Joel Davison over at the Virginia Department of Taxation emailed up-to-date numbers today, after we used March numbers in our report last Thursday about delinquent tax collections. In that story, we pointed out that the state assigned CGI to collect $237 million but the company pulled in just $37 million and retained $11.5 million in [...]

In Virginia’s attempt to track down its debtors, the state could be losing out twice. Individuals and businesses owe a collective $2 billion to Virginia. Many of them are just plain difficult to track down and bring to payment, judging from the fact that $1.4 billion of the debt is more than a year old [...]

By Paige Winfield Cunningham While high-income Virginians are paying proportionally more income tax than a decade ago, analysts warn income tax alone gives an incomplete picture of how the state’s tax burden is spread out. Back in 1998, the eight percent of Virginians earning more than $100,000 paid 47 percent of the total income tax [...]

By Paige Winfield Cunningham Hundreds of colorful banners waved above a Tax Day rally held last month in Washington, D.C. by Tea Party activists protesting government spending. Signs and buttons displayed punchy messages like “Capital Privy—Flush Congress” and “No-bama.” A yellow sign held by a middle-aged man read: “Hey Congress/Obama, my small business is not [...]

Anti-tax Tea Party activists have plenty to fuel their fires this week. Tuesday marks the day when Virginians will have earned enough money to pay this year’s tax obligations of the federal, state and local government, according to an annual study published by the nonprofit Tax Foundation. Staff economist Kail Padgitt said he reached his [...]

Virginia coffers hold $1,500 of taxpayer generosity this year. As disputes rage in Richmond over proposed fees to balance the troubled state budget, some citizens want to send even more than they have to into a fund that collects voluntary giving to the state. But not many. Contributions to the “Tax Me More Fund” have [...]

In his effort to avoid making waves, Gov. McDonnell had better make sure he doesn’t sink. He’s facing a $4.2 billion shortfall. As the Roanoke Times points out, it’s nearly halfway through the legislative session and McDonnell has yet to produce a budget. So far, he’s said no to tax increases. And he’s said no [...]

After the Robert Sledd blip, McDonnell seems to have won support from some Republicans and most Democrats in selecting his 15-member cabinet. They’re still awaiting confirmation from the general assembly, but have already been sworn in. Two used to work for Gov. Kaine and five worked with McDonnell when he was Attorney General. Here’s what [...]

The opener on this Virginian-Pilot story made me laugh, despite its gravity. The story outlines a potential raise in unemployment taxes on business owners to fill in a $561 million hole: The sorts of tax increases described by the Virginia Employment Commission earlier this fall may be difficult for some small businesses to absorb without [...]

Dry turkey leftovers haven’t hit our fridges yet, but the steady stream of stories about budget cuts make me feel like I’m chewing on the same tiring news over and over. Today we’ve got a $10 million shortfall in Richmond, a $1.6 billion shortfall for Virginia and a $84 million potentially slashed from VDOT’s budget. [...]