Henrico shoppers report being wrongly charged plastic bag tax

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Henrico County officials said dozens of residents have complained about being incorrectly charged a five-cent plastic bag tax after Richmond’s ordinance went into effect.

The plastic bag tax, which took effect in Richmond on Jan. 1, 2026 requires stores within city limits to charge customers five cents per plastic bag at checkout. Henrico County has not adopted the ordinance.

Despite that, Henrico’s finance department said shoppers began reporting incorrect charges almost immediately after the tax took effect.

"We started getting inbound calls on Friday, and then we've continued to get contact from residents, through the weekend and into this morning," said Matt Chafin, Henrico’s deputy director of finance.

According to Henrico officials, residents were erroneously charged the fee at some CVS Pharmacy, Dollar Tree and Walmart locations in the county. The volume of complaints prompted county inspectors to visit some of the stores in person.

On Friday, Jan. 2, Chafin accompanied inspectors at a CVS Pharmacy and Dollar Tree on Patterson Avenue in the Tuckahoe area.

"We asked the store managers at both of those locations if they could stop collecting the tax," Chafin said. "Both had similar responses in that their taxes were administered at a central location… typically their home office."

Inspectors said employees at both stores referred them to corporate headquarters. Since their visit, county officials said Dollar Tree has stopped collecting the tax and is issuing refunds to customers who were charged.

"Once we have explained to them that, hey, 'you’re not supposed to be collecting this tax,' they’ve been very open to issuing refunds," Chafin said. "They need a receipt showing that it was paid, and they’ll get the customers made whole."

8News noticed the tax was still being incorrectly charged at some CVS Pharmacy locations and reached out to the company.

A spokesperson with CVS Pharmacy acknowledged the error in the following statement:

Since January 1, a small number of CVS stores outside of Richmond city limits in Henrico County have been inadvertently charging a 5-cent plastic bag fee to customers who request them. We’re working to resolve the matter as soon as possible. Customers who were charged the fee may request a refund.

Shoppers at several Walmart locations in the county also shared that the tax was erroneously applied. A Walmart spokesperson confirmed the tax was incorrectly charged at three locations and sent 8News the following statement:

Some customers shopping at Walmart locations in Henrico County on Brook Rd, Forest Ave and N Parham Rd might have been mistakenly charged for Richmond City’s new 5-cent tax on disposable plastic bags starting Jan. 1, 2026. We’re providing refunds to customers in those cases.

8News also reached out to Dollar Tree regarding the issue, but did not receive a response as of the time of reporting.

Chafin said the county is working with the Virginia Department of Taxation, as Richmond’s plastic bag tax is administered as part of the state retailer’s sales and use tax return.

Meantime, county leaders are asking shoppers to report any Henrico stores that may still be incorrectly applying the tax. Reports can be made by calling the county’s Business Section at 804-501-4310 or on the county's website.