State Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-30th) has introduced legislation that would require the state government to return to issuing paper checks as tax refunds for those who do not wish the funds to be electronically transferred into their bank accounts.
For the past several years, the state government has not offered checks to those getting refunds. If they did not wish an electronic transfer of the funds, they would receive a prepaid ATM card with the amount of the refund installed on it.
Ebbin’s legislation, which has been sent to the Senate Committee on Finance, would require the Virginia Tax Commissioner and State Comptroller to return to issuing paper checks to those who want them.
“If the individual makes no election on his income tax return as to the method of payment of his refund, the refund would be paid by check mailed to the address provided on his return,” the bill notes.
The measure also would prohibit the use of prepaid debit cards as a means for the payment of individual income-tax refunds.