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Incentives & Taxes
The costs of doing business in Wythe County are quite competitive. Low tax rates coupled with a pro-business environment work to make your operation here run less expensively as it might elsewhere.
Incentives by Area
A summary of local enterprise zone incentives by area.
Progress Park
A new operation creating at least 25 jobs, paying at least double the federal minimum wage, and investing more than $5 million is eligible for:
- Discounted land purchase price
- Reduced water and wastewater rates
- Waived or rebated utility connection fees
- Fast-track permitting with waived or rebated building permit fees
A new operation creating at least 25 jobs, paying twice the prevailing average wage for Wythe County, and investing more than $100 million in taxable personal property is eligible for an annual grant based on those personal property tax receipts.
Learn More About Progress Park
I-81 Eastern Corridor
New or expanded dining or lodging operations investing at least $500,000 and creating 15-plus jobs are eligible for an annual grant funded by Wythe County based on gross receipts.
Downtown Wytheville
New construction of a commercial or industrial building or rehabilitation/expansion of same allows for
- Rebate or waiver of water and/or wastewater connection fees
- Rebate or waiver of building permit fees
New dining or lodging operations (excluding transfer of ownership and/or existing operations) are eligible for an annual grant funded by the Town of Wytheville based on their gross receipts.
Rural Retreat Exit 60 Area
New construction or rehabilitation/expansion of an existing operation creates eligibility for a rebate or waiver of water and waste water connection fees.
New dining or lodging operations (excluding transfer of ownership and/or existing operations) are eligible for an annual grant funded by the Town of Rural Retreat based on gross receipts.
New operations within the Rural Retreat section are also eligible for an annual grant based on Business Professional Occupation License (BPOL) receipts. Ownership transfers are excluded.
Additionally, all Enterprise Zone businesses receive expedited consideration for JIDA Revolving Loan Funds if a proper application is made.
Taxes and Fees
Property Tax Rate
| Location | Nominal | Effective |
|---|---|---|
| Wythe County | $0.51 | $0.51 |
| Town of Wytheville |
$0.20 |
N/A |
| Town of Rural Retreat | $0.189 | N/A |
Machinery and Tools Tax
| Location | Nominal | Effective (years 1-5)* | Effective (years 6+)* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wythe County | $1.50 | $0.75 | $0.30 |
| Town of Wytheville | $0.33 | $0.14 | $0.056 |
| Town of Rural Retreat | $0.15 | $0.075 | $0.03 |
*Nominal rate is applied at 50% of cost for 5 years and at 20% thereafter. |
Merchant’s Capital Tax
| Location | Effective | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Wythe County | $0.56/$100 of original cost | $0.56 of original cost |
*Nominal rate is applied at 50% of cost for 5 years and at 20% thereafter. |
Personal Property Tax – Automobiles and Trucks
| Location | Nominal ($/$100 of assessed valuation)* | Effective ($/$100 of assessed valuation)* |
|---|---|---|
| Wythe County | $2.27 | $1.75 |
| Town of Wytheville | $0.38 | N/A |
| Town of Rural Retreat | $0.50 | $0.39 |
*Assessed value based on NADA average loan value |
Utility Tax – Electric
| Location | First 14,285 kWh |
|---|---|
| Wythe County | $0.0150/kWh for first 14,285 kWh (up to $200) plus $0.0003/kWh thereafter |
| Town of Wytheville | $0.0112/kWh (Max of $11.25/month) |
| Town of Rural Retreat | $0.0150/kWh (Max of $3.00/month) |
Utility Tax – Natural Gas
| Location | Cost |
|---|---|
| Wythe County | 20% on first $1,000 and 1% of excess |
| Town of Wytheville | $1.875 + $0.126/ccf per month (capped at $11.25/month) |
| Town of Rural Retreat | $1.13 + $0.166/ccf (capped at $3/month) |
Meals Tax
| Location | Cost |
|---|---|
| Wythe County | 6% |
| Town of Wytheville | 8% |
| Town of Rural Retreat | 5% |
Lodging Tax
| Location | Cost |
|---|---|
| Wythe County | 5% |
| Town of Wytheville | 8% |
| Town of Rural Retreat | N/A |
4.3% State + 1% Local Sales Tax
Items purchased for direct use or consumption in manufacturing are tax-exempt. Certified pollution control facilities and equipment used primarily for pollution abatement are also exempt.
1.5% State + 1% Local Grocery Tax
Discounted from Sales Tax of 5.3%.
Building Permit Fee
Wythe County/Rural Retreat
| Square Footage | Price Per Square Foot |
|---|---|
| First 20,000 | $0.16 |
| 21,000-40,000 | $0.08 |
| 41,000-60,000 | $0.04 |
| 61,000-80,000 | $0.02 |
| 81,000-160,000 | $0.01 |
| Above 160,000 | Contact Joint IDA |
Town of Wytheville
| Valuation | Fee |
|---|---|
| $0.00 to $100,000.00 | $4.00 per $1,000.00 |
| All over $100,000.00 | $3.00 per $1,000.00 |
Soil Erosion Permit Fee
| Location | Fee |
|---|---|
| Wythe County | $100 plus $50 per week of project duration until stabilization |
| Town of Wytheville | $25.00/first acre, $10.00 acre or fraction thereof ($100.00 maximum) |
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