West Virginia revenue beats estimate by $62 million through September
West Virginia reported $1.41 billion in General Revenue Fund collections through September 2026, $62 million, or 4.6%, above the estimate for the first three months of fiscal 2027. The total was $38 million, or 2.7%, higher than collections during the same period a year earlier.
September collections alone totaled $570 million, $16 million, or 2.9%, above that month’s estimate. The overall result was positive, but not every major revenue source tracked ahead: personal income tax collections missed their September target.
September collections and year-to-date comparisons
The state’s release reports the overall year-to-date total and its variance from estimate; category figures below distinguish September results from comparisons covering the full July–September period.
| Revenue category | September collections | September result vs. estimate | July–September comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Revenue Fund | $570 million | $16 million (2.9%) above | $1.41 billion; $62 million (4.6%) above estimate and $38 million (2.7%) above prior year |
| Personal income tax | $226 million | $10 million (4.4%) below | $16 million above estimate; $15 million (2.7%) above prior year |
| Consumer sales tax | $182 million | $5 million (2.5%) above | $20 million (3.9%) above estimate; $30 million (6.1%) above prior year |
| Severance tax | $45 million | $5 million above | $3 million (3.8%) above estimate; $5 million (5.5%) above prior year |
| Corporate net income tax | September total not stated | $12 million (22.1%) above | $10 million above estimate; less than $1 million below prior year |
| Interest income | $11 million | $3 million (32.0%) above | $6 million above estimate; $9 million below prior year |
| Tobacco products tax | Not stated | Less than $1 million above | Slightly below prior year |
| Insurance tax | $1 million | Slightly above | $1 million above estimate; even with prior year |
The contrast between the monthly and three-month figures is clearest in personal income tax: September collections were below estimate, while the category remained above both its year-to-date estimate and its prior-year comparison. Consumer sales tax and severance tax were above their monthly estimates and ahead of both year-to-date comparisons.
Other categories showed mixed comparisons. Interest income exceeded its September estimate and its year-to-date estimate, but remained below the prior-year level for the three-month period. Corporate net income tax collections were above the monthly estimate, although the state’s release does not state the category’s September collection total. Through September, that tax was above estimate and slightly below the prior-year period. Tobacco-products tax collections were slightly below the prior-year level year to date, while insurance tax was even with that period.
Revenue Secretary Eric Nelson described collections as steady against estimates and prior-year actuals in comments reported by WV MetroNews. The figures track revenue against forecasts and the prior fiscal year; they do not announce a tax change, appropriation or spending commitment.
Sources
- September 2026 General Revenue Fund Collections Overview, West Virginia Office of the Governor
- West Virginia again comes out ahead on monthly revenue projections, eyes inflation, WV MetroNews
- code.wvlegislature.gov
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