Meals Tax  

The City’s Meals Tax is managed by the Department of Finance’s Business Unit. The Meals Tax (also known as the Food and Beverage or Prepared Food Tax) is a portion of the City’s excise tax types commonly referred to as ATOM Taxes.   

Pay Meals Tax Online 

Click here to pay Meals Tax online 

Meals Tax Forms 

• ATOM Taxes and TID Fee Coupon Form – Use this form to file your Meals return monthly  
• Penalty and Interest Waiver Online Application Form – Use this online form to request a waiver of penalty and interest for this tax type

Meals Tax Rates, Dates, Penalties, and Interest 

• Rate: 7.5 percent on the amount paid for meals purchased from any food establishment, whether prepared in such food establishment and whether consumed on the premises
• Date: 20th day of each month is the due date for reports and remittances required covering the amount of tax collected during the preceding month 
• Penalty: 10 percent or $10.00, whichever is greater, when not paid by the monthly due date 
• Interest: 10 percent annually when not paid by the monthly due date which begins calculating the first of the following month 

Meals Tax Governing Legislation* 

For detailed legislative information on the Meals Tax, please refer to the following: 

• Code of Richmond: Article VIII. - Meals Taxes 
• Code of Virginia: Article 7.1. Food and Beverage Tax 

* Please note, this list may not be exhaustive of all sections of governing code 

Meals Tax Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

What is considered a “meal” that is subject to the Meals Tax? 
A meal is any prepared food or drink offered or held out for sale by a food establishment for the purpose of being consumed by any person to satisfy the appetite and that is ready for immediate consumption.  

What is considered a “food establishment”? 
A food establishment is any place in or from which food or food products are prepared, packaged, sold or distributed in the city, including but not limited to, any restaurant, dining room, grill, coffee shop, cafeteria, cafe, snack bar, lunch counter, convenience store, movie theater, delicatessen, confectionery, bakery, eating house, eatery, drugstore, ice cream/yogurt shops, lunch wagon or truck, pushcart or other mobile facility from which food is sold, public or private club, resort, bar, lounge, or other similar establishment, public or private. 

Also, a food establishment shall include private property outside of and contiguous to a building or structure operated as a food establishment at which food or food products are sold for immediate consumption. 

Does the meal, or prepared food, have to be consumed on the premises of the business where it is purchased to be taxable? 
No. The meal, or prepared food, is subject to the Meals Tax whether it is intended to be consumed on the seller’s premises or elsewhere and without regard to the manner, time, or place of service. 

Does a caterer have to collect and remit Meals Tax to the City of Richmond? 
It depends. Yes, for a caterer whose business is located in the City of Richmond, regardless of the place of service of the prepared food. No, if the caterer’s business is located outside of the corporate limits of the City of Richmond and regardless of the place of service of the prepared food. The Meals Tax is based on the locality in which the caterer is subject to the local business license (BPOL) tax. 

Are there any exemptions to the Meals Tax? 
Yes. The following items, when served exclusively for off-premise consumption, are exempt from the Meals Tax: 

1. Factory-prepackaged candy, gum, nuts and other items of essentially the same nature. 
2. Pastry, dairy and snack food items, such as doughnuts, ice cream sold in greater than single serving quantities, crackers, nabs, chips, cookies, and the like and items of essentially the same nature. 
3. Food sold in bulk. 
4. Alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages sold in factory-sealed containers. 
5. Any food or food product purchased with food coupons issued by the United States Department of Agriculture under the Food Stamp Program or drafts issued through the state special supplemental food program for women, infants, and children. 
6. Any food or food product purchased for home consumption as defined in the federal Food Stamp Act of 1977, 7 USC 2012, as amended, except hot food or hot food products ready for immediate consumption. The following items, whether or not purchased for immediate consumption, are excluded from the definition of food in the federal Food Stamp Act: sandwiches, salad bar items sold from a salad bar, prepackaged single-serving salads consisting primarily of an assortment of vegetables, and nonfactory-sealed beverages. Items (3), (4) & (5) are not affected by this item. 

The following businesses are not subject to the Meals Tax, except for any portion or section of the business that contains prepared food and beverage operations: 

• Grocery Store 
• Supermarket 
• Convenience Store 

The following purchases of food and beverages are exempt from the Meals Tax: 

• Food and beverages furnished by food establishments to employees as part of their compensation when no charge is made to the employee. 
• Food and beverages sold by day care centers, public or private elementary or secondary schools or food sold by any college or university to its students served on site and paid for as a part of a tuition, meal or similar plan. 
• Food and beverages furnished by a hospital, medical clinic, convalescent home, nursing home, home for the aged, infirm, handicapped, battered women, narcotic addicts or alcoholics; or other extended care facility to patients or residents thereof and the spouses and children of such persons. 
• Food and beverages furnished by a public or private nonprofit charitable organization or establishment or a private establishment that contracts with the appropriate agency of the commonwealth to offer meals at concession prices to elderly, infirm, blind, handicapped or needy persons in their homes or at central locations. 
• Food and beverages sold on an occasional basis, not exceeding six times per calendar year, by a nonprofit educational, charitable or benevolent organization; church; or religious body as a fundraising activity, the gross proceeds of which are to be used by such organization exclusively for nonprofit educational, charitable, benevolent or religious purposes. 
• Food and beverages sold through vending machines. 

Are gratuities subject to the Meals Tax? 
Virginia Code, § 58.1-3840. Certain excise taxes permitted, provides that no such taxes on meals may be imposed on: 

• The amount paid by the purchaser as a discretionary gratuity; or 
• That portion of the amount paid by the purchaser as a mandatory gratuity or service charge added by the restaurant in addition to the sales price of the meal, but only to the extent that such mandatory gratuity or service charge does not exceed 20% of the sales price; or 
• Food and beverages sold through vending machines or on any tangible personal property purchased with food coupons issued by the United States Department of Agriculture under the Food Stamp Program or drafts issued through the Virginia Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children. 

Can I appeal a Meals Tax assessment? 
An administrative appeal may be filed in writing concerning the Admission Tax with the Director of Finance of the City of Richmond at the following address:  

Director of Finance  
Attn: Meals Tax Appeal  
900 E. Broad Street, Suite 1003  
Richmond, VA 23219  

A judicial appeal may be filed with the Richmond Circuit Court at the following address:  

Richmond Circuit Court  
Attn: Meals Tax Appeal  
400 N. Ninth Street  
Richmond, VA 23219  

If you have a question, comment, or concern regarding City of Richmond Meals Tax, please contact RVA 311 at (804) 646-7000 or click here to submit a ticket.