Va State Tax (credit, loan, how much)

[Badger21]

I know this probably isn't the best forum for this, but did anyone else feel like they got screwed on their state tax return this year?

I lived here for six months and made about 33% of my normal salary in 2009 and I got back 282 from VA. In 2010, I lived here a full year, with ZERO changes in my lifestyle (i.e. no tax related credits or deductions) and only got back 133 from VA.

Just seems like something's off...Anybody have any tax professionals they can recommend? Or did other people have my experience?

[CAVA1990]

Perhaps a higher proportion of your income the year before was exempt from VA state tax? I know they don't tax the first several thousand (too lazy to go look up the amount right now.) Probably just something with the formula used for part year filing vs. full year. Rest assured though, you'll probably get screwed a similar amount next year.

[z28lt1]

You can't look at how much you got back as indication of how much taxes you paid. How much you got back is just a function of your W4 form and your employers calculations. I don't believe VA changed their tax rates at all this year, it is all a formula.

CAVA is correct though that VA taxes (like federal) are graduated. So, the more you make, the higher percentage your tax is. No taxes on the first $3k, and increasing percentages at certain levels after that. So, as both a dollar amount and a percentage, you should have paid significantly more in taxes this year than last. Still not related to how much you got back, your employer has the tax tables.

By the way, ideally you wouldn't get anything back, you would actually owe at the end of the year. Otherwise, you are just floating the state an interest free loan. You pay the state the same either way, you might as well have the money for the year.