Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine signed a law Tuesday that begins the refund process for the more than $24 million in unconstitutional taxes and fees the state collected earlier this year.

Residents who paid vehicle registration fees will begin receiving checks in early April, Kaine said as state leaders try to resolve the lingering fallout from the Virginia Supreme Court’s ruling last month that new transportation taxes and fees were unconstitutional.

The two vehicle registration fees and the property sales tax that make up the bulk of the tax revenue will be the easiest to return to taxpayers, Kaine said in the monthly “Ask the Governor” show on WTOP radio.

“Some of it will be refunded to you automatically,” Kaine said. “There are a couple of taxes where people will have to show that you paid it.”

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Because hotel taxes, car rental taxes, car repair taxes and vehicle inspection fees were collected by hundreds of businesses across the region, including more than 1,000 auto dealerships, the state is relying on taxpayers to apply for their own refunds.

“It’s going to be hard to find everybody,” said Del. Dave Albo, R-Springfield. “The people who sold their homes will get their money back, but the people who paid the $10 inspection fee and the smaller taxes, that will be difficult.”

A new Web site, hb3202.virginia.gov, has been created to give residents and visitors a method for learning about the refunds and, later, applying for them.

But critics of the taxes, including Del. Bob Marshall, R-Prince William, who challenged the taxes at the state Supreme Court, contend the state should not make residents provide any paperwork for reimbursements.

Lawmakers remain divided over how to replenish the $300 million in annual funding for Northern Virginia transportation that the taxes and fees were expected to generate.

Kaine and Senate leaders say a regional approach will not be sufficient to fix the state’s larger transportation problems, but Albo and other House leaders are concerned additional statewide taxes won’t give Northern Virginia taxpayers enough results for their money. A special session is expected later this spring.

dgenz@dcexaminer.com