CHARLESTON, WV – Gov. Jim Justice announced on Thursday that he has submitted to the West Virginia Legislature a bill that will reform West Virginia’s corporate income tax laws to make West Virginia a haven for remote workers from all across the country.
The idea was first announced during Gov. Justice’s 2021 State of the State address.
“This legislation is a long-overdue fundamental change and modernization to our corporate tax structure, which is absolutely necessary as we continue to move West Virginia forward,” Gov. Justice said. “I am so proud to offer this legislation for consideration because it’s a bold step toward making West Virginia the most attractive state in the nation for remote workers and for all businesses, which is exactly what we want to be.
“I am confident that the leadership of both the Senate and the House of Delegates understand its importance and I sincerely hope that all members of the Legislature will agree and pass this bill.”
The bill has been filed for introduction with the West Virginia Legislature and will be introduced in the coming days.
*This page will be updated once a bill number has been assigned*
If passed, the bill will modernize West Virginia’s corporate income tax structure, incentivizing not only remote workers but also businesses looking to plant their operations in West Virginia, by making the following changes:
- Adopts model tax provisions regarding the treatment of remote or mobile employees to remove barriers to businesses that have a remote workforce in West Virginia;
- Ends the “throw out” rule in West Virginia, which artificially increased the state income tax burden for certain businesses;
- Moves this state from “origin sourcing” to “market sourcing” – putting us in line with, and making us competitive with, the majority of jurisdictions in the US; and
- Adopts “single sales factor” apportionment, meaning that businesses will no longer be penalized on their West Virginia income taxes for having property or payroll within the state.
The West Virginia Department of Revenue projects that this legislation will be revenue-neutral, even considering all the benefits it will provide.
