Need to Know Tax Income Tax 2026 · Federal & Virginia

Need to Know Tax › Virginia

Virginia · 2027 and beyond

Virginia in 2027 and beyond: what is already law, and what is still open

No statewide tax measure. The standard deduction rises to $9,200 and $18,400 for 2027. What is on the 2026 return, what starts with tax year 2027, and what is scheduled or conditional after that.

Charles Trautman, EA

By Charles Trautman, EA, editor

Need to Know Tax  ·  written from Virginia Department of Taxation (Virginia Tax) sources and the unofficial November 3 election returns, November 12, 2026  ·  not yet reviewed by a Virginia practitioner

No statewide tax measure. The standard deduction rises to $9,200 and $18,400 for 2027. This page keeps apart three things that get mixed together in the news: what is on the 2026 return you file in early 2027, what begins with tax year 2027, and what is scheduled, conditional or still undecided after that. Election figures are the unofficial November 3, 2026 returns and are not final until the state certifies them.

What the voters decided on November 3, 2026

No statewide tax measure was on the November 3, 2026 ballot in Virginia. Nothing voted on that day changes a Virginia return.

This return, next year, and later

Virginia: what applies when
WhenWhat applies
The 2026 return, filed in early 2027The standard deduction is $8,750 single and $17,500 joint.
The refundable earned income credit is 20% of the federal credit.
Conformity is now fixed at December 31, 2025; the federal deductions taken after AGI do not reach the Virginia return.
The estimated-payment threshold is $1,000, up from $150.
Starting with tax year 2027The standard deduction rises to $9,200 single and $18,400 joint.
In localities where voters approved it on November 3, an added local sales tax of up to 1% for school construction begins.
2028 and later, or conditionalThe standard deduction is $9,300 and $18,600 for 2028 and 2029, then reverts in 2030 unless extended.
The refundable earned income credit runs through 2029.
A free state electronic filing program is required beginning with tax year 2028 returns.

Items under 2027 and later do not change the 2026 return. They matter for 2027 withholding, estimated payments and planning. The detail behind each line is in the other Virginia articles.

The 2025 federal law and the Virginia return

On February 20, 2026 Virginia ended rolling conformity and fixed its link to the federal code at December 31, 2025. It starts from federal AGI, so the tips, overtime, car-loan and senior deductions pass it by.

That is the reason a change on the federal return, such as the deductions for tips, overtime and people 65 and older, may or may not show up on the Virginia return. The federal side is in The new deductions for tips, overtime and seniors.

What to watch

The 2027 session, and the 2030 reversion of the standard deduction. When something on this page changes, the change is logged on the updates page with its date.

What to bring

  • Your 2026 federal and Virginia returns, once filed, to set 2027 withholding and estimated payments against them
  • Your last pay stub of 2026 and the first of 2027, to see whether withholding changed
  • Any notice from the state about a 2027 rate, credit or filing change

Questions people ask

Does anything here change the Virginia return I file in early 2027?

Only what is listed under the 2026 return. Everything listed under 2027 or later affects withholding, estimated payments and planning, not the return for 2026.

How will I know if this page changes?

Every change is logged on the updates page with its date and the article it affects. State legislatures meet in early 2027 and some act before the filing deadline.

Virginia, after the election

No statewide tax measure. The standard deduction rises to $9,200 and $18,400 for 2027.

Written by Charles Trautman, EA, editor  ·  Need to Know Tax, Lone Tree, Colorado

Questions about this article in Virginia are answered by [your practice name]  ·  [your phone]  ·  [your email address]. We’re looking for an EA or CPA in each Virginia city to hold that city’s seat and take this spot — is that you?

Ask a question about this article →

An invitation to Virginia EAs and CPAs

These Virginia pages were written by the editor from the Virginia Department of Taxation (Virginia Tax)’s own publications, and they need a Virginia practitioner’s eye. One enrolled agent or CPA in each Virginia city holds that city’s seat: reads these pages before the filing season and is credited as a reviewer, is named on every page of their city’s edition, and answers its readers’ questions. $1,000 for the 2026 season, the charter price. Take your city’s seat (a two-minute form and a card), tell us you’re interested, write to editor@needtoknowtax.com, or read how it works.

Sources and where to check

Written November 12, 2026 · after the November 3 election · awaiting review by a Virginia practitioner