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Fairfax County’s new 4% tax on prepared food and beverages took effect Jan. 1, adding to the cost of dining out, ordering delivery or buying from a food truck.

The levy applies to meals sold by restaurants, cafes, bars, food trucks and similar businesses. Grocery items and packaged snacks or drinks sold separately are exempt.

The tax does not apply within Vienna, Herndon or Fairfax City, which already impose their own meals taxes. Vienna raised its rate from 3% to 4% on Jan. 1, 2026.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved the tax in May as part of the fiscal year 2026 budget. County staff projected it would generate $140 million annually and about $65 million during the six months it is in effect for FY 2026. Supervisors used that expected revenue to reduce the property tax rate by a quarter-cent.

Supporters said the additional revenue could lessen the county government’s dependence on real estate taxes. Restaurant owners and other critics warned that higher bills could discourage customers and intensify pressure on an industry already confronting slim profit margins, inflation, supply-chain disruptions, labor challenges and tariffs.

County voters rejected meals-tax proposals in 1992 and 2016. A later change in Virginia law allowed Fairfax County to adopt the levy without another referendum.

The new charge brings Fairfax County in line with most other Northern Virginia jurisdictions, where meals taxes of 3% to 5% have been in place for years. Its effect on dining habits remains uncertain as residents weigh the tax alongside rising menu prices, household budgets, and health and dietary considerations.