PRINTER'S NO.  2847

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE BILL

 

No.

1275

Session of

2009

  

  

INTRODUCED BY ROHRER, BOBACK, BENNINGHOFF, CALTAGIRONE, COX, CREIGHTON, DAY, DENLINGER, FAIRCHILD, GIBBONS, GILLESPIE, GOODMAN, GROVE, HARRIS, HENNESSEY, KAUFFMAN, M. KELLER, KNOWLES, MAHONEY, MILLER, MOUL, MUSTIO, PHILLIPS, QUIGLEY, ROCK, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCHRODER, SEIP, SWANGER AND TALLMAN, OCTOBER 30, 2009

  

  

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON FINANCE, OCTOBER 30, 2009  

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

1

Providing for tax levies and information related to taxes;

2

authorizing the imposition of a personal income tax or an

3

earned income tax by a school district subject to voter

4

approval; providing for imposition of and exclusions from a

5

sales and use tax for education; establishing the Public

6

Transportation Reserve Fund; providing for increase to the

7

personal income tax and realty transfer tax, for certain

8

licenses, for hotel occupancy tax, for procedure and

9

administration of the tax, for expiration of authority to

10

issue certain debt, for reporting by local government units

11

of debt outstanding and for assumption of certain debt by the

12

Commonwealth; establishing the Education Operating Fund and

13

the School District Grant and Incentive Programs Fund;

14

providing for disbursements from these funds and for

15

transfers from the Property Tax Relief Fund to the Education

16

Operating Fund; establishing the School Financing Authority

17

and providing for its powers and duties; providing for

18

certain rebates and assistance to senior citizens; adding

19

provisions relating to school district fiscal efficiency;

20

establishing the School Equity Capital Construction Fund and

21

the School Equity Distribution Task Force; and repealing

22

certain provisions of The Local Tax Enabling Act, sales and

23

use tax provisions of the Tax Reform Code of 1971 and

24

provisions relating to senior citizens property tax and rent

25

rebate assistance in the Taxpayer Relief Act.

26

TABLE OF CONTENTS

27

Chapter 1.  Preliminary Provisions

 


1

Section 101.  Short title.

2

Section 102.  Definitions.

3

Chapter 3.  Personal Income Tax

4

Subchapter A.  School District Income Tax

5

Section 301.  Scope.

6

Section 302.  Definitions.

7

Section 303.  Preemption.

8

Section 304.  Personal income tax authorization.

9

Section 305.  Continuity of tax.

10

Section 306.  Exemption of low-income persons.

11

Section 307.  Collection of personal income tax.

12

Section 308.  Limitation on assessment.

13

Section 309.  Distress and sale of property of taxpayer.

14

Section 310.  Collection of delinquent taxes from employers.

15

Section 311.  Collection of delinquent taxes from Commonwealth.

16

Section 312.  Notice to taxpayer.

17

Section 313.  Collection of taxes by suit.

18

Section 314.  Interest and penalties.

19

Section 315.  Fines and penalties for violation of resolutions.

20

Section 316.  Collection at source.

21

Subchapter B.  Education Tax

22

Section 321.  Education tax.

23

Chapter 4.  State Realty Transfer Tax

24

Section 401.  Authorization of State realty transfer tax for

25

public education.

26

Section 402.  Deposit of existing Commonwealth realty transfer

27

tax.

28

Chapter 5.  Earned Income Tax

29

Section 501.  Scope.

30

Section 502.  Definitions.

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1

Section 503.  Preemption.

2

Section 504.  Earned income tax authorization.

3

Section 505.  Continuity of tax.

4

Section 506.  Exemption of low-income persons.

5

Section 507.  Collection of earned income tax.

6

Section 508.  Limitation on assessment.

7

Section 509.  Distress and sale of property of taxpayer.

8

Section 510.  Collection of delinquent taxes from employers.

9

Section 511.  Collection of delinquent taxes from Commonwealth.

10

Section 512.  Notice to taxpayer.

11

Section 513.  Collection of taxes by suit.

12

Section 514.  Interest and penalties.

13

Section 515.  Fines and penalties for violation of resolutions.

14

Section 516.  Collection at source.

15

Chapter 7.  Sales and Use Tax for Education

16

Subchapter A.  Preliminary Provisions

17

Section 701.  Scope.

18

Section 701.1.  Definitions.

19

Subchapter B.  Sales and Use Tax

20

Section 702.  Imposition of tax.

21

Section 703.  Computation of tax.

22

Subchapter C.  Exclusions from Sales and Use Tax

23

Section 704.  Exclusions from tax.

24

Section 705.  Alternate imposition of tax.

25

Section 706.  Credit against tax.

26

Subchapter D.  Licenses

27

Section 708.  Licenses.

28

Subchapter E.  Hotel Occupancy Tax

29

Section 709.  Definitions.

30

Section 710.  Imposition of tax.

- 3 -

 


1

Section 711.  Seasonal tax returns.

2

Subchapter F.  Procedure and Administration

3

Section 715.  Persons required to make returns.

4

Section 716.  Form of returns.

5

Section 717.  Time for filing returns.

6

Section 718.  Extension of time for filing returns.

7

Section 719.  Place for filing returns.

8

Section 720.  Timely mailing treated as timely filing and

9

payment.

10

Section 721.  Payment of tax.

11

Section 722.  Time of payment.

12

Section 723.  Other times for payment.

13

Section 724.  Place for payment.

14

Section 725.  Tax held in trust for Commonwealth.

15

Section 726.  Local receivers of use tax.

16

Section 727.  Discount.

17

Section 728.  (Reserved).

18

Section 729.  (Reserved).

19

Section 730.  Assessment.

20

Section 731.  Mode and time of assessment.

21

Section 732.  Reassessment.

22

Section 733.  (Reserved).

23

Section 734.  Review by Board of Finance and Revenue.

24

Section 735.  (Reserved).

25

Section 736.  Burden of proof.

26

Section 737.  Collection of tax.

27

Section 738.  Collection of tax on motor vehicles, trailers and

28

semitrailers.

29

Section 739.  Precollection of tax.

30

Section 740.  Bulk and auction sales.

- 4 -

 


1

Section 741.  Collection on failure to request reassessment,

2

review or appeal.

3

Section 742.  Lien for taxes.

4

Section 743.  Suit for taxes.

5

Section 744.  Tax suit comity.

6

Section 745.  Service.

7

Section 746.  Collection and payment of tax on credit sales.

8

Section 747.  Prepayment of tax.

9

Section 747.1.  Refund of sales tax attributed to bad debt.

10

Section 748.  Registration of transient vendors.

11

Section 748.1.  Bond.

12

Section 748.2.  Notification to department.

13

Section 748.3.  Seizure of property.

14

Section 748.4.  Fines.

15

Section 748.5.  Transient vendors subject to chapter.

16

Section 748.6.  Promoters.

17

Section 749.  (Reserved).

18

Section 750.  (Reserved).

19

Section 751.  (Reserved).

20

Section 752.  Refunds.

21

Section 753.  Refund petition.

22

Section 754.  (Reserved).

23

Section 755.  (Reserved).

24

Section 756.  Extended time for filing special petition for

25

refund.

26

Section 757.  (Reserved).

27

Section 758.  Limitation on assessment and collection.

28

Section 759.  Failure to file return.

29

Section 760.  False or fraudulent return.

30

Section 761.  Extension of limitation period.

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1

Section 762.  (Reserved).

2

Section 763.  (Reserved).

3

Section 764.  (Reserved).

4

Section 765.  Interest.

5

Section 766.  Additions to tax.

6

Section 767.  Penalties.

7

Section 768.  Criminal offenses.

8

Section 769.  Abatement of additions or penalties.

9

Section 770.  Rules and regulations.

10

Section 771.  Keeping of records.

11

Section 771.1.  Reports and records of promoters.

12

Section 772.  Examinations.

13

Section 773.  Records and examinations of delivery agents.

14

Section 774.  Unauthorized disclosure.

15

Section 775.  Cooperation with other governments.

16

Section 776.  Interstate compacts.

17

Section 777.  Bonds.

18

Subchapter G.  Funding Provisions

19

Section 780.  (Reserved).

20

Section 781.  Appropriation for refunds.

21

Section 781.1.  Construction.

22

Section 781.2.  Transfers to Public Transportation Reserve Fund.

23

Section 782.  Transfers to Education Operating Fund.

24

Chapter 9.  Senior Citizens Property Tax and Rent Rebate

25

Assistance

26

Section 901.  Scope of chapter.

27

Section 902.  (Reserved).

