Ask Onix
Senator Jim Justice settles $5.16m overdue tax dispute after IRS lawsuit
Republican Senator Jim Justice of West Virginia and his wife have agreed to pay over $5.16 million in unpaid taxes and interest, settling a lawsuit filed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) earlier this week. The agency accused the couple of failing to fully pay taxes dating back to 2009, with the debt accumulating over more than a decade.
Legal action prompts swift resolution
The settlement came just hours after the IRS filed its lawsuit on Monday, which alleged that the Justices had "neglected or refused to make full payment" on the long-standing tax obligation. While the agreement requires repayment of the full amount plus additional interest, the filing did not specify a deadline for compliance.
Justice, a first-term senator and former West Virginia governor (2017-2025), entered politics after decades leading his family's coal empire, which once operated mines across multiple states. His business portfolio also includes agricultural ventures and the historic Greenbrier resort.
Senator's response and financial pressures
In an October media briefing, Justice dismissed the 2015 tax assessment as "politically motivated," comparing it to challenges faced by other high-profile figures. "It's just a situation that big companies deal with all the time," he said, adding, "At the end of the day, I'd say just let it be and see how it all plays out."
The senator's financial troubles extend beyond this case. According to CBS News, the Justice family faces $1.4 million in liens tied to unpaid sales taxes for the Greenbrier resort and its sporting club. The IRS has also filed over $8 million in additional liens for other unpaid personal taxes, per the network's reporting.
Shifting fortunes and ongoing scrutiny
Forbes estimated Justice's net worth at up to $1.9 billion in 2021, but by 2025, it had plummeted to "less than zero," the outlet reported. The BBC has reached out to Justice's office and legal representatives for comment on the settlement and broader financial challenges.
"You saw all the stuff that President Trump dealt with."
Senator Jim Justice, October 2025 media briefing
