Pittsylvania County assesses Business Personal Property, Merchants' Capital and Machinery and Tools owned as of January 1 of the tax year.  Business Personal Property (furniture, fixtures, and hand tools) is assessed at a percentage of the cost ranging from 30% - 5% depending on the year acquired. Heavy construction machinery, including but not limited to land movers, bulldozers, front-end loaders, graders, packers, power shovels, cranes, pile drivers, forest harvesting and silvicultural activity equipment and ditch and other types of diggers owned by businesses  are assessed at 10% original cost. The tax rate set by the Board of Supervisors is the same as Personal Property - $8.50 per $100 assessed value. Merchants' Capital is assessed at 30% of the fair market value and the tax rate set by the Board of Supervisors is $2.75 per $100 assessed value.  Machinery & Tools is assessed at 10% of original capitalized cost and the tax rate set by the Board of Supervisors is $4.50 per $100 assessed value.  Businesses are requested to file an itemized list of personal property and equipment declaring the date of acquisition and original cost. Machinery or tools  used directly in the harvesting of forest products and liable for payment of forest products tax shall be taxed at the Machinery and Tool rate set by the Board of Supervisors which is currently $4.50 per $100 assessed value.  To qualify for this taxation, copies of the Forest Products Tax return must be submitted with yearly reporting form.

The return must be filed by February 15th. If the return is received after February 15 or not returned there is a 10% or $10.00 penalty (whichever is greater) assessed.  Any questions concerning the Business Personal Property Tax  should be directed to (434) 432-7945.