28

Section 903.  Definitions.

29

Section 904.  Property tax, rent rebate and inflation cost.

30

Section 905.  Filing of claim.

- 6 -

 


1

Section 906.  Proof of claim.

2

Section 907.  Incorrect claim.

3

Section 908.  Funds for payment of claims.

4

Section 909.  Claim forms and rules and regulations.

5

Section 910.  Fraudulent claims and conveyances to obtain

6

benefits.

7

Section 911.  Petition for redetermination.

8

Section 912.  Review by Board of Finance and Revenue.

9

Section 913.  Appeal.

10

Chapter 11.  Limitations on School District Taxation

11

Section 1101.  Authority to levy taxes and effect of future

12

Constitutional amendment.

13

Section 1102.  Transitional taxes.

14

Section 1103.  Consideration of State appropriations or

15

reimbursements.

16

Section 1104.  Taxes for cities and school districts of the

17

first class.

18

Chapter 12.  Indebtedness

19

Section 1201.  Expiration of authority to issue debt.

20

Section 1202.  Notices and reporting by school districts of debt

21

outstanding.

22

Section 1203.  Assumption of school district debt by

23

Commonwealth.

24

Section 1204.  Power to apply for debt and limitations.

25

Section 1205.  Referendum requirement.

26

Section 1206.  Temporary debt.

27

Section 1207.  Limit on temporary debt for current expenses and

28

debt service.

29

Section 1208.  Emergency loans for current expenses and debt

30

service.

- 7 -

 


1

Section 1209.  Limit on temporary debt for permanent

2

improvements and tax levy.

3

Section 1210.  Limit on temporary debt in anticipation of

4

proceeds of bond issue.

5

Section 1211.  Borrowing in anticipation of current revenue.

6

Section 1212.  Mandatory reduction in local personal income tax

7

and earned income tax.

8

Chapter 13.  Funding Provisions

9

Section 1301.  Definitions.

10

Section 1302.  Education Operating Fund.

11

Section 1303.  Cash flow funding forecasts.

12

Section 1304.  Standard disbursements to school districts from

13

Education Operating Fund.

14

Section 1305.  Education Trust Reserve Account and distressed

15

district prevention and emergency disbursements.

16

Section 1306.  Equity disbursements to school districts from

17

School District Equity Account.

18

Section 1307.  Other Disbursements from Education Operating

19

Fund.

20

Section 1307.1.  School District Grant and Incentive Programs

21

Fund.

22

Section 1307.2.  Other appropriations.

23

Section 1308.  Education Operating Fund Board.

24

Section 1309.  School Financing Authority.

25

Section 1310.  Reduction of sales and use tax for education.

26

Section 1311.  School Equity Capital Construction Fund.

27

Section 1312.  School Equity Distribution Task Force.

28

Chapter 15.  School District Fiscal Efficiency Tools

29

Section 1501.  Purpose of chapter.

30

Section 1502.  Data-driven decision-making technology

- 8 -

 


1

requirements.

2

Section 1503.  Certified operations reports.

3

Section 1504.  Superintendent report.

4

Section 1505.  Annual performance report.

5

Chapter 17.  Miscellaneous Provisions

6

Section 1701.  Transitional provision.

7

Section 1702.  Construction.

8

Section 1703.  Severability.

9

Section 1704.  Repeals.

10

Section 1705.  Applicability.

11

Section 1706.  Effective date.

12

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

13

hereby enacts as follows:

14

CHAPTER 1

15

PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS

16

Section 101.  Short title.

17

This act shall be known and may be cited as the School

18

Property Tax Elimination Act.

19

Section 102.  Definitions.

20

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

21

have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

22

context clearly indicates otherwise:

23

"Department."  The Department of Revenue of the Commonwealth.

24

"Education Operating Fund."  The Education Operating Fund

25

established in section 1302.

26

"Fiscal year."  The fiscal year of the Commonwealth beginning

27

on July 1 and ending on June 30 of the immediately following

28

calendar year.

29

"Governing body."  The board of school directors of a school

30

district, except that the term shall mean the city council of a

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1

city of the first class for purposes of the levy and collection

2

of any tax in a school district of the first class.

3

"Internal Revenue Code of 1986."  The Internal Revenue Code

4

of 1986 (Public Law 99-514, 26 U.S.C. § 166).

5

"Local Tax Enabling Act."  The act of December 31, 1965

6

(P.L.1257, No.511), known as The Local Tax Enabling Act,

7

"Public School Code of 1949."  The act of March 10, 1949

8

(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949.

9

"School district."  A school district of the first class,

10

first class A, second class, third class or fourth class,

11

including any independent school district. For purposes of the

12

levy, assessment and collection of any tax in a school district

13

of the first class, the term shall include the City Council.

14

"School per capita tax."  The tax authorized pursuant to

15

section 679 of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known

16

as the Public School Code of 1949,

17

"Secretary."  The Secretary of Revenue of the Commonwealth.

18

"Tax Reform Code of 1971."  The act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6,

19

No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971.

20

CHAPTER 3

21

PERSONAL INCOME TAX

22

SUBCHAPTER A

23

SCHOOL DISTRICT INCOME TAX

24

Section 301.  Scope.

25

This chapter authorizes school districts to levy, assess and

26

collect a personal income tax as a means of abolishing property

27

taxation by the school district.

28

Section 302.  Definitions.

29

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter

30

shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

- 10 -

 


1

context clearly indicates otherwise:

2

"Association."  A partnership, limited partnership or other

3

unincorporated group of two or more persons.

4

"Business."  An enterprise, activity, profession or other

5

undertaking of an unincorporated nature conducted for profit or

6

ordinarily conducted for profit whether by a person, association

7

or other entity.

8

"Compensation."  The classes of income included within the

9

definition of "compensation" set forth in section 301 of the act

10

of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of

11

1971, and upon which are imposed a personal income tax by the

12

Commonwealth.

13

"Corporation."  A corporation or joint stock association

14

organized under the laws of the United States or the

15

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or any other state, territory,

16

foreign country or dependency.

17

"Current year."  The calendar year or fiscal year for which a

18

tax is levied.

19

"Domicile."

20

(1)  The place where a person lives and has the person's

21

permanent home and to which the person has the intention of

22

returning whenever the person is absent. Actual residence is

23

not necessarily domicile because domicile is the fixed place

24

of abode which, in the intention of the taxpayer, is

25

permanent rather than transitory.

26

(2)  Domicile is the voluntarily fixed place of

27

habitation of a person, not for a mere special or limited

28

purpose, but with the present intention of making a permanent

29

home, until some event occurs to induce the person to adopt

30

some other permanent home.

- 11 -

 


1

(3)  In the case of a business or association, the

2

domicile is any place where the business or association is

3

conducting or engaging in a business for profit within a

4

school district.

5

"Employer."  A person, association, corporation, governmental

6

unit or other entity employing one or more persons, other than

7

domestic servants, for compensation.

8

"Nonresident."  A person, association or other entity

9

domiciled outside a school district.

10

"Person" or "individual."  A natural person.

11

"Personal income."  The classes of income enumerated in

12

section 303 of the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as

13

the Tax Reform Code of 1971, and on which is imposed a personal

14

income tax by the Commonwealth.

15

"Political subdivision."  A school district.

16

"Preceding year."  The calendar year or fiscal year before a

17

current year.

18

"Resident."  A person, association, corporation or other

19

entity:

20

(1)  living in or maintaining a permanent or fixed place

21

of abode in a school district; or

22

(2)  conducting or engaging in a business for profit

23

within a school district.

24

"Succeeding year."  The calendar year or fiscal year

25

following a current year.

26

"Tax officer."  The person, public employee or private agency

27

designated by a governing body to collect and administer a tax

28

imposed under this chapter, and the treasurer of a school

29

district of the first class A.

30

"Taxpayer."  A person, association or other entity required

- 12 -

 


1

under this chapter to file a tax return or to pay a tax.

2

Section 303.  Preemption.

3

No act of the General Assembly shall vacate or preempt any

4

resolution passed or adopted under the authority of this

5

chapter, or any other act, providing authority for the

6

imposition of a tax by a school district, unless the act of the

7

General Assembly expressly vacates or preempts the authority to

8

pass or adopt the resolutions.

9

Section 304.  Personal income tax authorization.

10

(a)  School districts.--Except as prohibited under Chapter

11

11, each school district shall have the power and may, by

12

resolution, levy, assess and collect or provide for the levying,

13

assessment and collection of a tax for general revenue purposes

14

at a rate as it shall determine on personal income of the

15

residents of the school district. A school district may only

16

levy or increase the rate of personal income tax when that

17

school district complies with the provisions of subsection (b).

