RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia's tax collections for January are almost one-fifth greater than they were for the same month a year ago. Strong income tax collections, a quirk of the calendar and delayed refunds all contributed to the increase.
The $1.8 billion in general fund receipts last month is 19.5 percent greater than the $1.5 billion taken in during January 2012.
Taxes withheld from paychecks increased by 17.5 percent for the month. That accounts for nearly two-thirds of general taxes that fund core services such as schools, police and health care.
Taxes paid by the self-employed and investors jumped nearly 43 percent. That accounts for 15 percent of general taxes.
Last month offered one more deposit day than January 2012.
Refunds declined from $97 million the previous January to $30 million last month.
