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1. How much is a bicycle license?

The cost of a bicycle license if $2.00.

2. What information is required when registering my bicycle?

- You will need to bring a valid driver’s license or identification card
- The frame serial number
- Make and model
- Size
- Color of Bicycle

3. When does the bicycle license expire?

The bicycle license does not expire. It is valid for the lifetime of the registered bicycle.

4. Where do I get a bicycle License?

At the City Treasurer's Office. 

Portsmouth City Treasurer's Office
801 Crawford Street, 1^st Floor

757-393-8651
 

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1. Do I have to purchase a city license for my pet?

It shall be unlawful for any person to own a dog four months old or older in the city unless such dog is licensed under the provisions of the state code.

2. How much does a city license cost annually?

Spayed or Neutered $5.00
Not Spayed or Neutered $10.00
Kennel License for 6-20 dogs $60.00
Kennel License for 21+ dogs $100.00
Duplicate Tag $1.00
*The cost of the tag can not be prorated.

3. Can I purchase a multi-year license?

Yes, the costs of multi-year licenses are as follows:

Spayed or Neutered $10.00 - 2 year tag
$15.00 - 3 year tag

Not Spayed or Neutered $20.00 - 2 year tag $30.00 - 3 year tag
*Multi-year tags can only be purchased at the City Treasurer’s office.

4. What is the deadline for purchasing a license?

Licenses expire on December 31st, however dog owners have until January 31st to purchase a new license.

5. Does my service dog need a license?

Yes, your dog needs a license but there is no charge for a dog that is trained to assist a visually, hearing or mobility impaired person.

6. Where can I purchase a dog license?

You can purchase a license at any Treasurer’s office location or at the Portsmouth Humane Society at 4022 Seaboard Court, Portsmouth VA 23701.

7. • Should I notify you if I no longer own my dog or my dog passes away?

Please notify the Treasurer’s office at 757 393-8651 to update your record. If not, a bill will continue to be mailed to you each year.

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1. Can I dispute a parking ticket?

You have 14 days from the date of issuance to dispute a parking ticket. You must dispute the ticket in person at the General District Court, Traffic Division, 1345 Court Street, Suite 104, Portsmouth, VA 23705. Please contact the General District Court at 757-393-8506 for additional information.

2. How can I pay a parking ticket?

Parking tickets can be paid in person, by US Mail, drop box at City Hall and Churchland office and online @ www.portsmouthva.gov, select Online Payments.

3. How long do I have to pay a parking ticket?

14 days from the date of issue. The police department adds a $10.00 late fee after the 14 days.

4. What happens if I do not pay the parking ticket within 30 days?

You will be assessed an administrative fee and subject to legal collection actions.

5. Who would I contact with questions concerning my ticket?

The City Treasurer’s Office only collects payments. Police records will answer any questions concerning your ticket @ 757-393-8737.

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1. How are Real Estate taxes assessed?

Real Estate Taxes are assessed by the City Assessor’s Office. If you have questions regarding your assessment, you may contact the office of the City Assessor at (757) 393-8631.

2. What is the current tax rate for the City of Portsmouth?

$1.30 per $100 of the assessed value.

3. What are the Due Dates for Real Estate Taxes?

1st Quarter – September 30
2nd Quarter – December 31
3rd Quarter – March 31
4th Quarter – June 30

4. Are all four (4) quarters of Real Estate Taxes billed the same?

Yes

5. What does it mean when only the Stormwater Management Fee is charged to an account?

There is an exemption of taxes that has been applied to the property.

6. What do ALL zeros ($0) on ALL quarters on the Real Estate Tax Data chart mean?

An account has been paid in full through the end of the fiscal year.

7. Are payment method & payment date a matter of public record?

No

8. How long are the figures on the website good through?

End of the calendar month.

9. How do I request additional tax information on a property?

Fax request to: (757) 393-5095 or submit email request to: [email protected].

10. What do I do if my taxes are paid by my mortgage company but I receive a Real Estate Tax bill?

Contact your lender to ensure your taxes are being escrowed.

11. What do I do if I have paid off my loan to my mortgage company?

Contact the Treasurer’s Office to notify them that the quarterly statements need to be mailed directly to you.