18

(b)  Adoption of referendum.--

19

(1)  In order to levy a personal income tax under this

20

chapter, a governing body shall use the procedures set forth

21

in paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (5), (6) and (7).

22

(2)  (i)  Subject to the notice and public hearing

23

requirements of paragraph (7), a governing body may levy

24

the personal income tax under this chapter only by

25

obtaining the approval of the electorate of the affected

26

school district in a public referendum at only the

27

municipal election preceding the fiscal year when the

28

personal income tax will be initially imposed or the rate

29

increased.

30

(ii)  The referendum question must state the initial

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1

rate of the proposed personal income tax, the reason for

2

the tax and the amount of proposed budgeted revenue

3

growth, if any, in the first fiscal year following

4

adoption of the referendum.

5

(iii)  The question shall be in clear language that

6

is readily understandable by a layperson. For the purpose

7

of illustration, a referendum question may be framed as

8

follows:

9

Do you favor the imposition of a personal income tax

10

of X%?

11

(iv)  A nonlegal interpretative statement must

12

accompany the question in accordance with section 201.1

13

of the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as

14

the Pennsylvania Election Code, that includes the

15

following: the initial rate of the personal income tax

16

imposed under this chapter, the estimated revenues to be

17

derived from the initial rate of the personal income tax

18

imposed under this chapter.

19

(3)  In the event a school district is located in more

20

than one county, petitions under this section shall be filed

21

with the election officials of the county in which the

22

administrative offices of the school district are located.

23

(4)  The election officials who receive a petition shall

24

perform all administrative functions in reviewing and

25

certifying the validity of the petition and conduct all

26

necessary communications with the school district.

27

(5)  (i)  If the election officials of the county who

28

receive the petition certify that it is sufficient under

29

this section and determine that a question should be

30

placed on the ballot, the decision shall be communicated

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1

to election officials in any other county in which the

2

school district is also located.

3

(ii)  Election officials in the other county or

4

counties shall cooperate with election officials of the

5

county that receives the petition to ensure that an

6

identical question is placed on the ballot at the same

7

election throughout the entire school district.

8

(6)  Election officials from each county involved shall

9

independently certify the results from their county to the

10

governing body.

11

(7)  (i)  In order to levy the tax under this section,

12

the governing body shall adopt a resolution which shall

13

refer to this chapter prior to placing a question on the

14

ballot.

15

(ii)  Prior to adopting a resolution imposing the tax

16

authorized by this section, the governing body shall give

17

public notice of its intent to adopt the resolution in

18

the manner provided by The Local Tax Enabling Act and

19

shall conduct at least one public hearing regarding the

20

proposed adoption of the resolution.

21

Section 305.  Continuity of tax.

22

Every tax levied under this chapter shall continue in force

23

on a calendar or fiscal year basis, as the case may be, without

24

annual reenactment unless the rate of the tax is subsequently

25

changed.

26

Section 306.  Exemption of low-income persons.

27

(a)  Low-income exemption.--Each school district shall exempt

28

any person who qualifies under the provisions of section 304 of

29

the Tax Reform Code of 1971 from payment of any or all of the

30

tax imposed under section 304.

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1

(b)  Procedures.--Each school district shall adopt procedures

2

for the processing of claims for these exemptions.

3

Section 307.  Collection of personal income tax.

4

The tax officer shall collect all personal income tax imposed

5

by a school district.

6

Section 308.  Limitation on assessment.

7

No assessment may be made of any personal income tax imposed

8

under this chapter more than five years after the date on which

9

the tax should have been paid except where a fraudulent return

10

or no return has been filed.

11

Section 309.  Distress and sale of property of taxpayer.

12

(a)  General rule.--In case of the neglect or refusal of any

13

person, association or corporation to make payment of the amount

14

of any personal income tax due after two months from the date of

15

the tax notice, the tax officer shall levy the amount of the

16

tax, penalty, interest and costs thereon, not exceeding costs

17

and charges allowed constables for similar services by distress

18

and sale of the goods and chattels of the delinquent taxpayer,

19

wherever located, after giving at least ten days' public notice

20

of the sale by one advertisement in a newspaper of general

21

circulation published in the county.

22

(b)  Effect on return.--No failure to demand or collect any

23

taxes by distress and sale of goods and chattels shall

24

invalidate any return made, lien filed for nonpayment of taxes

25

or any tax sale for the collection of taxes.

26

Section 310.  Collection of delinquent taxes from employers.

27

(a)  General rule.--The tax officer shall demand, receive and

28

collect from all employers employing persons owing delinquent

29

personal income taxes or having in possession unpaid

30

compensation belonging to any person or persons owing delinquent

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1

personal income taxes on the presentation of a written notice

2

and demand certifying that the information contained in the

3

notice and demand is true and correct and containing the name of

4

the taxpayer and the amount of tax due.

5

(b)  Response to notice.--On the presentation of the written

6

notice and demand, the employer shall deduct from the

7

compensation of the employees then owing, or thereafter due, a

8

sum sufficient to pay the amount of the delinquent personal

9

income taxes, interest, penalty and costs shown on the written

10

notice or demand, and shall pay the same to the tax officer by

11

which the delinquent tax was levied within 60 days after the

12

notice was given.

13

(c)  Limitation on deduction.--No more than 10% of the

14

compensation of the delinquent taxpayer may be deducted at any

15

one time for delinquent personal income taxes, penalty, interest

16

and costs.

17

(d)  Deduction for costs.--The employer shall be entitled to

18

deduct from the moneys collected from each employee the costs

19

incurred from the extra bookkeeping necessary to record the

20

transactions, not exceeding 2% of the amount collected and paid

21

over to the tax officer.

22

(e)  Forfeiture.--If the employer fails to deduct the amount

23

of such taxes or to pay the same over to the tax officer, less

24

the amount deducted under subsection (d), within the time

25

required by this section, the employer shall forfeit and pay the

26

amount of the tax for those taxpayers whose taxes are not

27

withheld and paid over, or that are withheld and not paid over

28

together with a penalty of 10%, to be recovered by a civil

29

action to be instituted by the tax officer, as debts of like

30

amount are now by law recoverable, except that the person shall

- 17 -

 


1

not have the benefit of any exemption law or stay of execution.

2

(f)  Collection rights preserved.--Nothing in this section

3

shall be deemed to affect or impair the right of any school

4

district or the tax officer to pursue and collect delinquent

5

taxes validly imposed prior to the effective date of this

6

section.

7

Section 311.  Collection of delinquent taxes from Commonwealth.

8

(a)  General rule.--On presentation of a written notice and

9

demand under oath to the State Treasurer or any other fiscal

10

officer of the Commonwealth, or its boards, authorities,

11

agencies or commissions, the treasurer or officer shall deduct

12

from the compensation then owing a sum sufficient to pay the

13

amount of the delinquent personal income taxes, interest,

14

penalty and costs shown on the written notice. The same shall be

15

paid to the tax officer within 60 days after the notice is

16

given.

17

(b)  Limitation on deduction.--No more than 10% of the

18

compensation of the delinquent taxpayer may be deducted at any

19

one time for delinquent personal income taxes, interest, penalty

20

and costs.

21

(c)  Collection rights preserved.--Nothing in this section

22

shall be deemed to affect or impair the right of a school

23

district or the tax officer to pursue and collect delinquent

24

taxes validly imposed prior to the effective date of this

25

section.

26

Section 312.  Notice to taxpayer.

27

The department shall, at least 15 days prior to the

28

presentation of a written notice and demand under section 310 or

29

311, notify the taxpayer owing the delinquent tax by registered

30

mail that a written notice and demand shall be presented to the

- 18 -

 


1

taxpayer's employer unless the tax is paid. The return receipt

2

card for registered mail shall be marked delivered to addressee

3

only, and the cost of notification by registered mail shall be

4

included in the costs for collecting taxes.

5

Section 313.  Collection of taxes by suit.

6

(a)  Power to collect.--

7

(1)  Each school district and the tax officer shall have

8

power to collect unpaid taxes from taxpayers and employers

9

owing such taxes by a civil action or other appropriate

10

remedy.

11

(2)  On judgment, execution may be issued without any

12

stay or benefit of any exemption law.

13

(3)  The power to collect unpaid taxes under the

14

provisions of this section shall not be affected by the fact

15

that such taxes have been entered as liens in the office of

16

the prothonotary or the fact that the property against which

17

they were levied has been returned to the county

18

commissioners for taxes for prior years.

