Working West Virginians with modest incomes lost nearly $13 million of their 2006 federal income tax refunds to tax preparers who promised them “fast cash." Refund Anticipation Loans (RALs) provide high-interest credit or cash advances to tax filers based on their expected refunds and are marketed to those who need money quickly during tax season.…
Tax and Budget
This report describes the history and current methods of taxing one of the state’s most valuable resources. It is intended as a useful reference for county officials, coal companies, landowners, and local citizens. Morgantown-based Downstream Strategies prepared the report, in collaboration with the WV Center on Budget and Policy. Read
This report summarizes major appropriations resulting from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that are likely to have the greatest impact on low- and moderate-income West Virginians. Read
The number of unemployed West Virginians has swelled by more than 10,000 over the past year, and the pace of job loss is accelerating. This poses significant challenges to the solvency of the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. Read
This report finds companies fail to deliver on job-creation promises after given publicly funded subsidies. Read
The proposed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has five stated purposes. Read more about what it means for West Virginia. Read
This citizen’s guide to the state budget process covers the basics of where the state gets and spends its money and how the annual budget is created, reviewed and adopted. Read
This report makes the case for enacting a State Earned Income Tax Credit for West Virginia. Read