(SB1306)

GOVERNOR'S VETO

Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto Senate Bill 1306, which would require the Virginia Department of Taxation to develop a state-sponsored free electronic tax filing system and enter into an agreement with the IRS to join its Direct File program.

This bill is unnecessary given budget language requiring the Department of Taxation's system upgrade to include this functionality.

Virginia taxpayers currently have no-cost options for filing their state and federal taxes, including the Virginia Free File program, which has been in place for over a decade. The IRS Direct File initiative has faced scrutiny regarding its implementation, statutory authority, and cost projections. Additionally, the IRS has announced a pause in technology upgrades, signaling further uncertainty about the program's future direction.

Accordingly, I veto this bill.