19

(b)  Limitation of actions.--A suit brought to recover the

20

taxes under subsection (a) shall be instituted within three

21

years after the tax is due or within three years after a

22

declaration or return has been filed, whichever date is later,

23

except in the following cases:

24

(1)  If no declaration or return was filed by any person

25

although a declaration or return was required to be filed

26

under provisions of the ordinance, there shall be no

27

limitation.

28

(2)  If an examination of the declaration or return filed

29

by any person, or of other evidence relating to the

30

declaration or return in the possession of the tax officer,

- 19 -

 


1

reveals a fraudulent evasion of taxes, there shall be no

2

limitation.

3

(3)  If there is a substantial understatement of tax

4

liability of 25% or more and no fraud, suit shall be

5

instituted within six years.

6

(4)  If a person has deducted taxes under the provisions

7

of the resolution and has failed to pay the amounts so

8

deducted to the tax officer, or if a person has willfully

9

failed or omitted to make the deductions required by this

10

section, there shall be no limitation.

11

(c)  Regulations.--The tax officer, by regulation, shall

12

establish the procedures for collecting the personal income tax

13

and paying the full amount collected over to the school district

14

on a quarterly basis.

15

Section 314.  Interest and penalties.

16

(a)  General rule.--If for any reason the tax is not paid

17

when due, interest at the annual rate of 6% on the amount of the

18

tax, and an additional penalty of .5% of the amount of the

19

unpaid tax for each month or fraction thereof during which the

20

tax remains unpaid, shall be added and collected. Where suit is

21

brought for the recovery of such tax, the person liable therefor

22

shall, in addition, be liable for the costs of collection and

23

the interest and penalties herein imposed.

24

(b)  One-time waiver of interest authorized.--

25

(1)  Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a),

26

the school district may, by resolution, establish a one-time

27

period during which interest or interest and penalties that

28

would otherwise be imposed for the nonreporting or

29

underreporting of personal income tax liabilities or for the

30

nonpayment of personal income taxes previously imposed and

- 20 -

 


1

due shall be waived in total or in part if the taxpayer

2

voluntarily files delinquent returns and pays the taxes in

3

full during the period so established.

4

(2)  Each school district may adopt regulations to

5

implement the provisions of this subsection.

6

(c)  Proceedings.--The provisions of subsection (b) shall not

7

affect or terminate any petitions, investigations, prosecutions

8

or other proceedings pending on the effective date of this

9

section, or prevent the commencement or further prosecution of

10

any proceedings by the proper authorities for violations of this

11

act. No proceedings shall, however, be commenced on the basis of

12

delinquent returns filed pursuant to subsection (b) if the

13

returns are determined to be substantially true and correct and

14

the taxes are paid in full within the prescribed time.

15

Section 315.  Fines and penalties for violation of resolutions.

16

(a)  Conduct prohibited.--

17

(1)  Any person who fails, neglects or refuses to make

18

any declaration or return required by the resolution, any

19

employer who fails, neglects or refuses to register or to pay

20

the tax deducted from its employees, or fails, neglects or

21

refuses to deduct or withhold the tax from its employees, any

22

person who refuses to permit the officer or any agent

23

designated by that officer to examine the person's books,

24

records and papers, and any person who knowingly makes any

25

incomplete, false or fraudulent return, or attempts to do

26

anything whatsoever to avoid the full disclosure of the

27

amount of the person's personal income in order to avoid the

28

payment of the whole or any part of the tax imposed by the

29

resolution, shall, upon conviction thereof, in any county in

30

which the school district imposing the tax is located, be

- 21 -

 


1

sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $500 for each

2

offense and costs and, in default of payment of the fines and

3

costs, to be imprisoned for a period not exceeding 30 days.

4

(2)  Any person who divulges any information which is

5

confidential under the provisions of the resolution shall,

6

upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not

7

more than $500 for each offense and costs and, in default of

8

payment of said fines and costs, to be imprisoned for a

9

period not exceeding 30 days.

10

(b)  Cumulative penalties.--The penalties imposed under this

11

section shall be in addition to any other penalty imposed by any

12

other section of the resolution.

13

(c)  Defense unavailable.--The failure of any person to

14

receive or procure forms required for making the declaration or

15

returns by the resolution shall not excuse the person from

16

making the declaration or return.

17

Section 316.  Collection at source.

18

(a)  Duty of employers to register.--Every employer having an

19

office, factory, workshop, branch, warehouse or other place of

20

business within the school district imposing a tax on personal

21

income who employs one or more persons, other than domestic

22

servants, for a salary, wage, commission or other compensation,

23

who has not previously registered shall, within 15 days after

24

becoming an employer, register with the tax officer his name and

25

address and such other information as the tax officer may

26

require.

27

(b)  Duty to deduct tax.--

28

(1)  Every employer having an office, factory, workshop,

29

branch, warehouse or other place of business within the

30

school district imposing a tax on personal income who employs

- 22 -

 


1

one or more persons, other than domestic servants, for a

2

salary, wage, commission or other compensation, shall deduct

3

at the time of payment thereof, the tax imposed pursuant to

4

this chapter due to his employee or employees, and shall, on

5

or before April 30 of the current year, July 31 of the

6

current year, October 31 of the current year and January 31

7

of the succeeding year, file a return and pay to the tax

8

officer the amount of taxes deducted during the preceding

9

three-month periods ending March 31 of the current year, June

10

30 of the current year, September 30 of the current year and

11

December 31 of the current year, respectively.

12

(2)  Unless otherwise agreed upon between the tax officer

13

and employer, the return shall show the name and Social

14

Security number of each employee, the compensation of the

15

employee during the preceding three-month period, the tax

16

deducted from the compensation, the school district imposing

17

the tax upon the employee, the total compensation of all

18

employees during the preceding three-month period and the

19

total tax deducted from the compensation and paid with the

20

return.

21

(3)  Any employer that for two of the preceding four

22

quarterly periods has failed to deduct the proper tax, or any

23

part thereof, or has failed to pay over the proper amount of

24

tax to the school district, may be required by the officer to

25

file the employer's return and pay the tax monthly. In such

26

cases, payments of tax shall be made to the tax officer on or

27

before the last day of the month succeeding the month for

28

which the tax was withheld.

29

(c)  Duty to file annual return.--On or before February 28 of

30

the succeeding year, every employer shall file with the tax

- 23 -

 


1

officer:

2

(1)  An annual return showing the total amount of

3

compensation paid, the total amount of tax deducted and the

4

total amount of tax paid to the tax officer for the period

5

beginning January 1 of the current year and ending December

6

31 of the current year.

7

(2)  A return withholding statement for each employee

8

employed during all or any part of the period beginning

9

January 1 of the current year and ending December 31 of the

10

current year, setting forth the employee's name, address and

11

Social Security number, the amount of earned income paid to

12

the employee during the period, the amount of tax deducted,

13

the school district imposing the tax upon the employees and

14

the amount of tax paid to the tax officer. Every employer

15

shall furnish two copies of the individual return to the

16

employee for whom it is filed.

17

(d)  Discontinued businesses.--Every employer who

18

discontinues business prior to December 31 of the current year

19

shall, within 30 days after the discontinuance of business, file

20

the returns and withholding statements required by this section

21

and pay the tax due.

22

(e)  Liability of employers.--Every employer who willfully or

23

negligently fails or omits to make the deductions required by

24

this section shall be liable for payment of the taxes which he

25

was required to withhold to the extent that such taxes have not

26

been recovered from the employee.

27

(f)  Liability of employees.--The failure or omission of any

28

employer to make the deductions required by this section shall

29

not relieve any employee from the payment of the tax or from

30

complying with the requirements of the ordinance or resolution

- 24 -

 


1

relating to the filing of declarations and returns.

2

SUBCHAPTER B

3

EDUCATION TAX

4

Section 321.  Education tax.

5

(a)  Legislative finding.--The General Assembly finds that

6

there is a need for an education tax to offset the loss of

7

revenue caused by the abolition of the school earned income tax

8

and the abolition of other school nuisance taxes and by the need

9

to preserve the tax exemption for food and clothing under the

10

Tax Reform Code of 1971.

11

(b)  General rule.--In addition to the tax collected under

12

section 302 of the Tax Reform Code of 1971, the Commonwealth

13

shall impose the tax set forth in subsection (c) in the same

14

manner as the tax under the Tax Reform Code of 1971.

15

(c)  Imposition of tax.--

16

(1)  Every resident individual, estate or trust shall be

17

subject to, and shall pay for the privilege of receiving each

18

of the classes of income enumerated in section 303 of the Tax

19

Reform Code of 1971, a tax upon each dollar of income

20

received by that resident during that resident's taxable year

21

at the rate of .55%.

