Atkinson said that an intentional misstatement of revenues on tax returns would be illegal, but that companies regularly base such returns on estimates. “You’re making your best guess,” she said. “I’ve certainly had clients who say, ‘I want to pay in more rather than not pay enough.’ ”

Asked if the city attempted to fight the refund, the current finance director, Wack, who was hired in July and is the fifth person in four years to hold the job, said in an email that the “city only issued the information after receiving specific documentation from the business regarding their over-reporting of gross receipts, it was reviewed by multiple managers in finance. ... I am not aware of any laws violated.”

Regardless of whether Richmond represents a good mark, its officials are not the first to raise suspicions in the face of fat interest payouts on hefty refunds.

“There certainly have been numerous local officials who have believed that in isolated incidences this had occurred in their localities,” said Alan D. Albert, a longtime lobbyist for the Treasurers’ Association of Virginia.