $3,964 | 20.7% |
| $65,000 | $13,854 | $51,146 | $4,262 | 21.3% |
| $75,000 | $17,393 | $57,607 | $4,801 | 23.2% |
| $80,000 | $19,163 | $60,837 | $5,070 | 24.0% |
| $100,000 | $26,243 | $73,757 | $6,147 | 26.2% |
Want the exact number for your salary? Use the Virginia paycheck calculator to get a personalized breakdown in seconds.
Full tax breakdown: $65,000 example
Here's exactly what comes out of a $65,000 Virginia paycheck, broken down line by line.
| Deduction | Annual Amount | Per Paycheck (biweekly) |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $5,914 | $228 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $4,030 | $155 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | $943 | $36 |
| Virginia state income tax | $2,967 | $114 |
| Total withheld | $13,854 | $533 |
| Take-home pay | $51,146 | $1,967 |
The Virginia state tax piece — $2,967/year — is relatively modest compared to high-tax states like New Jersey ($2,652 on the same salary, but with more brackets stacking higher). Virginia sits in the middle of the pack nationally.
💡 Action Tip
If you contribute $5,000/year to a pre-tax 401(k), your Virginia taxable income drops by $5,000. That saves you roughly $288 in state tax alone (5.75% × $5,000), on top of the federal savings. The Virginia calculator at /virginia shows this impact instantly.
Virginia vs. Washington state and Maryland
Virginia borders three meaningfully different tax environments. Here's how take-home compares on a $65,000 salary (single filer).
| State | State Income Tax | County/City Tax | Take-Home on $65k | Difference vs. VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 5.75% top rate | None | $51,146 | — |
| Washington state | None | None | $54,113 | +$2,967/yr |
| Maryland | 5.75% top rate | 2.25%–3.2% | ~$49,200 | −$1,946/yr |
| North Carolina | 4.5% flat | None | $52,085 | +$939/yr |
Washington state is the big winner — no income tax at all, so you keep an extra ~$2,967/year on $65,000. But Washington has no state income tax because it funds government differently (higher property taxes, a capital gains tax for high earners, and business taxes). The cost of living in Seattle is also dramatically higher than Richmond or Virginia Beach.
Maryland looks similar to Virginia on paper — both have a 5.75% top rate — but Maryland counties also collect income tax, typically 2.25%–3.2% of wages. A Montgomery County resident earning $65,000 pays an extra ~$1,600–$2,000 per year in county tax that a Virginia worker never sees. Calculate your Maryland take-home here.
📊 Key Number
Maryland workers earning $65,000 take home roughly $1,946 less per year than Virginia workers at the same salary — purely from county income taxes that Virginia doesn't have.
Virginia and federal workers: what to know
Northern Virginia is home to one of the largest concentrations of federal employees and contractors in the country. A few things worth knowing if you're in that group:
Federal salaries are taxed by Virginia the same way as private-sector wages. There's no exemption for government pay. If you earn $85,000 as a federal employee in Arlington, your Virginia tax bill is the same as a private-sector worker earning $85,000.
The DC reciprocity agreement matters a lot. Virginia residents who work in DC only pay Virginia income tax — not DC income tax — on their wages. You file a Certificate of Nonresidence (Form D-4A) with your DC employer, and Virginia tax gets withheld instead. If you didn't do this and had DC tax withheld, you can file a DC non-resident return to get it back.
💡 Action Tip
If you live in Virginia and work in DC, make sure your HR has your Virginia Certificate of Nonresidence on file. If they've been withholding DC tax instead, you're entitled to a DC refund — file DC Form D-40B to claim it for prior years.
Three moves to increase your Virginia take-home
These are concrete steps, not theory.
1. Max your pre-tax 401(k) contributions. The 2025 limit is $23,500 (under 50) or $31,000 (50+). Every dollar you contribute reduces your Virginia taxable income at the 5.75% marginal rate. Contributing $10,000/year saves you $575 in Virginia state tax — on top of the federal savings. Run your numbers with the Virginia calculator to see the exact impact at your salary.
2. Contribute to an HSA if you have a high-deductible health plan. HSA contributions are pre-tax at the federal level and also exempt from Virginia income tax. For 2025, the limit is $4,300 (self-only) or $8,550 (family). That's another $247–$492 in annual Virginia tax savings.
3. Verify your W-4 after major life changes. If you got married, had a child, or got a significant raise, your current W-4 withholding may be off. Over-withholding means you're giving Virginia an interest-free loan. Use the IRS withholding estimator and update your W-4 to align your withholding with your actual tax liability.
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📋 Disclaimer
The numbers in this guide are estimates based on 2025 federal and Virginia state tax rates for illustrative purposes. Individual tax situations vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and other factors. We are not accountants or tax advisors. Please consult a qualified tax professional before making financial decisions.
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