Tax Relief Refunds Up To $110, $220 Mailed To Eligible Virginians

VIRGINIA — Checks are en route to Virginia taxpayers' mailboxes as part of the state Department of Taxation's tax relief refund program. Individual filers may receive a check up to $110 and joint filers may get up to $220.

The refunds are available after the Virginia General Assembly passed tax relief legislation, with higher revenues from Virginia's income tax related to the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.

Taxpayers are eligible if they filed a 2018 Virginia individual resident, nonresident, or part year resident income tax return by July 1, 2019 and have a 2018 tax liability in Virginia. To determine the refund amount for each taxpayer, the Virginia Department of Taxation looks at the 2018 Virginia individual income tax return. Line 19 on a paper return shows the tax liability before any credits.

To calculate the refund, these credits are deducted from that tax liability amount:

• Credit for Low Income Individuals, or Virginia Earned Income Credit (on Schedule ADJ)
• Credit for taxes paid to another state (on Form OSC)
• Other Virginia credits from Schedule CR

The department also deducts any unpaid Virginia state taxes or debts to local governments, courts, or other state agencies. Depending on the amount, that could be all, some or none of the refund.

Taxpayers with a tax liability in 2018 who did not take credits will be eligible for a refund, as well as those who took credits less than the tax liability. If unpaid taxes or debts are deducted, that will be noted on the refund check. If the whole refund is used for unpaid taxes or debts, the taxpayer will receive an explanation letter.

Checks have already begun appearing in mailboxes. Eligible taxpayers will receive these refund checks by Tuesday, Oct. 15.

For questions, call the Virginia Department of Taxation's customer service line in 804-367-8031 or see more information online.