CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) — Former West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice and his wife, Cathy Justice, have agreed to pay more than $5 million in long-standing federal tax liabilities following a settlement with the Internal Revenue Service, according to newly filed court records.
The settlement was finalized on Nov. 24 — the same day the lawsuit was filed — in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia, documents reviewed by USA TODAY show.
$5.1 Million in Back Taxes Dating to 2009
In a joint motion submitted by the Justices and attorneys for the U.S. Department of Justice Tax Division, the couple consented to judgment for $5,164,739.75 in unpaid federal income taxes. The outstanding liabilities stretch back as far as 2009.
The agreement resolves a federal lawsuit brought against the pair over personal tax debts that accumulated for nearly five years.
Interest and Penalties Still Accruing
Under the settlement terms, the billionaire coal magnate and his wife are also responsible for statutory interest and additional tax-related charges until the balance is fully paid, according to the filing.
The move comes weeks after Politico reported that the IRS had filed tax lien notices claiming the couple owed more than $8 million in unpaid assets and income taxes.
Justice’s Political Background
Jim Justice, 74, served as West Virginia’s 36th governor from 2017 until earlier this year, when his term ended in January 2025. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 2024, succeeding Sen. Joe Manchin. Gov. Patrick Morrisey currently holds the governor’s office.
The settlement marks the latest development in a series of financial challenges tied to Justice’s business empire, which spans coal, agriculture, and hospitality.
Neither the IRS nor the Justices immediately commented on the agreement.
