Virginia Law

Article 6. Regulatory Revenue Taxes of Public Service Corporations.

A. In addition to any other taxes upon the subjects of taxation listed herein, there is hereby levied, subject to the provisions of § 58.1-2664, a special regulatory revenue tax equal to twenty-six hundredths of one percent of the gross receipts such person receives from business done within the Commonwealth upon:

1. Corporations furnishing water, heat, light or power, by means of gas or steam, except for electric suppliers, gas utilities, and gas suppliers as defined in § 58.1-400.2 and pipeline distribution companies as defined in § 58.1-2600;

2. Telegraph companies owning and operating a telegraph line apparatus necessary to communicate by telecommunications in the Commonwealth;

3. Telephone companies whose gross receipts from business done within the Commonwealth exceed $50,000 or a company, the majority of stock or other property of which is owned or controlled by another telephone company, whose gross receipts exceed the amount set forth herein;

4. The Virginia Pilots' Association;

5. Railroads, except those exempt by virtue of federal law from the payment of state taxes, subject to the provisions of § 58.1-2661;

6. Common carriers of passengers by motor vehicle, except urban and suburban bus lines, a majority of whose passengers use the buses for traveling a daily distance of not more than 40 miles measured one way between their place of work, school or recreation and their place of abode; and

7. Any county, city or town that obtains a certificate pursuant to § 56-265.4:4.

B. Notwithstanding the rate specified in subsection A, the maximum rate of the special regulatory revenue tax shall be increased above such specified rate to the extent necessary to permit the Commission to recover the additional costs incurred by the Commission in implementing subdivision B 4 of § 56-265.4:4 that cannot be recovered through the specified rate.

Code 1950, §§ 58-660 through 58-667; 1958, c. 157; 1970, c. 773; 1979, c. 443; 1980, c. 282; 1982, c. 62; 1983, c. 547; 1984, c. 675; 1988, c. 899; 1990, c. 146; 1996, c. 381; 1999, c. 971; 2000, cc. 691, 706; 2002, cc. 479, 489; 2003, c. 720; 2020, c. 697.

The amount of the regulatory revenue tax levied pursuant to § 58.1-2660 on railroads shall not exceed an estimate of the expenses to be incurred by the Commission and the Department reasonably attributable to the regulation and assessment for taxation of railroads, including a reasonable margin in the nature of a reserve fund.

Code 1950, § 58-664; 1970, c. 773; 1979, c. 443; 1980, c. 282; 1982, c. 62; 1983, c. 547; 1984, c. 675.

The special regulatory revenue tax levied pursuant to § 58.1-2660 shall be based upon the gross transportation receipts of each railroad for the year ending December 31 preceding, to be ascertained in the following manner:

1. When the road of the corporation lies wholly within the Commonwealth, the tax shall be based upon the entire gross transportation receipts of such corporation.

2. When the road of the corporation lies partly within and partly without the Commonwealth, or is operated as a part of a line or system extending beyond the Commonwealth, the tax shall be based upon the gross transportation receipts earned within the Commonwealth, to be determined by ascertaining the average gross transportation receipts per mile over its whole extent within and without the Commonwealth and multiplying the result by the number of miles operated within the Commonwealth. From the sum so ascertained there may be deducted a reasonable sum due to any excess of value of the terminal facilities or other similar advantages situated in other states over similar facilities or advantages situated in the Commonwealth.

Code 1950, § 58-664; 1970, c. 773; 1979, c. 443; 1980, c. 282; 1982, c. 62; 1983, c. 547; 1984, c. 675.

The special regulatory revenue tax on telephone and telegraph companies levied pursuant to § 58.1-2660 shall be based on gross receipts with the following deductions:

1. Revenue billed on behalf of another such telephone company or person to the extent such revenues are later paid over to or settled with that company or person;

2. Revenues received from a telephone company for providing to the company any of the following: (i) unbundled network facilities; (ii) completion, origination or interconnection of telephone calls with the taxpayer's network; (iii) transport of telephone calls over the taxpayer's network; or (iv) taxpayer's telephone services for resale;

3. Revenue received as the proportionate part of interstate revenue attributable to the Commonwealth;

4. Revenue received from a person providing video programming for the transport of video programming to an end-user subscriber's premises or for access to a video dialtone network; and

5. Revenue, other than from line charges, received from pay telephone service.

1988, c. 727; 1995, c. 751; 1998, c. 897.

The special regulatory revenue tax on companies furnishing water, heat, light or power levied pursuant to § 58.1-2660 shall be based on gross receipts with the exemptions allowed under § 58.1-2627.

1988, c. 727.

The taxes provided for by this article shall be assessed, determined and collected by the State Corporation Commission in the same manner and on such same dates as other state taxes on the same subjects of taxation are assessed, determined and collected under this chapter. Such taxes shall be paid into the state treasury for use in accordance with § 58.1-2665.

The regulatory revenue tax on the Virginia Pilots' Association shall be assessed, determined and collected by the Commission in the same manner in which the license taxes provided in Article 2 (§ 58.1-2620 et seq.) are assessed and collected on certain public utility companies.

Code 1950, §§ 58-667, 58-668; 1983, c. 570; 1984, c. 675.

The Commission shall, in the performance of its function and duty in assessing and levying the special regulatory revenue taxes provided for by this article, omit the assessment and levy of any portion of such taxes as are unnecessary within the Commission's sole discretion for the accomplishment of the objects for which the regulatory revenue taxes are imposed including a reasonable margin in the nature of a reserve fund. The Tax Commissioner shall annually certify to the Commission the amount needed to sufficiently compensate that department for its estimated incremental costs to be incurred in the discharge of its statutory duties to assess and collect state and local taxes against railroad corporations. The persons and corporations upon whom such taxes are imposed are relieved from liability for the payment of such regulatory revenue taxes, except when, and to the extent that, the same have been assessed and levied by the Commission, in accordance with the provisions of this article.

Code 1950, § 58-669; 1983, c. 570; 1984, c. 675.

The taxes paid into the state treasury under this article shall be deposited in a special fund to be used only by the Commission and by the Department of Taxation as provided in § 58.1-2664, for the purpose of making appraisals, assessments and collections against public service companies, and for the further purposes of the Commission in investigating and inspecting the properties or the service or services of such public service companies, and for the supervision and administration of all laws relative to such public service companies, whenever the same shall be deemed necessary by the Commission.

Code 1950, § 58-670; 1983, c. 570; 1984, c. 675.