22

(2)  Every nonresident individual, estate or trust shall

23

be subject to, and shall pay for the privilege of receiving

24

each of the classes of income enumerated in section 303 of

25

the Tax Reform Code of 1971 from sources within this

26

Commonwealth, a tax upon each dollar of income received by

27

that nonresident during that nonresident's taxable year at

28

the rate of .55%.

29

(d)  Deposit in Education Operating Fund.--All moneys

30

collected under this section shall be deposited in the Education

- 25 -

 


1

Operating Fund.

2

(e)  Combination of tax forms.--The department shall

3

incorporate the taxpayer reporting requirement for the

4

implementation of this section into the forms utilized by the

5

department under Article III of the Tax Reform Code of 1971.

6

(f)  Definitions.--The words and phrases used in this section

7

shall have the same meaning given to them in Article III of the

8

Tax Reform Code of 1971.

9

CHAPTER 4

10

STATE REALTY TRANSFER TAX

11

Section 401.  Authorization of State realty transfer tax for

12

public education.

13

(a)  General rule.--The Commonwealth shall impose the tax set

14

forth in subsection (b) in the same manner as the tax collected

15

under section 1102-C of the Tax Reform Code of 1971.

16

(b)  Imposition of tax.--

17

(1)  Every person who makes, executes, delivers, accepts

18

or presents for recording any document or in whose behalf any

19

document is made, executed, delivered, accepted or presented

20

for recording, shall be subject to pay for and in respect to

21

the transaction or any part thereof, or for or in respect of

22

the vellum parchment or paper upon which such document is

23

written or printed, a State tax at the rate of .5% of the

24

value of the real estate represented by such document, which

25

State tax shall be payable at the earlier of the time the

26

document is presented for recording or within 30 days of

27

acceptance of such document or within 30 days of becoming an

28

acquired company.

29

(2)  The tax imposed under this section shall apply to

30

transactions that occur on or after January 1, 2012.

- 26 -

 


1

(c)  Deposit into Education Operating Fund.--All moneys

2

collected under this section shall be deposited in the Education

3

Operating Fund and shall be utilized in accordance with the

4

provisions of this act.

5

Section 402.  Deposit of existing Commonwealth realty transfer

6

tax.

7

All moneys required to be paid to the Commonwealth in

8

accordance with Article XI-C of the Tax Reform Code of 1971

9

shall be credited to the General Fund.

10

CHAPTER 5

11

EARNED INCOME TAX

12

Section 501.  Scope.

13

This chapter authorizes school districts to levy, assess and

14

collect an earned income tax.

15

Section 502.  Definitions.

16

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter

17

shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

18

context clearly indicates otherwise:

19

"Association."  A partnership, limited partnership or other

20

unincorporated group of two or more persons.

21

"Business."  An enterprise, activity, profession or other

22

undertaking of an unincorporated nature conducted for profit or

23

ordinarily conducted for profit whether by a person, association

24

or other entity.

25

"Corporation."  A corporation or joint stock association

26

organized under the laws of the United States, this Commonwealth

27

or any other state, territory, foreign country or dependency.

28

"Current year."  The calendar year or fiscal year for which a

29

tax is levied.

30

"Department."  The Department of Community and Economic

- 27 -

 


1

Development of the Commonwealth.

2

"Domicile."

3

(1)  The place where a person lives and has the person's

4

permanent home and to which the person has the intention of

5

returning whenever the person is absent. Actual residence is

6

not necessarily domicile because domicile is the fixed place

7

of abode which, in the intention of the taxpayer, is

8

permanent rather than transitory.

9

(2)  Domicile is the voluntarily fixed place of

10

habitation of a person, not for a mere special or limited

11

purpose, but with the present intention of making a permanent

12

home, until some event occurs to induce the person to adopt

13

some other permanent home.

14

(3)  In the case of a business or association, the

15

domicile is any place where the business or association is

16

conducting or engaging in a business for profit within a

17

school district.

18

"Earned income."

19

(1)  Compensation as determined under section 303 of the

20

act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform

21

Code of 1971, and regulations in 61 Pa. Code Pt. I Subpt. B

22

Art. V (relating to personal income tax).

23

(2)  Employee business expenses are allowable deductions

24

as determined under Article III of the Tax Reform Code of

25

1971.

26

(3)  The amount of any housing allowance provided to a

27

member of the clergy shall not be taxable as earned income.

28

"Employer."  A person, association, corporation, governmental

29

unit or other entity employing one or more persons, other than

30

domestic servants for compensation.

- 28 -

 


1

"Nonresident."  A person, association or other entity

2

domiciled outside a school district.

3

"Person" or "individual."  A natural person.

4

"Political subdivision."  A school district.

5

"Preceding year."  The calendar year or fiscal year before a

6

current year.

7

"Resident."  A person, association, corporation or other

8

entity:

9

(1)  living in or maintaining a permanent or fixed place

10

of abode in a school district; or

11

(2)  conducting or engaging in a business for profit

12

within a school district.

13

"Succeeding year."  The calendar year or fiscal year

14

following a current year.

15

"Tax officer."  The person, public employee or private agency

16

designated by a governing body to collect and administer a tax

17

imposed under this chapter, and the treasurer of a school

18

district of the first class A.

19

"Taxpayer."  A person, association or other entity required

20

under this chapter to file a tax return or to pay a tax.

21

Section 503.  Preemption.

22

No act of the General Assembly shall vacate or preempt any

23

resolution passed or adopted under the authority of this chapter

24

or any other act providing authority for the imposition of a tax

25

by a school district, unless the act of the General Assembly

26

expressly vacates or preempts the authority to pass or adopt

27

such resolutions.

28

Section 504.  Earned income tax authorization.

29

(a)  School districts.--Except as prohibited under Chapter

30

11, each school district shall have the power and may, by

- 29 -

 


1

resolution, levy, assess and collect or provide for the levying,

2

assessment and collection of a tax for general revenue purposes

3

at a rate as it shall determine on earned income of the

4

residents of the school district. A school district may only

5

impose and increase the rate of earned income tax when that

6

school district complies with the provisions of subsection (b).

7

(b)  Adoption of referendum.--

8

(1)  In order to levy an earned income tax under this

9

chapter, a governing body shall use the procedures set forth

10

in paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (5), (6) and (7).

11

(2)  (i)  Subject to the notice and public hearing

12

requirements of paragraph (7), a governing body may levy

13

the earned income tax under this chapter only by

14

obtaining the approval of the electorate of the affected

15

school district in a public referendum at only the

16

municipal election preceding the fiscal year when the

17

earned income tax will be initially imposed or the rate

18

increased.

19

(ii)  The referendum question must state the initial

20

rate of the proposed earned income tax, the reason for

21

the tax and the amount of proposed budgeted revenue

22

growth, if any, in the first fiscal year following

23

adoption of the referendum.

24

(iii)  The question shall be in clear language that

25

is readily understandable by a layperson. For the purpose

26

of illustration, a referendum question may be framed as

27

follows:

28

Do you favor the imposition of an earned income and

29

net profits tax of X%?

30

(iv)  A nonlegal interpretative statement must

- 30 -

 


1

accompany the question in accordance with section 201.1

2

of the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as

3

the Pennsylvania Election Code, that includes the

4

following: the initial rate of the earned income tax

5

imposed under this chapter and the estimated revenues to

6

be derived from the initial rate of the earned income tax

7

imposed under this chapter.

8

(3)  In the event a school district is located in more

9

than one county, petitions under this section shall be filed

10

with the election officials of the county in which the

11

administrative offices of the school district are located.

12

(4)  The election officials who receive a petition shall

13

perform all administrative functions in reviewing and

14

certifying the validity of the petition and conduct all

15

necessary communications with the school district.

16

(5)  (i)  If the election officials of the county who

17

receive the petition certify that it is sufficient under

18

this section and determine that a question should be

19

placed on the ballot, the decision shall be communicated

20

to election officials in any other county in which the

21

school district is also located.

22

(ii)  Election officials in the other county or

23

counties shall cooperate with election officials of the

24

county receiving the petition to ensure that an identical

25

question is placed on the ballot at the same election

26

throughout the entire school district.

27

(6)  Election officials from each county involved shall

28

independently certify the results from their county to the

29

governing body.

30

(7)  (i)  In order to levy the tax under this section,

- 31 -

 


1

the governing body shall adopt a resolution which refers

2

to this chapter prior to placing a question on the

3

ballot.

