Credit card processing and merchant services in Richmond, VA
Richmond restaurants collect the city's 7.5% meals tax and send it in by the 20th of the next month, and a fee every diner pays now has to be part of the price you display.
Richmond restaurants deal with a city tax as well as a state one. The City of Richmond's meals tax has been 7.5% since July 1, 2018, and it applies to meals bought from any food establishment. Food establishments collect it and remit it to the City by the 20th of the month after they collect it. Separately, the sales tax in Richmond is 6%, because Virginia Tax lists Richmond City in the Central Virginia region, where a 0.7% regional tax is added to the 5.3% general rate. Henrico and Chesterfield are in the same region.
Those two taxes mean your POS has to know which items count as meals, so the 7.5% lands only where it belongs. Get that mapping right at setup and the monthly city return mostly fills itself in from your sales report.
The 2022 Economic Census counted $977.1 million in accommodation and food services sales in the city and $2.72 billion in retail sales. The Census Bureau's July 1, 2025 estimate puts Richmond at 237,257 residents.
Fees are the other thing to get right. Since July 1, 2025, Section 59.1-608 of the Code of Virginia has required any displayed price to include all mandatory fees or surcharges. In our reading, a service charge added to every check is a fee every diner pays, so it belongs in the menu price. An optional credit card surcharge that diners can skip by paying with cash or debit is different. Virginia doesn't cap it by statute, and the Visa and Mastercard limits apply. The Virginia page has the sources, and our restaurant payment guide goes through the setup choices.
Running a second location down in Hampton Roads? Our Virginia Beach page covers that city. Every Clearo account gets interchange-plus pricing and a dedicated rep, and a free statement review is the easiest place to start.
Rules that matter in Richmond, VA
City meals tax
The City of Richmond levies a meals tax of 7.5% on meals purchased from any food establishment, whether or not the meal is prepared or eaten there. The rate took effect July 1, 2018. Food establishments collect the tax and must remit it to the City by the 20th day of the month after it was collected, or should have been collected. The Department of Finance administers it.
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Common questions
What is the meals tax in Richmond, Virginia?
7.5%, in effect since July 1, 2018, on meals bought from any food establishment. Restaurants and other food establishments collect it from customers and remit it to the City of Richmond by the 20th of the following month. The city's Department of Finance handles the returns.
What sales tax rate applies in Richmond?
6%. Virginia Tax lists Richmond City in the Central Virginia region, along with Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover and several other counties, and that region adds a 0.7% tax to the 5.3% general rate. Check Virginia Tax's current list before you set up a location outside the city.
Can a Richmond restaurant add a service fee to every check?
It can charge one, but since July 1, 2025, Virginia law has required displayed prices to include all mandatory fees or surcharges. A fee every diner has to pay is mandatory in our reading, so it should be part of the menu price rather than a surprise on the check. Ask your attorney to look at your menu and online ordering pages.
Should a Richmond restaurant surcharge credit cards?
It's legal, within Visa's 3% and Mastercard's 4% caps and never on debit, as long as diners can avoid it by paying another way. Before you add one, compare it with what you'd save by fixing your rate. A free statement review shows your effective rate per card type, and our surcharging program covers disclosure if you go ahead.
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Disclaimer: general information, not professional advice
This page is general educational information, not legal, tax, accounting or financial advice. Rules and rates vary by place and change, so confirm them with the official source and a qualified professional before you act. Full terms are in our Terms of Service.
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