Pulaski County Property Tax at Claytor Lake

The Rate: $0.740 per $100

Pulaski County's TY2025 real property tax rate is $0.740 per $100 of assessed value, from the Virginia Department of Taxation's certified TY2025 local rates publication. The Pulaski County Board of Supervisors sets this rate annually. The rate applies to all real property in Pulaski County including the Town of Pulaski and the Town of Dublin, though those incorporated towns add their own separate town levies on top of the county rate. Properties in unincorporated Pulaski County along the Claytor Lake waterfront pay the county base rate of $0.740 without an additional town levy.

Tax math at Claytor waterfront price points: a home assessed at $150,000 generates $1,110 annually. At $200,000: $1,480. At $250,000: $1,850. At $300,000: $2,220. At $400,000: $2,960. At $500,000: $3,700. These figures represent the county base rate only. Confirm the specific property's current assessed value and any interim appraisal adjustments with the Pulaski County Commissioner of Revenue before closing.

The Six-Year Reassessment Cycle

Pulaski County reassesses all real property every six years. The most recent general reassessment was effective January 1, 2021. The next scheduled reassessment is January 1, 2027. This means buyers who close in 2025 or 2026 are purchasing a property whose assessed value may be based on 2021 market conditions. If the property's market value has appreciated significantly since 2021 -- which is likely given broader real estate market trends -- the 2027 reassessment may produce a substantially higher assessed value and a corresponding increase in the annual tax bill.

In the years between general reassessments, the county assessor conducts interim appraisals for new construction, demolitions, field-discovered improvements, and sale value anomalies. A property that sells for significantly more than its current assessed value in 2025 or 2026 may trigger an interim assessment review. Contact the Pulaski County Commissioner of Revenue at (540) 980-7753 with questions about the assessment status of a specific property before closing.

Pulaski County Compared to Neighboring Counties

Southwest Virginia county tax rates vary meaningfully across the New River Valley region. Montgomery County (home of Virginia Tech and Blacksburg) runs at approximately $0.890 per $100 TY2025 -- higher than Pulaski. Floyd County runs approximately $0.610 per $100. Giles County (Radford area) runs approximately $0.680 per $100. Franklin County, the primary county for Smith Mountain Lake, runs $0.430 per $100 -- lower than Pulaski.

For buyers comparing Claytor Lake to Smith Mountain Lake on a tax basis: SML's Franklin County rate at $0.430 is lower than Pulaski's $0.740. However, Claytor Lake waterfront home prices are substantially lower than comparable SML waterfront positions, meaning the absolute annual tax bill may be comparable or lower at Claytor despite the higher rate. A $200,000 Claytor waterfront home at $0.740 generates $1,480 annually. A $500,000 SML entry-level waterfront home at $0.430 generates $2,150 annually. The absolute tax advantage at Claytor is real when price levels are included in the comparison.

Virginia Retirement Tax Treatment

Virginia exempts Social Security benefits from state income tax. The Virginia Age Deduction allows residents 65 and older to deduct up to $12,000 per qualifying filer from Virginia taxable income, subject to income phase-outs. Military retirement income is fully exempt from Virginia income tax for residents 55 and older. The New River Valley -- with significant military and federal civilian workforce proximity through the Radford Army Ammunition Plant and NRV employer base -- sees military retirees who benefit from these Virginia tax provisions.

Pulaski County also offers a real estate tax relief program for elderly and disabled residents who meet income and net worth requirements. Applications must be filed between January 1 and April 1 each year. Contact the Pulaski County Commissioner of Revenue for current eligibility thresholds and application requirements. For qualifying senior homeowners, the relief program can meaningfully reduce the annual tax burden on a fixed income.

Disputing an Assessment

Property owners who believe their Pulaski County assessment is above fair market value have several appeal avenues. The first step is contacting the County Assessor to request a review and present evidence of market value (comparable sales, appraisals). If the assessor does not adjust the value, the property owner may appeal to the Pulaski County Board of Equalization during the BOE's annual sitting. If the BOE appeal is unsuccessful, the final appeal is by petition to Pulaski County Circuit Court under Virginia Code 58.1-3370. Contact the Pulaski County Assessor at assessor@pulaskicounty.org or (540) 980-7753 for guidance on the process and current appeal deadlines.