{"place":"Richmond, VA","kind":"city","asOf":"2026-10-07","url":"https://gigaverse.ai/local/richmond-va","state":{"code":"VA","name":"Virginia","slug":"virginia","incomeTax":{"type":"progressive","flatRate2026":null,"lowestRate2026":2,"topRate2026":5.75,"topRateStartsSingle":17000,"notes":"Rates are percentages and brackets are the same for all filing statuses: 2% on the first $3,000, 3% from $3,000 to $5,000, 5% from $5,000 to $17,000, and 5.75% over $17,000.","source":"https://www.tax.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/taxforms/individual-income-tax/2026/760es-2026.pdf"},"estimatedTax":{"form":"760ES","rule":"Starting with 2026, you must make estimated payments (or have more withheld) if your Virginia tax after withholding and credits is expected to be more than $1,000. Single filers with expected Virginia AGI under $11,950 are exempt.","schedule":"May 1, June 15 and September 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027; the first installment is due May 1, not April 15. Qualifying farmers, fishermen and merchant seamen can make a single payment by January 15, 2027, or skip estimates by filing and paying in full by March 1, 2027.","source":"https://www.tax.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/taxforms/individual-income-tax/2026/760es-2026.pdf"},"minimumWage2026":{"standard":12.77,"tippedCash":2.13,"tipCreditAllowed":true,"notes":"$12.77 from January 1 to December 31, 2026. 2026 amendments to Va. Code 40.1-28.10 raise it to $13.75 on January 1, 2027, and $15.00 on January 1, 2028, with yearly inflation adjustments from 2029. Tipped employees (more than $30 a month in tips, Va. Code 40.1-28.9) can be paid $2.13 an hour if tips bring them to the state minimum (U.S. DOL table, https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/minimum-wage/tipped).","source":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter3/section40.1-28.10/"},"soleProprietorTaxes":[{"name":"Local BPOL license tax (capped by Va. Code 58.1-3706)","summary":"Many Virginia cities and counties tax business gross receipts under a BPOL license. State law bars the tax for businesses under $100,000 in gross receipts in localities over 50,000 people, or under $50,000 in localities of 25,000 to 50,000, although a license fee may still apply. Rates are generally capped at 58 cents per $100 for financial, real estate and professional services, 36 cents for repair, personal and business services, 20 cents for retail and 16 cents for contractors; some localities keep higher rates they had in 1978.","source":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title58.1/chapter37/section58.1-3706/"}],"contractorLaws":[{"name":"Presumption of employee status (Va. Code 58.1-1900)","summary":"Someone paid to perform services is presumed to be an employee unless the worker or the business shows they are an independent contractor. Virginia Tax decides this using IRS guidelines.","source":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title58.1/chapter19/section58.1-1900/"},{"name":"Private lawsuit for misclassification (Va. Code 40.1-28.7:7)","summary":"A worker who was wrongly classified as a contractor can sue an employer that knew about the misclassification, within three years, for wage-law damages and other relief. Workers are presumed to be employees unless the employer shows contractor status under IRS guidelines.","source":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter3/section40.1-28.7:7/"}],"notes":"Virginia's first estimated payment is due May 1, not April 15."},"stateRetirementProgram":{"state":"Virginia","code":"VA","programName":"RetirePath Virginia","status":"active","employerMandate":"For-profit and nonprofit employers in operation 2+ years with 5+ eligible employees (18+, 30 or more hours a week) and no qualified plan — threshold lowered from 25 to 5 effective July 1, 2026","mandateMin":5,"keyDates":"Threshold dropped from 25 to 5 on July 1, 2026. 2026 registration deadlines: September 30, 2026 (10–24 eligible employees) and October 30, 2026 (5–9 and 25+). Maximum penalty $200 per eligible employee per year.","covers1099":false,"selfEnroll":"yes","sourceUrl":"https://www.retirepathva.com","note":"RetirePath is explicit that independent contractors, gig workers and the self-employed can join on their own — as savers, never through a hiring business. Sources disagree on whether part-time employees below the 30-hour threshold count as eligible employees — unverified.","lastVerified":"2026-09-09"},"city":{"slug":"richmond-va","name":"Richmond","stateCode":"VA","county":"Independent city (not part of any county)","population":237257,"populationYear":2025,"localIncomeTax":{"applies":false},"localBusinessTaxes":[{"name":"Richmond Business, Professional, and Occupational License (BPOL) Tax","summary":"Every business needs a Richmond license each year, due March 1. Starting with 2026, businesses with $5,000 or less in gross receipts pay $0, those with $5,001 to $500,000 pay a flat $30, and those above $500,000 pay a rate on gross receipts ($0.58 per $100 for professional services, $0.36 for personal and repair services, $0.20 for retail, $0.19 for contractors), plus any flat fees. Late filing costs 10% or $10, whichever is greater, plus 10% annual interest.","source":"https://www.rva.gov/finance/bpol-tax"},{"name":"Richmond Business Tangible Personal Property (BTPP) Tax","summary":"Business furniture, fixtures and computer equipment are taxed at $3.70 per $100 of value. The return is due March 1 and payment is due June 5.","source":"https://rva.gov/finance/btpp-tax"}],"businessLicense":{"required":true,"summary":"Yes; the city says business owners must get a Richmond business license each year (within 30 days of opening) and must first get a Certificate of Zoning Compliance.","source":"https://www.rva.gov/finance/bpol-tax"},"gigLaws":[],"notes":"No local income tax: Va. Code § 58.1-300 bars any county, city or town from taxing income (https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title58.1/chapter3/section58.1-300/). The BPOL threshold rose from $250,000 to $500,000 on January 1, 2026 (ORD. 2024-187; https://rva.gov/finance-press-releases-and-announcements/news/city-richmond-launches-upgraded-rva-business-portal). The city's rate table is still headed 'Gross Receipts of $250,000 or More', but its fee table and the press release use $500,000. The city also has a two-year BPOL incentive for qualifying businesses locating in Richmond for the first time (https://rva.gov/finance/bpol-exemption). We found no city ordinance for gig, app-based or freelance workers. Population is the U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimate for July 1, 2025 (https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/datasets/2020-2025/cities/totals/sub-est2025.csv)."},"guides":[{"audience":"consultants","url":"https://gigaverse.ai/local/richmond-va/consultants"},{"audience":"freelancers","url":"https://gigaverse.ai/local/richmond-va/freelancers"},{"audience":"content-creators","url":"https://gigaverse.ai/local/richmond-va/content-creators"},{"audience":"entrepreneurs","url":"https://gigaverse.ai/local/richmond-va/entrepreneurs"},{"audience":"gig-workers","url":"https://gigaverse.ai/local/richmond-va/gig-workers"},{"audience":"tipped-workers","url":"https://gigaverse.ai/local/richmond-va/tipped-workers"},{"audience":"tradespeople","url":"https://gigaverse.ai/local/richmond-va/tradespeople"}],"disclaimer":"Educational information for 2026, not tax, legal or investment advice. Sources are cited per fact."}