Fairfax original cost and depreciation schedules
How Fairfax County applies published percentage schedules to supported business tangible property categories.
Summary
Fairfax County assesses supported non-vehicle business tangible property by applying published percentages to original capitalized cost. Furniture & Fixtures start at 80% in year 1 and decline to a 20% minimum by year 7 and prior. Computer Equipment starts at 50% in year 1 and declines to a 2% minimum by year 5 and prior.
Current Fairfax tax rate shown for Furniture & Fixtures and Computer Equipment: $4.57 per $100 of assessed value.
| Furniture Year 1 | 80%Declines 10 points per year to a 20% minimum for year 7 and prior. |
|---|---|
| Computer Year 1 | 50%Then 35%, 20%, 10%, and 2% for year 5 and prior. |
| Published rate | $4.57 per $100Shown by Fairfax for the supported categories. |
Original capitalized cost is the base
Fairfax explains that assessed value is determined from a set percentage of original capitalized cost, or the cost that would have been capitalized if a Section 179 deduction was elected. The packet should therefore preserve invoice or fixed-asset cost support.
Furniture and fixtures schedule
Furniture & Fixtures are assessed at 80% of original cost in year 1, then 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, and a 20% minimum for year 7 and prior. The MVP can apply this schedule when the category and year are clear.
Computer equipment schedule
Computer Equipment is assessed at 50% of original cost in year 1, then 35%, 20%, 10%, and a 2% minimum for year 5 and prior. The output remains a review estimate, not a county assessment.
Common questions
Does Fairfax use federal depreciation?
Fairfax uses original capitalized cost and county percentage schedules for business tangible property assessment. It is not simply the remaining book value after federal depreciation.
Can I enter expensed assets?
Fairfax references the cost that would have been capitalized if a Section 179 expense deduction was elected, so source cost still matters even when an item was expensed for income tax purposes.
Can the product handle Machinery & Tools?
Not in the MVP. M&T has its own schedule and rate context and is outside the supported packet lane.