4

(ii)  Prior to adopting a resolution imposing the tax

5

authorized by this section, the governing body shall give

6

public notice of its intent to adopt the resolution in

7

the manner provided by The Local Tax Enabling Act and

8

shall conduct at least one public hearing regarding the

9

proposed adoption of the resolution.

10

Section 505.  Continuity of tax.

11

Every tax levied under this chapter shall continue in force

12

on a calendar or fiscal year basis, as the case may be, without

13

annual reenactment unless the rate of the tax is subsequently

14

changed.

15

Section 506.  Exemption of low-income persons.

16

(a)  General rule.--Each school district shall exempt any

17

person whose total income from all sources is less than $10,000

18

per year from the earned income tax, or any portion thereof.

19

(b)  Procedures.--Each school district shall adopt procedures

20

for the processing of claims for these exemptions.

21

Section 507.  Collection of earned income tax.

22

The tax officer shall collect all earned income tax imposed

23

by a school district.

24

Section 508.  Limitation on assessment.

25

No assessment may be made of any earned income tax imposed

26

under this chapter more than five years after the date on which

27

the tax should have been paid except where a fraudulent return

28

or no return has been filed.

29

Section 509.  Distress and sale of property of taxpayer.

30

(a)  General rule.--In case of the neglect or refusal of any

- 32 -

 


1

person, association or corporation to make payment of the amount

2

of any earned income tax due after two months from the date of

3

the tax notice, the tax officer shall levy the amount of the

4

tax, penalty, interest and costs thereon, not exceeding costs

5

and charges allowed constables for similar services by distress

6

and sale of the goods and chattels of the delinquent taxpayer,

7

wherever located, after giving at least ten days' public notice

8

of such sale by one advertisement in a newspaper of general

9

circulation published in the county.

10

(b)  Effect on return.--No failure to demand or collect any

11

taxes by distress and sale of goods and chattels shall

12

invalidate any return made, lien filed for nonpayment of taxes

13

or any tax sale for the collection of taxes.

14

Section 510.  Collection of delinquent taxes from employers.

15

(a)  General rule.--The tax officer shall demand, receive and

16

collect from all employers employing persons owing delinquent

17

earned income taxes or having in possession unpaid earned income

18

belonging to any person or persons owing delinquent earned

19

income taxes on the presentation of a written notice and demand

20

certifying that the information contained in the notice and

21

demand is true and correct and containing the name of the

22

taxpayer and the amount of tax due.

23

(b)  Response to notice.--On the presentation of the written

24

notice and demand, the employer shall deduct from the earned

25

income of the employees then owing, or thereafter due, a sum

26

sufficient to pay the amount of the delinquent earned income

27

taxes, interest, penalty and costs shown on the written notice

28

or demand, and shall pay the same to the tax officer by which

29

the delinquent tax was levied within 60 days after the notice

30

was given.

- 33 -

 


1

(c)  Limitation on deduction.--No more than 10% of the

2

compensation of the delinquent taxpayer may be deducted at any

3

one time for delinquent earned income taxes, penalty, interest

4

and costs.

5

(d)  Deduction for costs.--The employer shall be entitled to

6

deduct from the moneys collected from each employee the costs

7

incurred from the extra bookkeeping necessary to record the

8

transactions, not exceeding 2% of the amount collected and paid

9

over to the tax officer.

10

(e)  Forfeiture.--If the employer fails to deduct the amount

11

of such taxes or to pay the same over to the tax officer, less

12

the amount deducted under subsection (d), within the time

13

required by this section, the employer shall forfeit and pay the

14

amount of the tax for those taxpayers whose taxes are not

15

withheld and paid over, or that are withheld and not paid over

16

together with a penalty of 10%, to be recovered by a civil

17

action instituted by the tax officer, as debts of like amount

18

are now by law recoverable, except that the person shall not

19

have the benefit of any exemption law or stay of execution.

20

(f)  Collection rights preserved.--Nothing in this section

21

shall be deemed to affect or impair the right of any school

22

district or the tax officer to pursue and collect delinquent

23

taxes validly imposed prior to the effective date of this

24

section.

25

Section 511.  Collection of delinquent taxes from Commonwealth.

26

(a)  General rule.--On presentation of a written notice and

27

demand under oath to the State Treasurer or any other fiscal

28

officer of the Commonwealth, or its boards, authorities,

29

agencies or commissions, the treasurer or officer shall deduct

30

from the compensation then owing a sum sufficient to pay the

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1

amount of the delinquent earned income taxes, interest, penalty

2

and costs shown on the written notice. The same shall be paid to

3

the tax officer within 60 days after the notice is given.

4

(b)  Limitation on deduction.--No more than 10% of the

5

compensation of the delinquent taxpayer may be deducted at any

6

one time for delinquent earned income taxes, interest, penalty

7

and costs.

8

(c)  Collection rights preserved.--Nothing in this section

9

shall be deemed to affect or impair the right of a school

10

district or the tax officer to pursue and collect delinquent

11

taxes validly imposed prior to the effective date of this

12

section.

13

Section 512.  Notice to taxpayer.

14

The tax officer shall, at least 15 days prior to the

15

presentation of a written notice and demand under section 510 or

16

511, notify the taxpayer owing the delinquent tax by registered

17

mail that a written notice and demand shall be presented to the

18

taxpayer's employer unless such tax is paid. The return receipt

19

card for registered mail shall be marked delivered to addressee

20

only, and the cost of notification by registered mail shall be

21

included in the costs for collecting taxes.

22

Section 513.  Collection of taxes by suit.

23

(a)  Power to collect.--

24

(1)  Each school district and the tax officer shall have

25

power to collect unpaid taxes from taxpayers and employers

26

owing such taxes by a civil action or other appropriate

27

remedy.

28

(2)  On judgment, execution may be issued without any

29

stay or benefit of any exemption law.

30

(3)  The power to collect unpaid taxes under the

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1

provisions of this section shall not be affected by the fact

2

that such taxes have been entered as liens in the office of

3

the prothonotary or the fact that the property against which

4

they were levied has been returned to the county

5

commissioners for taxes for prior years.

6

(b)  Limitation of actions.--A suit brought to recover the

7

taxes under subsection (a) shall be instituted within three

8

years after the tax is due or within three years after a

9

declaration or return has been filed, whichever date is later,

10

except in the following cases:

11

(1)  If no declaration or return was filed by any person,

12

although a declaration or return was required to be filed

13

under provisions of the ordinance, there shall be no

14

limitation.

15

(2)  If an examination of the declaration or return filed

16

by any person, or of other evidence relating to the

17

declaration or return in the possession of the tax officer,

18

reveals a fraudulent evasion of taxes, there shall be no

19

limitation.

20

(3)  If there is a substantial understatement of tax

21

liability of 25% or more and no fraud, suit shall be

22

instituted within six years.

23

(4)  If a person has deducted taxes under the provisions

24

of the resolution and has failed to pay the amounts so

25

deducted to the tax officer, or if any person has willfully

26

failed or omitted to make the deductions required by this

27

section, there shall be no limitation.

28

(c)  Procedures.--The tax officer shall establish the

29

procedures for collecting the earned income tax and paying the

30

full amount collected over to the school district on a quarterly

- 36 -

 


1

basis.

2

Section 514.  Interest and penalties.

3

(a)  General rule.--If for any reason the tax is not paid

4

when due, interest at the annual rate of 6% on the amount of the

5

tax, and an additional penalty of .5% of the amount of the

6

unpaid tax for each month or fraction thereof during which the

7

tax remains unpaid, shall be added and collected. Where suit is

8

brought for the recovery of such tax, the person liable therefor

9

shall, in addition, be liable for the costs of collection and

10

the interest and penalties herein imposed.

11

(b)  One-time waiver of interest authorized.--

12

(1)  Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a),

13

the school district may, by resolution, establish a one-time

14

period during which interest or interest and penalties that

15

would otherwise be imposed for the nonreporting or

16

underreporting of earned income tax liabilities or for the

17

nonpayment of earned income taxes previously imposed and due

18

shall be waived in total or in part if the taxpayer

19

voluntarily files delinquent returns and pays the taxes in

20

full during the period so established.

21

(2)  Each school district may adopt regulations to

22

implement the provisions of this subsection.

23

(c)  Proceedings.--The provisions of subsection (b) shall not

24

affect or terminate any petitions, investigations, prosecutions

25

or other proceedings pending on the effective date of this

26

section, or prevent the commencement or further prosecution of

27

any proceedings by the proper authorities for violations of this

28

act. No proceedings shall, however, be commenced on the basis of

29

delinquent returns filed pursuant to subsection (b) if the

30

returns are determined to be substantially true and correct and

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1

the taxes are paid in full within the prescribed time.

