In 2018, Charlottesville decided that freelance writers needed a business license.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

ConstitutionalMischiefHat Retweeted

In 2018, Charlottesville decided that freelance writers needed a business license. The local gov't levied thousands of dollars in back taxes on local authors who had not obtained a license... Now the matter is being considered by the state's Supreme Court.

reason.com
Business Tax on Freelance Writers Heads to Virginia Supreme Court
Plus: The roots of the housing crisis, the U.S. Supreme Court reconsiders Miranda warnings, a judge halts Kentucky's abortion law, and more...

Link to tweet

[LaMouffette]

1. Considering the precarious nature of being a freelancer, unless you're well established, this seems

so unfair.

At the very least, if they're going to impose this kind of tax on freelancers, they should NOT be able to demand that they pay back-taxes. That's ridiculous!

[Yonnie3]

2. I read that the City lost in the Va Supreme Court

Tax victory

Last week the Virginia Supreme Court upheld Charlottesville Circuit Court’s decision that said the city cannot require freelance writers to pay its business license tax. As a result of the ruling, local freelance writer Corban Addison, who filed the lawsuit against the City of Charlottesville, will receive a tax refund for the $2,461.23 he did not have to pay.

From C-ville Weekly 6-15-22

https://www.c-ville.com/in-brief-brackney-exposes-insurrectionist-tax-lawsuit-ruling-and-more

[empedocles]

3. Hey, was a continuous stream of free lancers to be taxed, at the University of Virginia.

Olde town v gown lives on.

[IbogaProject]

4. Yep recent tweet of an April article

Here is the actual legal advocacy groups announcement of their victory at the VA State Supreme Court. https://ij.org/press-release/victory-court-rules-freelance-writers-cannot-be-taxed-under-charlottesvilles-vague-business-license-tax-orders-refund/

Actually city has until 6/19 to request a rehearing and the other author's case vs that county will now proceed. So this issue isn't fully resolved just yet.