REAL ESTATE TAXES
General Information
Real estate taxes are assessed as of January 1st of each year. Real estate is billed semi-annually.
A 10% penalty is added on June 6th and December 6th for late payment. Interest is 10% annually and begins accruing the first day of the month following the due date. Failure to receive a tax bill does not relieve you of the penalty and interest charge applied to all past due bills. Taxpayers may pay real estate tax bills "in advance" at any time.
Please notify the Commissioner of Revenue at 540-483-3083 OPTION 3 if you have a question regarding the amount of the assessment or there has been a change in ownership.
If you need to change your billing address, you can submit an address request change by searching and viewing your tax record and clicking the 'Address Change Request' button or you can contact the Franklin County Commisioner of Revenue at 540-483-3083 OPTION 3.
Payment Options
In Person
You may pay in person at the Treasurer's Office, 1255 Franklin Street Suite 101, Rocky Mount, VA 24151. Payment by cash, check, money order, cashier’s check, Visa, Master Card or Discover certified funds are accepted.
Online
You may also pay online. Please click the Search and Pay Taxes button at the top of the page. In order to pay your personal property bill online you will need your account number. Payments by MasterCard, VISA, and Discover are accepted. Additional fees will apply.
Postal Service
Payment should be mailed to the following address:
Treasurer of Franklin County
1255 Franklin Street
Rocky Mount, VA 24151
Avoid Penalties
Make sure that you receive bills for all property that you own. Check off the bills as you receive them and contact the Treasurer's office at 540-483-3078 if you are missing any bills. UNDER VA LAW, IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE TAXPAYER TO OBTAIN ALL TAX BILL(S) AND TO MAKE TIMELY PAYMENT.
Mail your property tax payments early to make sure that the envelope is postmarked on or before the due date. According to VA law the Treasurer must review the postmark date to determine if payment was mailed before the deadline.
Notice to New Home Buyers
You can possibly save costly penalties if, prior to the purchase of property and close of escrow, you make sure there are no prior delinquent taxes owing, and pre-arrange who pays the current year due and owing.
Please keep in mind that as a new property owner, Virginia law requires that you be responsible for the timely payment of taxes on your property. DO NOT WAIT TO BE NOTIFIED or expect receipt of a tax bill. None may be forthcoming. Make it a matter of your personal attention and responsibility to find out what taxes are due and owing by you, as required by law. In a normal escrow, current year taxes are usually pro-rated at the time of closing or escrow between the interested parties, based on the number of calendar days each party held ownership during the tax year. Pro-ration is a matter strictly between parties involved. The Treasurer cannot adjust the taxes. The amount that is shown on the tax bill is the amount due by the party determined at the close of escrow. Check your title papers to see if you were credited or debited an amount for the time during the year you owned the property.
Tax Relief for Seniors, Disabled, and Veterans
Franklin County provides a real estate tax relief program for seniors and disabled persons based on income and net worth. Franklin County also provides tax relief to qualifying disabled veterans. For eligibility information regarding these programs, see the FAQ page of this website or contact the Commissioner of Revenue at 540-483-3083.