Richmond sends all real estate tax bills to mortgage lenders after they unexpectedly went out

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The City of Richmond's Department of Finance has completed sending real estate tax bills to mortgage lenders on Friday afternoon after residents received them unexpectedly earlier in May.

On the afternoon of Saturday, May 17, the city shared the next steps for residents confused by these “2025 Second Half Real Estate Tax Bills" after Mayor Danny Avula released a statement on YouTube at around 11 a.m., calling it a "system error."

The city is emphasizing that taxpayers whose lenders typically pay the bill on their behalf do not need to take further action. Those who directly pay their real estate tax bill should submit their payments before June 16.

Once lenders receive the bill, "they will typically remit payment to the City of Richmond within one business week," according to the city. Taxpayers can then call their lender to verify that the payment has been complete within 10 to 14 days.

For those who've already paid, the city said that you can request a refund from the Department of Finance by following these steps:

• Visit rva311.com 
  • Search for “real estate” in the search box 
  • Tap “Real Estate Taxes” in the “Create a Request” menu that pops up 
  • Tap “Continue” in the Real Estate Taxes overview screen 
• Fill out the form as follows: 
  • Subtype: “Refund” 
  • Inquiry for current year or prior year?: “Current Year” 
  • Requesting research or real estate payment refund?: “Refund Request” 
  • Description or Justification for Request: E.g. "I paid my real estate tax bill and so did my lender. I would like to request a refund.” 
  • Upload Images: If possible upload an image of your payment and an image of your bank’s payment. 
• Make sure you’ve checked the “Authorized Signature” box 

"Mayor Danny Avula has also committed to bringing in an external expert to review the Department of Finance’s processes and procedures," the statement from the mayor's office reads. "Additionally, the City is planning to update impacted taxpayers directly via mail and/or email as soon as possible."

If you have an online account, the city is urging you to log in and cancel your electronic fund transfer. If you need additional assistance, please contact 311.