To the Chair and Members of the Committee,
My name is Mohammad Ali from Northern Virginia, and I am the owner of America’s Best Wings. I
opened my first location five years ago, and by 2025, we had grown to six locations across the state. I am
proud of that growth, and I am submitting this testimony to express my strong opposition to a proposed
delivery tax.
Like many Virginia businesses, my company has evolved over time to meet the growing demand for online
food delivery. Today, we rely heavily on consumers ordering food for delivery - both through third-party
platforms and directly from our stores. Delivery is not a luxury for our customers: it is an essential service.
Delivery plays a particularly important role during inclement or unpredictable weather. Many of our
customers choose delivery because they have families at home, safety concerns, or other reasons that
make driving difficult or unsafe. In my view, more delivery drivers on the road often means fewer
individual cars overall, contributing to safer streets. Even in good weather, delivery provides access to
food for people who are unable to drive due to age, disability, or other circumstances.
What I love most about being a business owner is being able to provide quality, affordable food to my
community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when the cost of chicken rose dramatically, I made the
decision not to raise prices. I did not want to shift that burden onto my customers, many of whom were
already struggling.
That is why I was upset when I learned about the new proposed delivery tax the legislature is considering.
If this tax is imposed on consumers, it will discourage people from ordering online and hurt small
businesses like mine. Most retailers today rely on delivery as part of their business model. Many have
downsized their physical footprints specifically to serve customers through delivery. Imposing a new tax
punishes businesses and consumers who have adapted to meet modern demands and needs.
In this economy, consumers are already penny-pinching. Adding another fee simply to raise state revenue
creates unnecessary hardship. With millions of Virginians ordering delivery, this tax would take tens of
millions of dollars out of consumers’ pockets – money that could otherwise support local businesses and
families.
I respectfully urge the committee to reject a delivery tax and to consider the unintended consequences it
would have on safety, affordability, and small businesses across Virginia.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Mohammad Ali
Owner, America’s Best Wings
To the Chair and Members of the Committee, My name is Mohammad Ali from Northern Virginia, and I am the owner of America’s Best Wings. I opened my first location five years ago, and by 2025, we had grown to six locations across the state. I am proud of that growth, and I am submitting this testimony to express my strong opposition to a proposed delivery tax. Like many Virginia businesses, my company has evolved over time to meet the growing demand for online food delivery. Today, we rely heavily on consumers ordering food for delivery - both through third-party platforms and directly from our stores. Delivery is not a luxury for our customers: it is an essential service. Delivery plays a particularly important role during inclement or unpredictable weather. Many of our customers choose delivery because they have families at home, safety concerns, or other reasons that make driving difficult or unsafe. In my view, more delivery drivers on the road often means fewer individual cars overall, contributing to safer streets. Even in good weather, delivery provides access to food for people who are unable to drive due to age, disability, or other circumstances. What I love most about being a business owner is being able to provide quality, affordable food to my community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when the cost of chicken rose dramatically, I made the decision not to raise prices. I did not want to shift that burden onto my customers, many of whom were already struggling. That is why I was upset when I learned about the new proposed delivery tax the legislature is considering. If this tax is imposed on consumers, it will discourage people from ordering online and hurt small businesses like mine. Most retailers today rely on delivery as part of their business model. Many have downsized their physical footprints specifically to serve customers through delivery. Imposing a new tax punishes businesses and consumers who have adapted to meet modern demands and needs. In this economy, consumers are already penny-pinching. Adding another fee simply to raise state revenue creates unnecessary hardship. With millions of Virginians ordering delivery, this tax would take tens of millions of dollars out of consumers’ pockets – money that could otherwise support local businesses and families. I respectfully urge the committee to reject a delivery tax and to consider the unintended consequences it would have on safety, affordability, and small businesses across Virginia. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Mohammad Ali Owner, America’s Best Wings