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Department of Motor Vehicles finishes refunds
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WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Virginia has almost finished sending refunds for two of the unconstitutional Northern Virginia transportation taxes, state officials said Tuesday.
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles sent nearly 250,000 drivers more than $11.25 million in refunds through Friday.
The agency was responsible for refunding a $10 fee on all vehicle registrations in January and February and the one-time charge of 1 percent of a new vehicle’s worth.
The refunds represent two of the seven Northern Virginia Transportation Authority taxes and fees the Virginia Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional at the end of February, two months after they were imposed Jan. 1.
They are the easiest of the seven taxes for the state to refund.
The agency blamed incorrect addresses for the 3,360 refunds that have not been sent, as agency spokeswoman Melanie Stokes said it was within the estimate of fewer than 5,000 “undeliverable” refunds the agency set earlier this year.
The average refund is $45.07, Stokes said, but refund amounts can reach much higher, like $300 for a new $30,000 car.
Taxpayers who have not received refunds will have to contact the agency to receive their money, through the toll-free number 866-368-5463.
Other agencies are taking a bit longer than expected due to the complexity of the process.
Local circuit court clerks responsible for refunding more than $13 million in property sales tax refunds have sent hundreds of checks but are continuing to process refunds, said Fairfax County Circuit Court Clerk John Frey.
While most of the money has been returned to settlement agents, Frey said, the clerks’ offices need more time to finish handling the remaining cases.
The refund process looms over state lawmakers trying to approve more money for transportation projects, in part to replace the tax package the court ruled unconstitutional.
Gov. Tim Kaine is hosting a series of town hall meetings across the state to pitch his $1.1 billion transportation tax plan that would include a new 1-cent sales tax increase in Northern Virginia and new statewide increases on car sales and property sales.
The General Assembly is expected to consider that proposal and others, including gas tax increase, when it convenes for a special session June 23.
dgenz@dcexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
2:16 PM MST on Wed., May. 14, 2008 re: "Governor’s plan revives NVTA"
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1:41 PM MST on Wed., Mar. 26, 2008
re: "Kaine signs tax refund law; paybacks should start in April"
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6:57 AM MST on Tue., Mar. 25, 2008
re: "Taxpayers face different systems to receive $24 million in refunds"
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5:04 AM MST on Tue., Mar. 25, 2008
re: "Taxpayers face different systems to receive $24 million in refunds"
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10:04 AM MST on Thu., Mar. 6, 2008
re: "Gas tax plan roils Senate debate over N.Va. transportation fix"
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9:50 AM MST on Thu., Mar. 6, 2008
re: "Gas tax plan roils Senate debate over N.Va. transportation fix"
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9:06 AM MST on Thu., Mar. 6, 2008
re: "Northern Virginians brace for seven new taxes, fees"
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8:25 AM MST on Thu., Mar. 6, 2008
re: "Gas tax plan roils Senate debate over N.Va. transportation fix"
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9:41 AM MST on Mon., Dec. 31, 2007
re: "Kaine promises no new taxes despite shortfall"
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9:35 AM MST on Mon., Dec. 31, 2007
re: "Northern Virginians brace for seven new taxes, fees"
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12:04 AM MST on Thu., Dec. 6, 2007
re: "Kaine promises no new taxes despite shortfall"
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Examiner Reader said:
I think the NVTA is tarnished. It can't continue. Kaine needs to come up with something else. Indeed, Northern Virginia and the Tidewater are the econonic engines of Virginia. We put more in the coffers than we get out.
6 agree | 2 disagree
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Jason said:
Taxation without representation. Hello! We fought a war over this! I thought that the sales tax being raised to 5% was suppose to take care of all our road problems? Another government LIE! Keep drinking the Koolaid people. You won't be happy until you are shoved into a FEMA camp!
7 agree | 5 disagree
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GMU92 said:
What a colossal mess. They shouldn't have collected a dime until a ruling was handed down by the VA Supreme Court. It's gonna take 3 months to return property and registration fees? Good grief, that data is readily available to them. And now people have to go rummaging around for old receipts from car rentals and hotel rooms? You know some of these people will never know to apply and won't see that money ever again. Wow, the Commonwealth messed this one up badly.
8 agree | 3 disagree
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Abolish the NVTA said:
Are the victims of the illegal NVTA taxes going to receive market rate interest on the monies that were taken from them? After all, there is a time value to money. The NVTA apparently didn't have a very good accounting system in place if they can't issue refunds directly and efficiently. This is yet another example of their sheer ineptitude and arrogance. The NVTA should follow in the footsteps of their "sister" organization in Hampton Roads and shut down AFTER refunding the people's monies.
6 agree | 3 disagree
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Chambek said:
If our elected officials would spend some time working out ways to spend OUR money better, we would not be in this predicament. Their answer to everything is to seek out a new revenue source. They have wasted lots of time and lots of OUR money throwing new taxes against the wall to see what sticks. Gov. Kaine shows little regard for Virginians. He is using use to advance his political career as a tax and spend democrat. I guess we really have only ourselves to blame - we put him in office. Fool me once .......
5 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
NOVA sends more revenue to the State than it receives back. If the entire State isn't going to be taxed to fix this transportation crisis, then the formula should be changed so that NOVA isn't supporting the rest of the state. I support a gas tax increase - how would we even feel it when it's buried in the monthly 10 cent a gallon hikes we've had for the past two years? The other option is to cut spending. Just ignoring the issue is NOT an option. The House needs to govern!
4 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
We are being taxed out of the area. The cost of living is getting out of control and I really don't know why that is always the answer to everything. Maybe they need to start looking into what they are paying themselves and start the cuts there.
3 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
My comment regards the issues of raising money for road funding ONLY in the Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads area. Why the should the entire state have to suffer with any extra taxes if the only people to benefit are the ones in the two areas mentioned? How would citizens located in Central, South and Southwest Virginia personally benefit other than have less money to spend in an already high unemployment area? Maybe this talk a few years ago about how Northern Virginia was considering to be a separate entity from the rest of the State (Northern Virginia and Virginia) should be resurrected and re-hashed over again. You would then have two budgets.
4 agree | 3 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Just got to love Kaine's scare tactics. He needs to cut spending and take his pet project off the table to have any chance of passing a non tax raising budget. Chris
55 agree | 55 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Kaine is raising taxes just like Maryland's Gov. O'Malley. Thankfully Virginia has more sense and will elect a Republican governor in 2008. Chris
67 agree | 61 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
That old 70;s song is back "Here comes that Rainy day feeling again" Kaino will surely get his money after the Jan session opens, they do it the old fashioned way, they just up your taxes
76 agree | 63 disagree
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