RICHMOND, Va. — Richmond restaurant owners are joining forces to voice their frustrations about meals tax penalties they say are the result of the city finance department’s mismanagement of calculating and collecting those payments.
The National Restaurant Association estimates a mere 20% success rate for all food and beverage businesses with 60% failing in their first year of operation and 80% failing within five years of opening.
So imagine being hit with unforeseen bills from the city in the hundreds and even tens of thousands of dollars for penalties and interest on late meals tax payments due to poor communication and errors potentially made by the city.
For the past month, CBS 6 News has given discouraged business owners a voice on the issue that now has the attention of Mayor Levar Stoney and Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
In-Depth
WTVR