Freelancer Tax Guide — Richmond 2026
Freelancing in Richmond means a combined state and local income tax of 5.75%, 23rd of 50 cities we track. Richmond adds no local income tax, so the 5.75% state rate is the whole of your non-federal income tax. Living costs are moderate relative to the rest of the list, and the freelancers we see here average $72,000 a year — $4,140 of that goes to state and local income tax.
📊 Richmond Freelancer Tax Summary (2026)
State Income Tax
5.8%
SE Tax Rate
15.3%
Federal (all states)
At $72,000/yr
$54,859
Take-home pay
Recommended Savings
29–34%
Of each payment
💡 Key insight: Richmond's growing creative and tech scene, combined with proximity to DC opportunities, makes it an emerging freelancer city with lower costs than the DC metro.
Calculate Your Richmond Freelancer Take-Home Pay
SE Tax
$10,173
Federal Tax
$4,630
State Tax
$2,337
Take-Home
$54,859
Total Tax
$17,141
Effective Rate
23.8%
Quarterly Payment
$4,285
Monthly Net
$4,572
Richmond Freelance Market Overview
Top Industries
- Finance
- Healthcare
- Government
- Tech
- Creative
- Education
Recommended Hourly Rates
Average Freelance Income
$72,000/year
Estimated average for freelancers in Richmond across all industries.
Richmond Tax Tips for Freelancers
Virginia state income tax is 5.75%.
Richmond has no city income tax.
Proximity to DC creates government contracting opportunities.
Growing tech sector (Dominion Energy, Capital One nearby).
Save 24–29% for taxes.
Calculate Your Exact Richmond Freelancer Taxes
Use our free self-employment tax calculator — includes Virginia rates.
How Richmond Compares
Combined state and local income tax on $72,000 of freelance income, against the cities closest to Richmond on rate.
| City | State | Local | Combined | Tax Due |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond (this guide) | 5.75% | — | 5.75% | -$4,140 |
| Cincinnati, OH | 3.99% | 1.80% | 5.79% | -$4,169 |
| Kansas City, MO | 4.80% | 1.00% | 5.80% | -$4,176 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 5.90% | — | 5.90% | -$4,248 |
| Atlanta, GA | 5.49% | — | 5.49% | -$3,953 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 3.07% | 3.00% | 6.07% | -$4,370 |
* Same $72,000 income applied to each city's rates, so the columns are directly comparable. Federal self-employment tax is identical everywhere and excluded here.