How taxes work in West Virginia
Sales tax. West Virginia charges a 6% statewide sales tax, and counties, cities and special districts add their own on top — which is why the average combined rate of about 6.5% is the number that matters at the till. West Virginia eliminated its grocery tax in 2013.
Property tax. At an average effective rate of about 0.59%, a $350,000 home in West Virginia carries roughly $2,065 a year in property tax before exemptions. West Virginia is a low-property-tax state, which quietly lowers the true cost of owning there. Local assessors set actual bills, so verify with the county for any specific property.
Income tax. Progressive rates cut in recent years, top rate around 4.82%. If you are self-employed in West Virginia, you still owe federal self-employment tax plus quarterly state estimates where applicable.
Sales tax · average combined
Property tax · average effective
Chart: DailyFinance.tools · Rates are reviewed averages from our state tax dataset — your exact local rate may differ.
How West Virginia compares with similar states
The states closest to West Virginia on average combined sales tax. Property tax is the average effective rate; income tax shows the structure, not a single rate.
| State | Combined sales tax | Property tax | Income tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia (this page) | 6.5% | 0.59% | Progressive |
| New Jersey | 6.6% | 2.47% | Progressive |
| South Dakota | 6.4% | 1.09% | None |
| Connecticut | 6.35% | 1.63% | Progressive |
| Pennsylvania | 6.34% | 1.49% | Flat |
| All-state average (51 entries) | 6.61% | 1.04% | — |
What this means for your money in West Virginia
Property tax is light in West Virginia: an average effective rate of 0.59% ranks 42 of 51, well below the all-state average of 1.04%. A $400,000 home carries about $2,360 a year. Low property tax lowers the fixed cost of owning, which partly offsets whatever the state's income and sales taxes take.
Read together: West Virginia combines an average combined sales tax of 6.5% (rank 31 of 51), an average effective property tax of 0.59% (rank 42 of 51) and progressive income tax brackets. A household comparing states should compare all three against its own pattern — a high earner who rents weighs the income tax most; a homeowner on a fixed income weighs the property tax most.
Major cities in West Virginia
Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, Parkersburg, Wheeling. Combined sales-tax rates differ between these cities — sometimes by more than a full percentage point inside the same state — because county and city layers stack on the state base. The West Virginia sales tax guide breaks down the calculation and links the calculator where you can enter your exact local rate.
Calculators for West Virginia residents
- West Virginia Sales Tax Guide & Examples — what you actually pay, with worked amounts.
- Sales Tax & VAT Calculator — add or extract tax at any rate, including your exact West Virginia local rate.
- Mortgage Calculator — include West Virginia property tax in the monthly payment.
- Property Tax Calculator — estimate a specific property's bill.
- Self-Employment Tax Calculator — federal SE tax for West Virginia freelancers.