Sales Tax in Emporia, Virginia in 2025

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

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.

Emporia Sales Tax Rate 2025

Emporia is located in Emporia City County in Virginia, United States, and has a sales tax rate of 5.30%. This includes local and state sales tax rates.

Here is the breakdown of the Emporia's sales tax:

Tax Jurisdiction	Sales Tax Rate
State Tax	4.30%
County Tax	1.00%
Combined Rate	5.30%

This rate applies to the following zip codes in Emporia:

District	Zip Codes	Combined Sales Tax Rate
Emporia City County	23847	5.30%

How Does the Emporia Sales Tax Compare to the Rest of Virginia?

Emporia is among the cities with the lowest sales tax rate (5.30%) in Virginia. It is 1.70% lower than Virginia’s highest rate, which sits at 7.00% and can be found in cities like Williamsburg.

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

City	Sales Tax Rates
Yorktown	7.00%
Esmont	5.30%
Emporia	5.30%
Emory	5.30%
Abingdon	5.30%

What Creates Sales Tax Nexus in Emporia?

Emporia 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 Emporia Sales Tax?

Sales tax exemptions are granted by the Virginia sales tax law. The Emporia 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 Emporia?

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 Emporia

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 Emporia, Virginia and you sell to a buyer in Marion, Virginia. In that case, you should charge the buyer the sales tax rate at your Emporia 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 Emporia, Virginia — you should charge the buyer the sales tax in Emporia.

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

How to File and Pay Sales Tax in Emporia

You have multiple options to file and pay Emporia 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.