In addition to the use tax levied pursuant to § 58.1-604 and notwithstanding the provisions of § 58.1-611, a use tax is levied upon the storage or use of all motor vehicles, machines, machinery, tools or other equipment brought, imported or caused to be brought into this Commonwealth for use in constructing, building or repairing any building, highway, street, sidewalk, bridge, culvert, sewer or water system, drainage or dredging system, railway system, reservoir or dam, hydraulic or power plant, transmission line, tower, dock, wharf, excavation, grading, or other improvement or structure, or any part thereof. The rate of tax is 4.3 percent on all tangible personal property except motor vehicles, which shall be taxed at the rate set forth in § 58.1-2402; aircraft, which shall be taxed at the rate of two percent; and watercraft, which shall be taxed at the rate of two percent with a maximum tax of $1,000. However, the total rate of the state use tax in any county or city for which the tax under § 58.1-604.01 is imposed shall be 5.0 percent on all tangible personal property except motor vehicles, which shall be taxed at the rate set forth in § 58.1-2402; aircraft, which shall be taxed at the rate of two percent; and watercraft, which shall be taxed at the rate of two percent with a maximum tax of $1,000.
For purposes of this section, "motor vehicle" means any vehicle which is self-propelled and designed primarily for use upon the highways, any vehicle which is propelled by electric power obtained from trolley wires but not operated upon rails, and any vehicle designed to run upon the highways which is pulled by a self-propelled vehicle, but shall not include any implement of husbandry, farm tractor, road construction or maintenance machinery or equipment, special mobile equipment or any vehicle designed primarily for use in work off the highway.
The tax shall be computed on the basis of such proportion of the original purchase price of such property as the duration of time of use in this Commonwealth bears to the total useful life thereof. For purposes of this section, "use" means use, storage, consumption and "stand-by" time occasioned by weather conditions, controversies or other causes. The tax shall be computed upon the basis of the relative time each item of equipment is in this Commonwealth rather than upon the basis of actual use. In the absence of satisfactory evidence as to the period of use intended in this Commonwealth, it will be presumed that such property will remain in this Commonwealth for the remainder of its useful life, which shall be determined in accordance with the experiences and practices of the building and construction trades.
A transaction taxed under § 58.1-604, 58.1-605, 58.1-1402, 58.1-1502, 58.1-1736, or 58.1-2402 shall not also be taxed under this section, nor shall the same transaction be taxed more than once under any section.
1988, c. 379; 2004, Sp. Sess. I, c. 3; 2011, cc. 405, 639; 2013, c. 766.
Structure Code of Virginia
Chapter 6 - Retail Sales and Use Tax
§ 58.1-601. Administration of chapter
§ 58.1-602. (Effective until October 1, 2022) Definitions
§ 58.1-602. (Effective October 1, 2022) Definitions
§ 58.1-603. (Contingent expiration date) Imposition of sales tax
§ 58.1-603. (Contingent effective date) Imposition of sales tax
§ 58.1-604. (Contingent expiration date - see note) Imposition of use tax
§ 58.1-604. (Contingent effective date) Imposition of use tax
§ 58.1-604.2. Filing return; payment of tax
§ 58.1-604.6. Gift transactions
§ 58.1-607. Moving residence or business into Commonwealth
§ 58.1-608.1. Refund authorized for certain building materials
§ 58.1-608.3. Entitlement to certain sales tax revenues
§ 58.1-608.4. Suspension of exemption
§ 58.1-609.1. Governmental and commodities exemptions
§ 58.1-609.2. Agricultural exemptions
§ 58.1-609.3. Commercial and industrial exemptions
§ 58.1-609.5. Service exemptions
§ 58.1-609.6. Media-related exemptions
§ 58.1-609.10. Miscellaneous exemptions
§ 58.1-609.11. Exemptions for nonprofit entities
§ 58.1-609.12. Reports to General Assembly on tax exemptions studies
§ 58.1-609.13. Exceptions to § 58.1-609.10
§ 58.1-610.1. Modular building manufacturers and retailers
§ 58.1-611. Credit for taxes paid in another state
§ 58.1-611.2. Limited exemption for certain school supplies, clothing, and footwear
§ 58.1-612. Tax collectible from dealers; "dealer" defined; jurisdiction
§ 58.1-612.1. Tax collectible from marketplace facilitators; "marketplace facilitator" defined
§ 58.1-613. Dealers' certificates of registration
§ 58.1-614. (Contingent expiration date -- see note*) Vending machine sales
§ 58.1-614. (Contingent effective date -- see note*) Vending machine sales
§ 58.1-615. Returns by dealers
§ 58.1-616. Payment to accompany dealer's return
§ 58.1-618. Assessment based on estimate
§ 58.1-623. Sales or leases presumed subject to tax; exemption certificates
§ 58.1-623.01. Online access to dealers' certificate of registration numbers
§ 58.1-623.1. Misuse of exemption certificates; suspension of exemptions; penalties
§ 58.1-623.2. Cigarette exemption certificate
§ 58.1-624. Direct payment permits
§ 58.1-626.1. Absorption of tax permitted
§ 58.1-628.2. Adjustment to the rate of tax imposed under this chapter
§ 58.1-631. Jeopardy assessment
§ 58.1-632. Memorandum of lien
§ 58.1-634. Period of limitations
§ 58.1-635. Failure to file return; fraudulent return; civil penalties
§ 58.1-636. Penalty for failure to file return or making false return