Both Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) and Virginia’s Democrat-majority legislature are claiming credit for this year’s round of tax rebates, but they’re casting them in very different lights.
The rebates, worth up to $200 for individuals and $400 for couples who filed jointly in 2024, will go out to most households by Oct. 15. A message on the checks names both the 2025 General Assembly, which approved the budget, and Youngkin, who signed it into law.
Youngkin is portraying the checks as the commonwealth giving back to taxpayers because of a statewide economy that he has consistently described as thriving, despite federal job cuts and ongoing uncertainty.
“Virginia’s strong job growth, bolstered by business investment commitments of $140 billion, has driven a total of $10 billion in surplus revenue and enabled a record $9 billion in tax relief,” the governor said in a press release. “This fall’s tax rebate reflects a simple truth: it’s your money, not the government’s.”
By contrast, State Sen. Adam Ebbin (D) — who is on the Virginia Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee and who represents part of Arlington — emphasized the “tight circumstances” many Virginians are dealing with right now.
“I hope it’ll make things a little easier, particularly for taxpayers facing tough times and federal employees,” he said.
Ebbin believes the rebates are even more helpful given the Trump administration’s layoffs of federal workers and the ongoing government shutdown. The Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus emphasized similar factors in a press release that blamed Republicans for the Congressional deadlock.
“We’re continuing to fight to make sure no Virginian is left behind,” said Sen. L. Louise Lucas, chair of the Virginia Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee. “Even when the President and Republicans in Congress choose to hang Virginians out to dry, Senate Democrats meet the moment. We’ll always put people first and focus on the kitchen-table issues that matter most.”
The Trump administration’s impact on Virginia’s economy — as seen in surging unemployment rates, particularly in Arlington and elsewhere in Northern Virginia — has gotten heavy play in Democrats’ statewide campaigns this year. It makes Ebbin optimistic about the ticket’s chances in November despite the scandal currently surrounding the campaign of Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones.
“I think the fact that the reckless Republicans in Washington show so little regard for our federal employees and for fiscal stability won’t help [Republican governor candidate] Winsome Earle-Sears, who refuses to criticize President Trump,” Ebbin said.
This year’s tax rebates are the same size as those that went out in 2023. Some taxpayers will receive their rebates via direct deposit and others will get a paper check.
Both Youngkin and Ebbin described the tax relief as part of larger efforts to make life easier for Virginians.
“We made investments in education, we increased unemployment compensation and took a lot of other actions in our budget, but it seemed like a prudent course and a reasonable use of those funds that came from the taxpayers,” Ebbin said.
