McKay requests more resources to combat car tax evaders
1,150 cars with Maryland tags were added to the car tax records in the last fiscal year, according to Fairfax County.
Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay has requested $1 million to create eight new positions in the Fairfax County Department of Taxation (DTA) to find residents who are avoiding paying car taxes by not registering their out-of-state vehicles.
The new positions would be part of a “field team” that would look for out-of-state plates throughout the county, mostly on evenings and weekends, according to a press release issued Wednesday by McKay. The new funds would also go toward improving technology and database tools for the DTA.
“This problem is a chronic one, and one that my office hears about on a daily basis,” McKay said in the release. “It’s unfair to those living within the law to continue to ignore vehicles improperly stored in the County without proper registration.”
The county says that more than 2,500 new vehicles were added to the county’s tax records database in the last fiscal year alone through already-existing enforcement programs, resulting in $2.5 million in addition revenue. Of those 2,500 out-of-state tags, 1,150 were from Maryland.
“We’ve made tremendous progress, but we still have a long way to go,” McKay said in the release. “I’m committed to combating this and, with the help of the police, sheriff, and County staff, am confident we have the tools in place to make it happen.”
The new positions would be paid for with money from fines collected through the county’s compliance enforcement program and would have a net cost of $0, according to a budget document on the county’s website.
This is not the first time the county has made a push to crack down on vehicle owners who live in the county but drive cars with out-of-state tags. McKay was behind a push for stepped-up enforcement in 2015, and in 2016 the county introduced a website that allows residents to report vehicles with out-of-state tags.
Not all residents with out-of-state tags need to register their cars in the state. Those exempted include:
- Military personnel temporarily living in Fairfax County
- Full-time college students
- People visiting family members
- Diplomats
- Vehicles with government license plates
McKay’s proposal, which is part of the county’s “carryover budget proposal,” will be voted on after a September 25 public hearing at the Board of Supervisors meeting.
good and also for decals on cars for the county to ..
If your inspectors when they go out on complaints would fine them and not to tell them to cover their vehicles. I know there is over 20 vehicles like this just on a few streets, have sent many complaints in like cars parked on grass, inspector tells the owner just put crushed stone down that will be ok. Then grass grows up through the crushed stones when they cut the grass then you have stones going every where. I will be happy to report any violation as long as the county will go by the code book.
Each day while driving to work, you see all these cars with Maryland plates. You know they are attempting to get around the payment of personal property taxes. Alaska plates are from other people, but don’t be fooled. We had neighbors from Florida who lived here for three years before finally getting VA plates. The scanners on police cars can pick these plates up and establish a pattern of misuse. Great idea Mr. McKay@
I’d LOVE to be a part of your team looking for out of state tags! Retired military here.
I’m fine cracking down on tax cheats, but why not tax relief or at least consistency for residents? It’s time for homestead tax break that caps the rate of assessment increase or decrease. Then both residents and the county have a consistent view on what they owe/will recieve. So it’s time for Supervisor McKay to support it too, especially for older and lower income residents hit hardest by large and unexpected assessment increases.
I saw a car with North Carolina plates yesterday that had four different City of Alexandria parking stickers on it, the earliest dated 2011. I don’t understand how the city (or, for that matter, Fairfax County) could grant a parking decal to someone whose plate doesn’t match their state of residence (notwithstanding the aforementioned exceptions).
Good I’m glad- some times these plates have expired tags- worse than mine- and I get the ticket. I’m also happy to report! I have neighbors with MD plates and skating by. I would love to do do this full-time write up people. It would make my days.
Go for it. Most of those Maryland tags are illegals and they’ve got 2 families 10 people living in their houses. I would love to help clean up our county! #MAGA!!
I applaud any progress on shoring up County and State institutions. Northern Virginia counties have been losing legitimate tax revenue for over a decade; the problem is expanding despite Fairfax County finally acknowledging the “rip-off” and lingering aggravation it causes the law-abiding citizen. We are also paying State fees for emissions and safety. But where is the State of Virginia on this overt cheating? I have not seen or heard a peep from the State. The solution needs to be a comprehensive one, not Fairfax alone trying to right a wrong the County itself initiated circa 2005 when it discontinued the property tax decal under the guise that it was tax relief. The unintended consequence has been a fiscal disaster for Fairfax and the State. Further, it has undermined the confidence citizens place in their elected leadership and our institutions. Specifically, if we are striving for “One Fairfax” that goal can only be accomplished with one law fairly enforced; that goes for the Commonwealth, too. I wish Mr. McKay well as he leads us back to sanity through a basic application of law and order.
I agree with Groveton resident. Everyone should pay their fair share but why is it every year my property taxes go up and all the schools in my area still have the same low scores. All the streets in my neighborhood still have the same potholes as when I moved in, 10 years ago. You can’t walk down the street at night because we have no street lights. The bottom line is you can’t fix all problems with higher taxes. I like where I live but eventually I will have to move because I will not be able to justify paying such high taxes. ? Deja Vu California
Here’s and idea !! How about we get rid of the Personal Property Tax altogether. It’s not enforceable. It’s not fair either. It’s much too difficult and costly to have an older vehicle appraised for a lower rate. It’s a tax system left over from a draconian era when only “rich people” afforded automobiles. Eight new tax enforcement personnel in a county of 1.2 million people won’t even make a dent. There are so many Federal / Military Government employees here on a two or three years rotation temporarily. The Commonwealth of Virginia is already making revenue off of my car sale, my registration, my annual inspection and my gasoline taxes. Why not just say “NO” to the taxation glut.