2

Section 515.  Fines and penalties for violation of resolutions.

3

(a)  Conduct prohibited.--

4

(1)  Any person who fails, neglects or refuses to make

5

any declaration or return required by the resolution, any

6

employer who fails, neglects or refuses to register or to pay

7

the tax deducted from its employees, or fails, neglects or

8

refuses to deduct or withhold the tax from its employees, any

9

person who refuses to permit the officer or any agent

10

designated by that officer to examine the person's books,

11

records and papers, and any person who knowingly makes any

12

incomplete, false or fraudulent return, or attempts to do

13

anything whatsoever to avoid the full disclosure of the

14

amount of the person's earned income in order to avoid the

15

payment of the whole or any part of the tax imposed by the

16

resolution, shall, upon conviction thereof, in any county in

17

which the school district imposing the tax is located be

18

sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $500 for each

19

offense and costs and, in default of payment of the fines and

20

costs, to be imprisoned for a period not exceeding 30 days.

21

(2)  Any person who divulges any information which is

22

confidential under the provisions of the resolution shall,

23

upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not

24

more than $500 for each offense and costs and, in default of

25

payment of said fines and costs, to be imprisoned for a

26

period not exceeding 30 days.

27

(b)  Cumulative penalties.--The penalties imposed under this

28

section shall be in addition to any other penalty imposed by any

29

other section of the resolution.

30

(c)  Defense unavailable.--The failure of any person to

- 38 -

 


1

receive or procure forms required for making the declaration or

2

returns required by the resolution shall not excuse the person

3

from making the declaration or return.

4

Section 516.  Collection at source.

5

(a)  Duty of employers to register.--Every employer having an

6

office, factory, workshop, branch, warehouse or other place of

7

business within the school district imposing a tax on earned

8

income within the taxing district who employs one or more

9

persons, other than domestic servants, for a salary, wage,

10

commission or other compensation, who has not previously

11

registered shall, within 15 days after becoming an employer,

12

register with the tax officer his name and address and such

13

other information as the tax officer may require.

14

(b)  Duty to deduct tax.--

15

(1)  Every employer having an office, factory, workshop,

16

branch, warehouse or other place of business within the

17

school district imposing a tax on earned income who employs

18

one or more persons, other than domestic servants, for a

19

salary, wage, commission or other compensation, shall deduct

20

at the time of payment thereof, the tax imposed pursuant to

21

this chapter on the earned income due to his employee or

22

employees, and shall, on or before April 30 of the current

23

year, July 31 of the current year, October 31 of the current

24

year and January 31 of the succeeding year, file a return and

25

pay to the tax officer the amount of taxes deducted during

26

the preceding three-month periods ending March 31 of the

27

current year, June 30 of the current year, September 30 of

28

the current year and December 31 of the current year,

29

respectively.

30

(2)  Unless otherwise agreed upon between the tax officer

- 39 -

 


1

and employer, the return shall show the name and Social

2

Security number of each employee, the earned income of the

3

employee during the preceding three-month period, the tax

4

deducted from the compensation, the school district imposing

5

the tax upon the employee, the total earned income of all

6

employees during the preceding three-month period and the

7

total tax deducted from the compensation and paid with the

8

return.

9

(3)  Any employer that for two of the preceding four

10

quarterly periods has failed to deduct the proper tax, or any

11

part thereof, or has failed to pay over the proper amount of

12

tax to the school district, may be required by the tax

13

officer to file his return and pay the tax monthly. In such

14

cases, payments of tax shall be made to the tax officer on or

15

before the last day of the month succeeding the month for

16

which the tax was withheld.

17

(c)  Duty to file annual return.--On or before February 28 of

18

the succeeding year, every employer shall file with the tax

19

officer:

20

(1)  An annual return showing the total amount of earned

21

income paid, the total amount of tax deducted and the total

22

amount of tax paid to the tax officer for the period

23

beginning January 1 of the current year and ending December

24

31 of the current year.

25

(2)  A return withholding statement for each employee

26

employed during all or any part of the period beginning

27

January 1 of the current year and ending December 31 of the

28

current year, setting forth the employee's name, address and

29

Social Security number, the amount of earned income paid to

30

the employee during the period, the amount of tax deducted,

- 40 -

 


1

the school district imposing the tax upon the employees and

2

the amount of tax paid to the tax officer. Every employer

3

shall furnish two copies of the individual return to the

4

employee for whom it is filed.

5

(d)  Discontinued businesses.--Every employer who

6

discontinues business prior to December 31 of the current year

7

shall, within 30 days after the discontinuance of business, file

8

the returns and withholding statements required by this section

9

and pay the tax due.

10

(e)  Liability of employers.--Every employer who willfully or

11

negligently fails or omits to make the deductions required by

12

this section shall be liable for payment of the taxes which he

13

was required to withhold to the extent that such taxes have not

14

been recovered from the employee.

15

(f)  Liability of employees.--The failure or omission of any

16

employer to make the deductions required by this section shall

17

not relieve any employee from the payment of the tax or from

18

complying with the requirements of the ordinance or resolution

19

relating to the filing of declarations and returns.

20

CHAPTER 7

21

SALES AND USE TAX FOR EDUCATION

22

SUBCHAPTER A

23

PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS

24

Section 701.  Scope.

25

The tax provided for under this chapter shall be known as the

26

Sales and Use Tax for Education, which shall be a replacement

27

for the sales and use tax authorized under Article II of the Tax

28

Reform Code of 1971 and that is repealed by this act.

29

Section 701.1.  Definitions.

30

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter

- 41 -

 


1

shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

2

context clearly indicates otherwise:

3

(a)  "Soft drinks."

4

(1)  All nonalcoholic beverages, whether carbonated or

5

not, such as soda water, ginger ale, Coca Cola, lime cola,

6

Pepsi Cola, Dr Pepper, fruit juice when plain or carbonated

7

water, flavoring or syrup is added, carbonated water,

8

orangeade, lemonade, root beer or any and all preparations,

9

commonly referred to as soft drinks, of whatsoever kind, and

10

are further described as including any and all beverages,

11

commonly referred to as soft drinks, which are made with or

12

without the use of any syrup.

13

(2)  The term does not include natural fruit or vegetable

14

juices or their concentrates, or noncarbonated fruit juice

15

drinks containing not less than 25% by volume of natural

16

fruit juices or of fruit juice which has been reconstituted

17

to its original state, or natural concentrated fruit or

18

vegetable juices reconstituted to their original state,

19

whether any of the natural juices are frozen or unfrozen,

20

sweetened or unsweetened, seasoned with salt or spice or

21

unseasoned. The term also does not include coffee, coffee

22

substitutes, tea, cocoa, natural fluid milk or noncarbonated

23

drinks made from milk derivatives.

24

(b)  "Maintaining a place of business in this Commonwealth."

25

(1)  Having, maintaining or using within this

26

Commonwealth, either directly or through a subsidiary,

27

representative or an agent, an office, distribution house,

28

sales house, warehouse, service enterprise or other place of

29

business; or any agent of general or restricted authority, or

30

representative, irrespective of whether the place of

- 42 -

 


1

business, representative or agent is located in this

2

Commonwealth, permanently or temporarily, or whether the

3

person or subsidiary maintaining the place of business,

4

representative or agent is authorized to do business within

5

this Commonwealth.

6

(2)  Engaging in any activity as a business within this

7

Commonwealth by any person, either directly or through a

8

subsidiary, representative or an agent, in connection with

9

the lease, sale or delivery of tangible personal property or

10

the performance of services thereon for use, storage or

11

consumption or in connection with the sale or delivery for

12

use of the services described in subclauses (11) through (18)

13

of clause (k) of this section, including, but not limited to,

14

having, maintaining or using any office, distribution house,

15

sales house, warehouse or other place of business, any stock

16

of goods or any solicitor, canvasser, salesman,

17

representative or agent under its authority, at its direction

18

or with its permission, regardless of whether the person or

19

subsidiary is authorized to do business in this Commonwealth.

20

(3)  Regularly or substantially soliciting orders within

21

this Commonwealth in connection with the lease, sale or

22

delivery of tangible personal property to or the performance

23

thereon of services or in connection with the sale or

24

delivery of the services described in subclauses (11) through

25

(18) of clause (k) of this section for residents of this

26

Commonwealth by means of catalogs or other advertising,

27

whether the orders are accepted within or without this

28

Commonwealth.

