It’s tax time again.
This year’s state income tax has a little something special: a check for up to $220 in the mail. To you, the taxpayers. Courtesy of the Republican-led General Assembly, who are all up for re-election this year. And the checks will arrive right before the election.
“It’s a political gimmick,” says Michael Cassidy, president of the Commonwealth Institute. “It was a political stunt that was actually tried in Wisconsin by former Governor Scott Walker in a vain attempt to win his re-election bid.”
Jarad Walczak at the Tax Foundation says the reason why Virginia is sending the checks is essentially the failure of the General Assembly to take action last year conforming the new federal tax code with the state tax code. Most states took action in 2018. But Virginia couldn’t come to an agreement.
“Virginia waited a year, and in 2018 you paid more," he explains. "So there’s a refund to try to make you whole because Virginia took too long to get conformity done.”
Taxpayers need to file before midnight on July first to qualify for the Tax Relief Fund.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