12. When are the Real Estate Tax bills mailed by the Treasurer’s Office?

Bills are mailed out 30 days before the due date. If you do not receive a bill, contact the Treasurer’s Office & a duplicate bill will be mailed to you.

13. What is a Stormwater Management Fee?

www.portsmouthva.gov/publicworks/stormwater
Contact Phone# (757) 393-8666

14. How do I sign up for the ACH (Automatic Bank Draft) Program?

Fill out ACH Application and return to the Treasurer’s Office with a copy of a voided check.

15. How do I apply for Senior Tax Relief?

Senior Citizen Tax Relief is administered by the Department of Social Services. Applications can also be obtained from the Treasurer's Office.

16. How do I apply for Disabled Veteran’s Relief?

How do I apply for Disabled Veteran’s Relief? Contact the Commissioner of the Revenue (757) 393-8779.

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1. What are the due dates for estimated tax payments?

Estimated tax payments are due on the following dates:
• Voucher #1 - May 1
• Voucher #2 - June 15
• Voucher #3 - September 15
• Voucher #4 - January 15

2. When are Virginia Individual Income Tax returns due?

Virginia Individual Income Tax returns are due on May 1 each year. If you need assistance in filing and processing your return, you may contact the Office of the Commissioner of the Revenue at 757-393-8773.

3. Where can I get vouchers to pay my estimated state income taxes?

City of Portsmouth Commissioner of the Revenue’s Office.

4. Where do I send my estimated tax payments?

The first individual estimated tax voucher and payment are sent to the Office of the Commissioner of the Revenue to set up your account. The payment is then forwarded to the Treasurer's Office for processing. All remaining vouchers and payments are sent directly to the Treasurer's Office for processing. Please make checks payable to the Portsmouth City Treasurer and mail to:
801 Crawford Street
Portsmouth, VA 23704

5. I filed my individual income tax return with the Commissioner of the Revenue and I owe taxes. Can I make partial payments to the City Treasurer?

Yes. Partial payments are accepted until the end of the year provided you have executed an agreement with the City Treasurer's Office. However, please note that entering into an agreement does not relieve penalty and interest assessed by the state.

6. How are penalty and interest calculated?

Penalty accrues on the unpaid balance at the rate of 6% per month beginning May 2. Interest accrues on the unpaid balance at the rate of less than 1% per month beginning May 2 until paid in full.

7. What happens if my account is not paid off at the end of the year?

All balances are transmitted to the Department of Taxation to update individual records. Collection procedures are then handled at the state level.

8. I've recently received a letter from the Department of Taxation regarding a past due balance for a prior tax year. Can I make payment arrangements with the City Treasurer's Office?

No. The City Treasurer's Office only accepts payments for current year taxes. If you have received a letter from the Department of Taxation, you must contact them directly.

9. I filed my taxes; however, I have not received my refund check.

Refund checks are issued by the Department of Taxation. You can check the status of your refund by calling (804) 367-2486.

10. Where can I get tax forms (760) / instruction pamphlets?

The City of Portsmouth Commissioner of the Revenue’s Office (757) 393-8773 has a supply of current year State Income Tax forms.

11. I received a letter stating my taxes have been withheld due to a debt to the City.

The City of Portsmouth participates in the State Set-off Debt Program. If we have been unsuccessful in collecting a debt by conventional methods, we will request that the Department of Taxation withhold your State Income Tax Refund for payment. We current use the setoff debt program for delinquent Real Estate Taxes, Personal Property Taxes, Parking Tickets, Public Utility Bills and Emergency Services Bills.

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1. What are Personal Property Taxes?

Personal Property Taxes are taxes which are assessed on cars, trucks, trailers, motorcycles, boats, campers, buses, mobile homes, motor homes and air craft. Taxes are assessed by the Commissioner of the Revenue. If you have questions regarding your assessment contact the Commissioner of the Revenue at 757-393-8779.

2. How do I know if I should be paying Personal Property Taxes?

Vehicles registered in Portsmouth or are showing garaged in Portsmouth with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles for more than 30 days are taxable, with the exception of those exempted by law. An example of an exemption would be active duty military non-resident (legal home of record is other than Virginia).

