Accounting, Bookkeeping & Tax Services in Arlington, VA
From Rosslyn and Ballston to Clarendon, Courthouse and National Landing, Arlington businesses juggle county filings in CAPP, a 5% meals tax and owners who live on one side of the Potomac and work on the other. Our remote team, based in Ashburn, keeps your books, payroll and taxes current without a trip to anyone's office.
- Business license filed in CAPP by March 1
- Business property return by May 1
- Meals tax filed by the 20th (restaurants)
- DC commuter rules applied to your return
Handled remotely from our Ashburn base. No office visits needed.
Services for Arlington businesses and families
Monthly bookkeeping
Reconciled books and a monthly profit and loss, with your gross receipts tracked the way Arlington's license return needs them.
Learn morePayroll for DMV teams
Payroll for staff who live in Virginia, DC or Maryland, with the right state withholding for each person.
Learn moreBusiness tax returns
Federal and Virginia returns for LLCs, S corps and partnerships, plus the county filings that sit outside them.
Learn morePersonal tax returns
Returns for Arlington residents, including DC commuters, federal employees and condo or rental owners.
Learn moreArlington business taxes at a glance
Arlington County runs its own business taxes through the Commissioner of Revenue. Most are filed online in CAPP, the county's business tax portal, and none of them appear on your income tax return.
| Tax | What to know | Due |
|---|---|---|
| Business license (BPOL) | Smaller businesses pay a flat fee or nothing, and larger ones pay a rate by business type. No extensions; late returns carry a 10% penalty. | March 1 |
| Business tangible personal property | Tax on furniture, computers and equipment you own on January 1, at the rate the County sets each year. | Return May 1, payment September 5 |
| Meals tax | 5% on prepared food and drinks since July 1, 2025. Filed monthly, even in months with no sales. | 20th of each month |
| Home based businesses | Need a license too, including short term rentals. One license covers all activity at one location. | Same as BPOL |
Good to know: A $0 balance in CAPP does not mean you are finished. Arlington expects a license return even when receipts were zero, or it can estimate your tax for you.
Rates and dates change. Confirm current figures with the locality before filing, or let us handle it.
Arlington businesses we work with
Live in Arlington, work in DC?
Most Arlington residents who earn wages in DC file only a Virginia return. DC cannot tax a Virginia resident's wages, so if DC tax was withheld, you can get it back with Form D-40B. Business income earned in DC is different: an unincorporated business with more than $12,000 of DC gross receipts may owe DC's franchise tax.
Arlington accounting and tax questions
Do you have an office in Arlington?
No. We are a 100% remote team based in Ashburn. Arlington clients share documents through our secure portal and meet with us by phone or video, so nobody has to cross the county for a meeting.
Do I need an Arlington business license if I work from home?
Yes. Arlington requires home based businesses to be licensed, including short term rentals. Very small businesses may owe no tax, but they still file the return.
What is CAPP?
CAPP is Arlington County's online portal for business tax filings, including the business license and business property returns. We can prepare and file these returns for you.
I live in Arlington and work in DC. Do I file a DC return?
Usually not for wages. DC does not tax the wages of Virginia residents, so you file only in Virginia. If DC tax was withheld, file Form D-40B to request a refund and give your employer Form D-4A.
Can you handle bookkeeping for an Arlington restaurant?
Yes. We reconcile daily sales and deposits, record tips correctly and keep your monthly meals tax and sales tax filings on schedule.
Ready for clear books in Arlington?
Tell us about your business or tax situation and get a quote, usually within one business day.