WHEELING — If you are a West Virginia resident doing your state tax return and in need of a tax credit number to claim your first-time vehicle tax rebate, that information is being mailed out now 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. State tax returns can’t be filed until Monday, and tax officials have set up a call for Thursday to update West Virginia’s tax preparers on this year’s state tax forms, he said.

“They haven’t published the form yet, and we’re not sure what’s going to be on there,” Yourkovich 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 their 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 who 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.

In Ohio County, the tax office at the sheriff’s department has yet to receive many questions about the tax rebate, according to Lisa Tyler, chief tax deputy.

“I know other counties have had questions, and we’ve just been passing out information,” she said. “We maybe have been getting one question a day, so far.”