3. Do I have to pay Personal Property Taxes if I am active duty military?

The Service members Civil Relief Act (SCRA) sets forth that any person in the military service is except from taxation by all states except their home state. Vehicles registered in the name of the active military person only, are exempt. If a vehicle is jointly owned, and named is non-military, the vehicle is taxable.

The Military Spouses Residency Relief Act, effective November 11, 2009, amends the Service members Civil Relief Act. Spouses of active duty military members who have a vehicle titled in their names or jointly with the service member may be exempt from property tax if certain conditions are met. Contact the Commission of Revenue at 757-393-8779 for more information.

4. I am military and lease a vehicle. Am I taxable?

You may be exempt on the first $20,000.00 assessed value of the vehicle. Please contact the Commissioner of Revenue at 757-393-8779 for additional information.

5. I am a Disabled Veteran. Do I have to pay taxes?

If you are 100% service connected disabled you may qualify for the exemption. Please Contact the Commissioner of Revenue at 757-393-8779 for additional information.

6. I sold my vehicle. What do I have to do?

You must notify the Department of Motor Vehicles at 800-435-5137and the Commissioner of Revenue at 757-393-8779.

7. What if I am unable to pay my tax bill in full by the due date?

Visit or contact the Treasurer’s Office at  757-393-8651 or send email to [email protected]. They will work with you and set up a payment agreement for paying your taxes within a reasonable time period. An agreement will not relieve the penalties and interest but may delay any legal collections.

8. I paid tax when I purchased my vehicle. Wasn’t that personal property tax?

No, taxes paid at the time of sale were sales and titling taxes and maybe registration fees. Personal property tax is paid to the city in which the vehicle is registered on a bill that identifies the city.

9. I only owned my car in Portsmouth less than a month why do I still have a tax bill?

Portsmouth pro-rates its tax bills, it bills for any portion of the year that you had the vehicle registered in Portsmouth.

10. My wife and I are divorced why am I being taxed for her car?

If you are on a title with someone else you are equally responsible for that bill.

11. Who determines the the personal property tax rate?

All tax rates and or fees are set by the Portsmouth City Council.

12. I don’t own this car any longer, should I be responsible for the tax?

If the Commissioner of Revenue has determined through DMV records that you had your vehicle registered in Portsmouth for any time during the billing period you are responsible for the tax.

13. I haven’t lived in Portsmouth in years why am I getting a tax bill?

When you left Portsmouth you probably failed to notify DMV and your vehicle remained on the tax roles.

14. I cosigned for my sister to buy a car am I responsible for the tax?

If the co-owner fails to pay the taxes you will be responsible for any and all remaining taxes due.

15. I tried to register my car at DMV but was told there is a stop from the City of Portsmouth, how do I have this removed?

The Vehicle Withhold Registration Stop is probably due to taxes owed in which case the Treasurer’s office has placed a stop with DMV which prevents you from registering your car.

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1. What are Trustee Taxes?

Fiduciary Taxes, also called Trustee Taxes are collected and remitted by a business on behalf of the individuals who actually pay the taxes. The business collecting the tax is serving as a trustee holding the funds in trust until they are remitted to the taxing authority.

2. When are my trustee taxes due?

Trustee taxes are due on the 20th of each month for previous month's sales.

3. Can I make my Trustee Tax payment online or by telephone?

Due to the fact that businesses must certify their monthly trustee sales in writing, payments may not be made online or by telephone.

4. Why am I getting a trustee bill? I have not opened my business?

Once you have established a Trustee Account with the city you start receiving your monthly statement. You will need to report no sales for each month, sign, date and return bottom portion of the statement to the Treasurer’s Office until the business opens. Once business opens you begin reporting your monthly sales.

5. Why is there a Bank Lien or Criminal Complaint issued for me?

Once your account is 30 days past due the Treasurer’s Office may begin legal collections.

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1. How much is a restricted parking decal?

A decal is $3.00 per vehicle.

2. Can I get decals for guests?

Each household is given 2 hangtags for guests.

3. What is required to get a restricted parking decal?

Signed leased or proof of ownership; and
Vehicle registration.

4. What neighborhoods require a restricted parking decal?

Olde Towne
Olde Towne South
Glenshellah
Southside

5. How long is the restricted parking decal valid?

Decal is valid from July 1 to June 30 of each year. It must be renewed annually.