CHAP. 287.—An ACT to amend and re-enact Section 218 of the Tax Code of Vir-
ginia, relating to express companies. [H B 121]

Approved March 30, 1942

1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, That Section
two hundred and eighteen of the Tax Code of Virginia be amended and
re-enacted, as follows:

Section 218. Express companies.—Every company doing an
express business in this State on any railroad, steamboat, vessel, bus,
truck, aircraft of any kind, or on any other kind of vehicle or instru-
mentality of transportation shall report annually on or before the first
day of May to the State Corporation Commission (hereinafter called
“the Commission’) all of its ‘real and personal property of every descrip-
tion in this State belonging to it as of the beginning of the first day of
January preceding showing particularly in what city, town, county and
school district the property is located and classifying the same under the
following heads:

_ (a) All of its real and personal property of every description in
this State showing the cost and market value of caid neon.
(b). The total: number of miles operated within and without this
State for the year ending December thirty-first next preceding. ,

(c) The gross receipts from operation entirely within this State,
and if operations are partly within and partly without this State the
entire gross receipts from operation for the year ending December thirty-
first next preceding.

(d) Any and all other information, in such manner and in such
detail as the Commission shall require.

The Commission shall, after thirty days’ notice previously given by
it to the president or other proper officer, assess the value of the property
of each of such companies.

Should any such company fail to make the report required by this
section on or before the first day of May the Commission shall, at such
time as it may elect, upon the best and most reliable information that can
be procured, assess the value of the property of said company within this
State, and shall ascertain the information required herein, and in the
execution of the duty shall be authorized and empowered to take testi-
mony, summon and compel the attendance of witnesses and send for
persons and papers.

A certified copy of the assessment when made shall be immediately
forwarded by the clerk of the Commission to the comptroller and to the
president or other proper officer of each such company, and such com-
pany shall pay into the treasury of the State by the first day of October
following the taxes assessed against it.

It shall be the duty of the clerk of the Commission to furnish to the
council of every city and town and to the board of supervisors of every
county wherein the property belonging to said company is situated a
certified copy of the assessment made by the Commission of such com-
panies’ property, which assessment shall definitely show the character of
the property, its value and location for the purpose of taxation in each
city, town, county and district, so that city, town, county and district
levies may be imposed upon the same.

Any such company failing to pay said taxes into the treasury within
the time herein prescribed shall incur a penalty thereon of five per centum,
which shall be added to the amount of said taxes.

Any such company failing to make the report hereinbefore required
within the time herein prescribed shall be liable to a fine of not less than
twenty-five dollars nor more than one hundred dollars for each day such
company may be in default in making such report, the said fine to be
imposed and judgment entered therefor by the Commission after thirty
days’ notice to any such defaulting company to appear before the Com-
mission and show cause, if any, against the imposition of such fine, subject
to appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia.