Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

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January 5, 2013

Clarifying the B&O tax for Bluefield

Bluefield Daily Telegraph

— I would like to take a moment to clarify some misunderstandings about local business taxes in our area. Bluefield, W. Va. has a simple B&O tax as do other cities in West Virginia.  

Bluefield, Va. places taxes on local businesses also. However, the town does not call it a “B&O” tax. The local tax structure for businesses is broken down into different line items in Bluefield, Va.  In the end, there is a virtual wash between the local business tax structures of the two Bluefields. Bluefield, W. Va. does provide a break for new businesses who lease a building for five years or for new businesses who own their buildings. This tax break is graduated over a four-year period. Bluefield, W. Va. is on par with Princeton and other West Virginia cities. However,  there is a difference in the state tax structure between the two Virginia’s. This is the disparity businesses realize between the two Bluefields. The impact occurs at the state level with the corporate tax rate and other state policies that are beyond the control of the Bluefields.   

Local B&O tax or local business tax is standard for all cities that have to operate. This is true in West Virginia and in Virginia. I believe this is important for local citizens to understand.  Citizens may obtain a copy of the local business tax structure from Bluefield, W.Va. and Bluefield, Va. This public information is available at the respective city halls.

Greg Shrewsbury

Economic Development Director

Bluefield

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