WHEELING — Tax credit numbers allowing Mountain State residents to claim their first-time vehicle tax rebate on state tax returns are being mailed out by the West Virginia Tax Division.

Those MV-1 letters started to go out on Thursday, confirmed Alicia Clark, executive assistant for the West Virginia Tax Division. They should be received within the next week.

Meanwhile, those not receiving their tax credit certificate by mail can obtain the information online at mytaxes.wvtax.gov, according to state officials.

Few in the public seem to know about the need for the tax credit number as the tax season begins, and even accountants have yet to be fully updated, according to Wheeling accountant Jeff Yourkovich.

Monday was the first day state tax returns could be filed. Tax officials have set up a call for Thursday to update West Virginia’s tax preparers on this year’s state tax forms, Yourkovich said.

“They haven’t published the form yet, and we’re not sure what’s going to be on there,” he said. “Until they publish the form itself, we’re just guessing but don’t know what it is yet.”

This year’s software from the state of West Virginia has yet to be updated, he continued. Yourkovich suggested taxpayers not hurry to file their taxes, and wait until all the information they need for filing is in hand.

“I always caution against starting soon and rushing in to file,” he continued. “They file, then they get more info and have to make a change. Rushing doesn’t always help.”

In 2023, West Virginia lawmakers passed legislation permitting state vehicle property tax paid to counties to be refunded to taxpayers starting with their 2024 tax return. Those paying their vehicle property tax bill on time are eligible for the refund.

Information from the West Virginia Tax Division states “an MV-1 letter will be mailed to all eligible taxpayers.” Taxpayers who believe they are eligible but who did not receive a letter should go to mytaxes.wvtax.gov and use the online letter portal to find and print their letter.

From the MV-1 letter, taxpayers should enter on their tax form the “eligible amount paid on time” found on the IT-140, Line 21 (A). Those filing electronically must note the claim number also listed on the MV-1 letter as part of their filing in order to claim the credit.

Taxpayers filing a paper return must submit a copy of their MV-1 letter with their filing.

There are also residents in West Virginia who are not required to file a personal income tax but are still eligible to receive their vehicle property tax refund. They should go to mytaxes.wvtax.gov and click on “Claim the MV-1 Credit,” and they will be required to provide either a West Virginia driver’s license or other form of West Virginia ID in order to complete the claim.

The new rebate was on some Wood County taxpayers’ minds Monday with the start of the filing period.

“We are getting lots of calls this morning on this,” said Camille Waldron, chief tax deputy for the Wood County Sheriff’s Office.

Waldron said her office has been directing people with questions to the state, which they can contact via phone at 800-982-8297 or 304-558-3333 or via email at taxhelp@wv.gov.

She said she reviewed a copy of the letter the state is sending out and believes the instructions are pretty self-explanatory.

City Editor Evan Bevins contributed to this story.

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