CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia State Tax Department’s new Taxpayer Engagement Center is now open for business.
Officials with the department and Gov. Jim Justice cut the ribbon at the center on Lee Street in Charleston on Thursday. The center consolidates taxpayer access locations in the area to a single, modern location, designed for ease of access and customer service.
State Tax Commissioner Matt Irby told MetroNews that this was part of his vision when he took on the commissioner position. He wanted to make it easier on the taxpayers.
“What we believe is most taxpayers want to comply with the law but they just need to know how,” Irby said. “What this center allows us to do is be able to educate taxpayers, communicate with them effectively and be able to understand what their responsibilities are so they can accomplish them.”
The new center’s purpose is to increase taxpayer communication, education, and overall engagement to promote voluntary compliance with tax laws.
The new facility will include kiosks to help taxpayers file and pay their taxes, a release said. It will also have space dedicated to taxpayer-specific educational opportunities for individuals and small businesses. Additionally, the Engagement Center will also allow taxpayers to meet with tax representatives by appointment.
“It’s essentially the place where you will come and meet the tax department here in Charleston. It will offer space in which we will do training for the public including small businesses, to be able to learn what their responsibilities are, as well as dealing with taxpayer issues that they may have,” Irby said.
The Taxpayer Engagement Center is located at 1001 Lee Street, East, Charleston, WV 25301.
Taxpayers are encouraged to go online to tax.wv.gov or call 304-558-3333 to make an appointment Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parking is free and easily accessible for all taxpayers with an entry on Lee Street after the Revenue Center where the blue WV Tax Division sign is located.
Gov. Jim Justice and West Virginia Revenue Secretary Dave Hardy joined Irby to cut the ribbon Thursday.
“This new facility looks amazing and is another arm of our efforts to bring goodness to our people and to be welcoming to all – that’s the fabric of who we are as West Virginians,” Gov. Justice said in a release. “At the end of the day, we know how to appreciate others. That’s what this building stands for: an appreciation for others.”
It was also announced during the event that the new facility would be home to the new Office of the Taxpayer Advocate. This independent office within the State Tax Department is the first of its kind in West Virginia, and is dedicated to ensuring all taxpayers are treated fairly and that they know and understand their rights.