Monthly Meals & Lodging Taxes

About the Taxes

Food and Beverage, and Transient Occupancy taxes (more commonly known as Meals and Room Taxes) are collected monthly and remitted to the County.

Prepared Food & Beverage Tax

This tax must be collected and remitted by restaurants, caterers, food vendors, and others who sell food that is intended for immediate consumption. These businesses must register for monthly meals tax reporting (PDF) when they first apply for a business license (PDF). The tax is 4% of meal and beverage sales, and is collected in addition to 7% state retail sales tax. You must file a coupon (PDF) every month, even if there have been no sales. Non-filers will be taxed and billed based on an estimate.

Lodging Tax: Transient Occupancy Tax and Additional Transient Occupancy Tax

The 5% Transient Occupancy Tax must be collected and remitted by hotels, motels, rooming houses, bed & breakfasts, vacation rentals, campgrounds, and others who provide lodging for under 30 days. This tax is in addition to the 7% Virginia Retail Sales Tax. Lodging businesses must register for monthly lodging tax (PDF) when they apply for a James City County business license (PDF). They must then file a monthly coupon (PDF), even if there have been no sales that month. Non-filers will be taxed and billed based on an estimate.

The Additional Transient Lodging Tax (also called the “$2 Rooms Tax”) is collected and remitted by eligible businesses at the rate of $2 per room-night, in addition to the 5% Transient Occupancy Tax and the 7% Virginia Retail Sales Tax. This tax supports area tourism. Eligible businesses are hotels, motels, rooming houses, bed & breakfasts, and vacation rentals, as well as campgrounds that rent cabins. When a business applies for a James City County business license and registers for monthly lodging tax, they will also be registered for this tax unless exempt. They must then file a monthly coupon (PDF), even if there have been no sales that month. Non-filers will be taxed and billed based on an estimate.

Due Dates & Penalties

Filing of returns and payment of these taxes are on a monthly basis with the Commissioner of the Revenue’s Office. A hard copy report and payment for each tax should be postmarked by the 20th of the month following the calendar month for which tax is due to avoid a 10% penalty. Additional Treasurer's penalty and interest may apply. NOTE: We do not presently offer online filing of monthly taxes. We also cannot accept faxed or emailed returns.

Tax Registration

Businesses must register for monthly tax reporting when they apply for a business license (PDF). New businesses will be mailed blank monthly coupons. Every January, registered businesses will be mailed a customized coupon book. For more information, contact the Commissioner of the Revenue's Office at 757-253-6698.

For more information on James City County monthly taxes, refer to Chapter 20 of the Code of James City County. For information on the state’s retail sales and use tax, contact the Virginia Department of Taxation.