Posted on April 29, 2025

Additional errors uncovered; Director of Revenue Administration steps down; City offering reimbursement to residents incurring bank fees due to valid stopped checks

Richmond, VA — In March 2025, an administrative error led to approximately 8,300 of the nearly 60,000 one-time property tax rebate checks being issued to an incorrect payee ("Hartshorn Community Council"). Once aware of the error, Department of Finance Director Sheila White halted distribution of checks and immediately began an audit of the process.

In the intervening weeks, that process has uncovered several more errors:

• Rebate checks for owners who sold their property in 2024 were incorrectly sent to the current owners of that property.
• Approximately 156 rebates were issued for parcels that did not exist in 2024. The rebate only applies to 2024 property taxes.
• Due to the nature of the original error some correctly issued checks were also stopped.

The Department is in the process of validating the remaining checks. When that is completed rebate checks will be issued in line with the real estate tax rebate program.

Additionally, the City's Director of Revenue Administration, Jamie Atkinson, who oversees the rebate program, submitted her resignation on April 21, 2025. Senior Director Sheila White will now directly oversee the process to issue the remaining rebate checks.

Any resident who was charged bank fees attempting to cash a valid stopped check can submit a request for reimbursement via RVA311 by calling 311 or submitting a ticket online at rva311.com.

Once on the RVA311 website, follow the below instructions:

1. Click "Create New Request"
2. Click "Real Estate Taxes"
3. Click "Continue" through the pop-up window
4. Fill out the requested information including uploading a photo of the return check fee from your bank.
5. Click "Next"
6. Fill out your contact information, and click "Submit"

Impacted residents should submit their request by May 30, 2025.

About the Rebate Program: The one-time real estate tax rebate amount is calculated based on a four-cent reduction per $100 of assessed property value. For instance, a property assessed at $260,000 would yield a rebate of $130. This rebate is part of the "RVA Stay" initiative, which also includes measures such as monthly stipends for low-income renters and homeowners, and tax bill freezes for seniors and disabled residents. The rebate, approved by City Council in 2024, aims to provide financial relief amid rising property values and housing costs.