Prince William County restaurant owners and industry groups welcome Board Chair Deshundra Jefferson’s proposal to fully repeal the meals tax.
Prince William County Board Chair At-Large Deshundra Jefferson proposed fully repealing the county’s meals tax in the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, which begins July 1, 2026. The tax, reduced from 4% to 3% effective January 1, 2026, applies to prepared foods and beverages at restaurants ranging from fast food to fine dining.
Prince William County could soon see a significant shift in its meals tax policy, as several key members of the Board of County Supervisors support cutting the tax in half and eventually phasing it out.
Board Chair At-large Deshundra Jefferson told Potomac Local News she supports reducing the county’s meals tax from 4% to 2% in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which takes effect July 1, 2025. Jefferson also wants the Board to consider a plan to phase out the tax entirely over the next few years.
Updated 10:30 p.m. – Local restaurant owners are voicing strong opposition to Prince William County’s meals tax, which is set to generate $42 million in Fiscal Year 2025—an increase of $10 million, or 31.25%, from the previous year.
Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chair At-large Deshundra Jefferson has signaled the meals tax will be discussed during the annual budget process this spring. “It would like to see a partial repeal of the meals tax, but it truly depends on our proposed budget for the next fiscal year,” Jefferson told Potomac Local News.
I’m Nelson Head, owner of Dixie Bones
The Prince William County Supervisors are up for re-election this year.
