BIR Divvies Up Income Tax Refunds In Dribs And Drabs Just In Time For Christmas

BIR Divvies Up Income Tax Refunds In Dribs And Drabs Just In Time For Christmas

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Governor Albert Bryan announced that a second round of income tax refunds was disbursed this month, for a total of more than $15 million in December. 

On Monday, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) sent out 3,550 refund checks totaling $10,210,766. Last week, the BIR sent out 1,100 refund checks totaling $5 million. 

The checks disbursed this month also include refunds from Tax Year 2018, according to BIR Director Joel Lee. 

To date, the Virgin Islands government has issued 37,700 checks totaling $112.8 million. For Fiscal Year 2020, the Administration issued 24,700 checks totaling $68 million. 

“A core foundation of the Bryan/Roach Administration is stabilizing the government and restoring the people’s trust in the government. The income tax refunds we have sent out is one way our Administration is living up to that promise,” Bryan said. “While the COVID-19 pandemic has had a staggering effect on the territory’s economy and the government’s revenue, it also is important that the government fulfill its obligation to the people. We will continue to do so by bringing the backlog of tax refunds, which have languished for years, back to being current and further stabilize the government of the Virgin Islands.” 

Taxpayers who believe they are owed an income tax refund from 2017 or earlier years should contact the Bureau of Internal Revenue in their District to rectify any tax issues that exist or resolve any issues with their account. 

BIR offices at Sunny Isle on St. Croix and in Red Hook on St. Thomas are open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information, call 340-773-1040 on St. Croix or 340-715-1040 in the St. Thomas-St. John District. 

The government “continues to be committed to transparency, stabilizing the economy, restoring trust in government and ensuring the disaster recovery is completed as quickly as possible.”