Richmond official resigns after over 8,000 residents get tax rebate checks with wrong names, other issues

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A Richmond official has resigned following a series of errors with the city's one-time property tax rebate process, including over 8,000 residents receiving checks with the wrong names on them.

As part of a special rebate program, the city of Richmond issued tax rebate checks to Richmond property owners, which awarded a four-cent reduction per $100 of assessed property value. These checks were meant to be calculated and awarded based on properties owned in 2024.

On March 25, officials reported that "several thousand" residents had received checks with the wrong name printed on them. The city said at the time that it was working to cancel the affected checks and reissue them.

On Monday, April 28, the city provided an update on this situation. Officials provided a more exact number of residents impacted by this error, which was about 8,300. The total number of checks issued was nearly 60,000.

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Since March 25, an audit was performed on the tax rebate check process, which uncovered multiple additional errors.

Firstly, an unspecified number of checks meant for people who sold their properties in 2024 were instead sent to the new owners of said properties, according to the city. Secondly, just under 200 checks were issued for parcels of land that did not exist in 2024.

Finally, the city said that, because of the original mistake, some correctly-issued checks were not sent out.

At this time, the Department of Finance is working to validate the remaining checks. Once this is complete, checks will be issued accurately, according to the city.

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Jamie Atkinson, the city's Director of Revenue Administration, was the official responsible for overseeing the tax rebate program. According to the city, she submitted her resignation on April 21.

The Department of Finance's senior Director, Sheila White, will directly oversee the tax rebate check process going forward.

If you received one of these checks and then were charged bank fees for attempting to cash a valid, stopped check, you can submit a request for reimbursement via RVA311.

You can do so by either calling 311 or submitting a ticket online. According to the city, here are the steps to submit said ticket:

• Click “Create New Request.”
• Click “Real Estate Taxes.”
• Click “Continue” through the pop-up window.
• Fill out the requested information, including uploading a photo of the return check fee from your bank.
• Click “Next.”
• Fill out your contact information, then click “Submit.”

The deadline to request such a reimbursement is May 30.