The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in Virginia unanimously approved on March 7th a plan to extend the car tax deadline to March 5th. As a result, the deadline, which was originally March 6th, will now be extended by 30 days to November 5th.
“With tax season and the federal government shutdown occurring almost simultaneously, many families are feeling the financial strain,” said Board Chairman Jeff McKay.
“We are extending the deadline because we don’t know how long the government shutdown will last.” County governments have the authority to extend car tax payments by up to 90 days, and McKay added, “If the shutdown is prolonged, we are considering additional extensions.”
Republican Supervisor Pat Herrity also supported the measure, saying, “While I have some concerns about residents who paid their taxes on time, we have to consider the plight of federal employees.” Fairfax County is estimated to be home to approximately 80,000 federal employees.
Meanwhile, Maryland is offering interest-free loans of $700 to support federal employees. These are short-term loans that must be repaid within 180 days but can be extended for an additional 90 days if repayment is difficult.
Supervisor Herity said, “We are considering whether a similar short-term loan program is feasible in Virginia,” adding, “We hope it will provide some financial relief to our residents.”