Sales Tax in Cape Charles, Virginia in 2025

We'll walk you through how the sales tax rate is determined for Cape Charles and address some common questions you may have. We'll also cover how to collect, audit, and remit sales tax in Cape Charles.

Plus, we’ll share the best solution that will ensure you are always compliant across the entire sales tax lifecycle.

Disclaimer: Our sales tax data is updated on a quarterly basis.

Cape Charles Sales Tax Rate 2025

Cape Charles is located in Northampton County in Virginia, United States, and has a sales tax rate of 6.30%. This includes local and state sales tax rates.

Here is the breakdown of the Cape Charles's sales tax:

Tax Jurisdiction	Sales Tax Rate
State Tax	4.30%
County Tax	1.00%
Special Tax	1.00%
Combined Rate	6.30%

This rate applies to the following zip codes in Cape Charles:

23310

How Does the Cape Charles Sales Tax Compare to the Rest of Virginia?

Cape Charles’s 6.30% sales tax rate is 0.70% lower than the highest sales tax rate in Virginia, which stands at 7.00% in cities like Williamsburg.

It is 1.00% higher than the lowest sales tax rate in Virginia, which stands at 5.30% in cities like Middletown.

To give you a better idea, here’s a comparison of Cape Charles sales tax rates with a few other cities in Virginia:

City	Sales Tax Rates
Middletown	5.30%
Belle Haven	5.30%-6.30%
Windsor	6.00%
Cape Charles	6.30%
Williamsburg	7.00%

You can also compare the sales tax rate of Cape Charles against the Virginia cities closest in population size:

• Buchanan's sales tax rate is 5.30%
• Chatham's sales tax rate is 6.30%

What Creates Sales Tax Nexus in Cape Charles?

Cape Charles doesn’t have any separate nexus rules outside of the Virginia state tax law.

Read More: Check out this detailed guide on Sales Tax in Virginia.

Factors that create Virginia sales tax nexus are: 

• Economic Nexus: Out-of-state businesses whose retail sales exceed $100,000 or more than 200 separate sales transactions in the previous or current calendar year.

• Physical Location: Businesses having a store, office, warehouse, or other place of business.

• Employee Location: Businesses with employees in the state dealing with tangible personal property.

• Special Events: Persons participating in fairs, flea markets, carnivals, circuses, etc., must apply for a certificate of registration to collect the sales tax.   

What Products Are Exempt from Cape Charles Sales Tax?

Sales tax exemptions are granted by the Virginia sales tax law. The Cape Charles doesn’t have any special exceptions.

• Items necessary to raise crops and other agricultural products for the market, such as commercial feeds, livestock, and machinery.
• Fruits, vegetables, and eggs sold through farmer’s markets and roadside stands.
• Drugs sold to a veterinarian or a farmer (upon prescription) for use on animals being raised for market.
• Machinery, tools, fuel, and supplies used to make things out of industrial materials.
• Computer hardware and software purchased for use in a data center.
• Newspapers, magazines, and other publications issued regularly, with no more than 3 months between issues.
• Advertising in newspapers, magazines, billboards, and broadcasting.
• Prescription drugs and medicines, eyeglasses, and hearing aids.
• Medical equipment like wheelchairs, braces, and diabetic supplies.

Who Needs a Sales Permit in Cape Charles?

You should apply for a Sales Tax Certificate of Registration if you sell, lease, distribute, or rent tangible personal property to customers in Virginia. This applies to in-state dealers, out-of-state dealers as well as marketplace facilitators, and remote sellers

A sales tax permit is usually issued by the state in the United States. You can register for one online at the Virginia Department of Tax website.

How to Collect Sales Tax in Cape Charles

In Virginia, there are two types of sales tax collection depending on the origin of the sale:

• Intrastate sales: A sale is considered intrastate when the origin and the buyer's address originate from Virginia.
  
  If you make a sale originating in Virginia and the buyer’s ship-to address is also in Virginia, you should charge the sales tax rate of your business location. In such cases, you should file a Form ST-9.

So, let’s say your business is in Cape Charles, Virginia and you sell to a buyer in Chatham, Virginia. In that case, you should charge the buyer the sales tax rate at your Cape Charles location.

• Interstate sales: A sale is interstate if the item ships from outside Virginia and the seller isn’t “engaged in a business” in the state. Then, you should charge the sales tax rate at your buyer’s location. You should also remember to file a Form ST-8.

For instance, if your business is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and you sell to a buyer in Cape Charles, Virginia — you should charge the buyer the sales tax in Cape Charles.

Learn more about origin-based and destination-based sales tax sourcing here.

How to File and Pay Sales Tax in Cape Charles

You have multiple options to file and pay Cape Charles sales tax returns:

• File and pay online: Virginia requires that most businesses file and pay sales tax online. You have three options:
  • Business Online Services Account: To log in to your personal accounts and pay online.
  • eForms: In-state businesses should file Form ST-9, while Form ST-8 is for out-of-state businesses. 
  • Web upload service for bulk filings: You’ll get immediate feedback on your filings, letting you know if they’ve been accepted or if there are any errors.
• Even better, you can simplify your sales tax management with Zamp. Our precise calculations and easy registrations will help you maintain compliance across the United States. This means you can stay focused on your business while we handle your sales taxes.