New Year Brings Tax Changes to West Virginia

The New Year brings some tax changes in West Virginia. You'll notice one of them every time you visit the gas pump.

West Virginia drivers are feeling more pain at the pump as 2014 rang in a higher gas tax.

"I used to go and get $20 in gas every Friday. Now it's $10 every other day cause I can't afford to go any longer than that, and $10 lasts me about two days," said Garrett Wilds.

West Virginia's gas tax is now 54.1 cents per gallon. That's a 1-cent increase from last year.

"A penny adds up," Patty Jennings said.

State officials said the tax helps keep roads in good condition.

"It would be the difference in maybe going out to dinner or maybe doing some things that you enjoy because you have to put gas in your car. I mean, it's really not an option," Jennings said.

It comes after state tax officials recalculated the average wholesale gas price for 2014.

The average price jumped to roughly $3.04 a gallon.

But that's not the only place where people will pay a little more.

Online shoppers will also notice more taxes on their bill at the checkout.

Online retailers with a physical location in West Virginia, like Amazon.com, are now required to charge sales tax.

"It seemed like we got away without it for an awfully long time, and I think probably all consumers knew that was coming eventually," Jennings said.

Still, people said the added tax will not change their shopping habits.

"It's a convenience factor for me more than it is the sales tax or not," Jennings said.

But shoppers are holding out hope they can avoid more tax increases in the new year.

Two state business taxes are on the decline this year.

Both corporate income taxes and business franchise taxes are falling.

Taxes on propane are also dropping from about 14 cents a gallon to about 6 cents a gallon.