Any taxpayer whose lands, or any portion thereof, are in any year acquired or taken in any manner by the United States; the Commonwealth; a political subdivision; a church or religious body, which is exempt from taxation by Article X, Section 6 of the Constitution of Virginia; a surviving spouse of a member of the armed forces of the United States who was killed in action for that portion of the property that is exempt under § 58.1-3219.9; or a disabled veteran for that portion of the property that is exempt from taxation pursuant to § 58.1-3219.5, shall be relieved from the payment of taxes and levies from the date of divestment of such land for that portion of the year in which the property was taken or acquired. The county treasurers as to land situated in counties and the city treasurers and city collectors as to lands situated in cities shall receive from and receipt to the original owner of the lands so taken, for his proportionate part of the taxes and levies for the year and credit the payment on the tax tickets and shall return at the same time he makes his return of lands and lots improperly assessed, as required by law, the proportional part of the taxes and levies exonerated from taxation for any such year, indicating the date on which the property was acquired by the government or religious body. Such list, when approved by the proper authorities, shall be considered as a credit to any such treasurer or collector in the settlement of the accounts for such year.
Code 1950, §§ 58-818, 58-822; 1960, c. 58; 1962, c. 149; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 47; 1984, c. 675; 2012, c. 782; 2014, cc. 330, 757.