29

(3.1)  Entering this Commonwealth by any person to

30

provide assembly, service or repair of tangible personal

- 43 -

 


1

property, either directly or through a subsidiary,

2

representative or an agent.

3

(3.2)  Delivering tangible personal property to locations

4

within this Commonwealth if the delivery includes the

5

unpacking, positioning, placing or assembling of the tangible

6

personal property.

7

(3.3)  Having any contact within this Commonwealth which

8

would allow the Commonwealth to require a person to collect

9

and remit tax under the Constitution of the United States.

10

(3.4)  Providing a customer's mobile telecommunications

11

service deemed to be provided by the customer's home service

12

provider under the Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act (4

13

U.S.C. § 116). For purposes of this clause, words and phrases

14

used in this clause shall have the meanings given to them in

15

the Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act.

16

(4)  The term does not include:

17

(i)  Owning or leasing of tangible or intangible

18

property by a person who has contracted with an

19

unaffiliated commercial printer for printing, provided

20

that:

21

(A)  the property is for use by the commercial

22

printer; and

23

(B)  the property is located at the Pennsylvania

24

premises of the commercial printer.

25

(ii)  Visits by a person's employees or agents to the

26

premises in this Commonwealth of an unaffiliated

27

commercial printer with whom the person has contracted

28

for printing in connection with said contract.

29

(c)  "Manufacture."  The performance of manufacturing,

30

fabricating, compounding, processing or other operations,

- 44 -

 


1

engaged in as a business, which place any tangible personal

2

property in a form, composition or character different from that

3

in which it is acquired whether for sale or use by the

4

manufacturer, and shall include, but not be limited to:

5

(1)  Every operation commencing with the first production

6

stage and ending with the completion of tangible personal

7

property having the physical qualities, including packaging,

8

if any, passing to the ultimate consumer, which it has when

9

transferred by the manufacturer to another. For purposes of

10

this definition, "operation" includes clean rooms and their

11

component systems, including: environmental control systems,

12

antistatic vertical walls and manufacturing platforms and

13

floors which are independent of the real estate; process

14

piping systems; specialized lighting systems; deionized water

15

systems; process vacuum and compressed air systems; process

16

and specialty gases; and alarm or warning devices

17

specifically designed to warn of threats to the integrity of

18

the product or people. For purposes of this definition, a

19

"clean room" is a location with a self-contained, sealed

20

environment with a controlled, closed air system independent

21

from the facility's general environmental control system.

22

(2)  The publishing of books, newspapers, magazines and

23

other periodicals and printing.

24

(3)  Refining, blasting, exploring, mining and quarrying

25

for, or otherwise extracting from the earth or from waste or

26

stock piles or from pits or banks any natural resources,

27

minerals and mineral aggregates including blast furnace slag.

28

(4)  Building, rebuilding, repairing and making additions

29

to, or replacements in or upon vessels designed for

30

commercial use of registered tonnage of 50 tons or more when

- 45 -

 


1

produced on special order of the purchaser, or when rebuilt,

2

repaired or enlarged, or when replacements are made upon

3

order of or for the account of the owner.

4

(5)  Research having as its objective the production of a

5

new or an improved:

6

(i)  product or utility service; or

7

(ii)  method of producing a product or utility

8

service,

9

but in either case not including market research or research

10

having as its objective the improvement of administrative

11

efficiency.

12

(6)  Remanufacture for wholesale distribution by a

13

remanufacturer of motor vehicle parts from used parts

14

acquired in bulk by the remanufacturer using an assembly line

15

process which involves the complete disassembly of such parts

16

and integration of the components of such parts with other

17

used or new components of parts, including the salvaging,

18

recycling or reclaiming of used parts by the remanufacturer.

19

(7)  Remanufacture or retrofit by a manufacturer or

20

remanufacturer of aircraft, armored vehicles, other defense-

21

related vehicles having a finished value of at least $50,000.

22

Remanufacture or retrofit involves the disassembly of such

23

aircraft, vehicles, parts or components, including electric

24

or electronic components, the integration of those parts and

25

components with other used or new parts or components,

26

including the salvaging, recycling or reclaiming of the used

27

parts or components and the assembly of the new or used

28

aircraft, vehicles, parts or components. The term does not

29

include constructing, altering, servicing, repairing or

30

improving real estate or repairing, servicing or installing

- 46 -

 


1

tangible personal property, nor the cooking, freezing or

2

baking of fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, fish, seafood,

3

meats, poultry or bakery products. For purposes of this

4

clause, the following terms or phrases have the following

5

meanings:

6

(i)  "aircraft" means fixed-wing aircraft,

7

helicopters, powered aircraft, tilt-rotor or tilt-wing

8

aircraft, unmanned aircraft and gliders;

9

(ii)  "armored vehicles" means tanks, armed personnel

10

carriers and all other armed track or semitrack vehicles;

11

and

12

(iii)  "other defense-related vehicles" means trucks,

13

truck-tractors, trailers, jeeps and other utility

14

vehicles, including any unmanned vehicles.

15

(c.1)  "Blasting."  The use of any combustible or explosive

16

composition in the removal of material resources, minerals and

17

mineral aggregates from the earth including the separation of

18

the dirt, waste and refuse in which they are found.

19

(d)  "Processing."  The performance of the following

20

activities when engaged in as a business enterprise:

21

(1)  The filtering or heating of honey, the cooking,

22

baking or freezing of fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, fish,

23

seafood, meats, poultry or bakery products, when the person

24

engaged in the business packages the property in sealed

25

containers for wholesale distribution.

26

(1.1)  The processing of fruits or vegetables by

27

cleaning, cutting, coring, peeling or chopping and treating

28

to preserve, sterilize or purify and substantially extend the

29

useful shelf life of the fruits or vegetables, when the

30

person engaged in the activity packages the property in

- 47 -

 


1

sealed containers for wholesale distribution.

2

(2)  The scouring, carbonizing, cording, combing,

3

throwing, twisting or winding of natural or synthetic fibers,

4

or the spinning, bleaching, dyeing, printing or finishing of

5

yarns or fabrics, when the activities are performed prior to

6

sale to the ultimate consumer.

7

(3)  The electroplating, galvanizing, enameling,

8

anodizing, coloring, finishing, impregnating or heat treating

9

of metals or plastics for sale or in the process of

10

manufacturing.

11

(3.1)  The blanking, shearing, leveling, slitting or

12

burning of metals for sale to or use by a manufacturer or

13

processor.

14

(4)  The rolling, drawing or extruding of ferrous and

15

nonferrous metals.

16

(5)  The fabrication for sale of ornamental or structural

17

metal or of metal stairs, staircases, gratings, fire escapes

18

or railings, not including fabrication work done at the

19

construction site.

20

(6)  The preparation of animal feed or poultry feed for

21

sale.

22

(7)  The production, processing and bottling of

23

nonalcoholic beverages for wholesale distribution.

24

(8)  The operation of a saw mill or planing mill for the

25

production of lumber or lumber products for sale. The

26

operation of a saw mill or planing mill begins with the

27

unloading by the operator of the saw mill or planing mill of

28

logs, timber, pulpwood or other forms of wood material to be

29

used in the saw mill or planing mill.

30

(9)  The milling for sale of flour or meal from grains.

- 48 -

 


1

(9.1)  The aging, stripping, conditioning, crushing and

2

blending of tobacco leaves for use as cigar filler or as

3

components of smokeless tobacco products for sale to

4

manufacturers of tobacco products.

5

(10)  The slaughtering and dressing of animals for meat

6

to be sold or to be used in preparing meat products for sale,

7

and the preparation of meat products including lard, tallow,

8

grease, cooking and inedible oils for wholesale distribution.

9

(11)  The processing of used lubricating oils.

10

(12)  The broadcasting of radio and television programs

11

of licensed commercial or educational stations.

12

(13)  The cooking or baking of bread, pastries, cakes,

13

cookies, muffins and donuts when the person engaged in the

14

activity sells the items at retail at locations that do not

15

constitute an establishment from which ready-to-eat food and

16

beverages are sold. For purposes of this clause, a bakery, a

17

pastry shop and a donut shop shall not be considered an

18

establishment from which ready-to-eat food and beverages are

19

sold.

20

(14)  The cleaning and roasting and the blending,

21

grinding or packaging for sale of coffee from green coffee

22

beans or the production of coffee extract.

23

(15)  The preparation of dry or liquid fertilizer for

24

sale.

25

(16)  The production, processing and packaging of ice for

26

wholesale distribution.

27

(17)  The producing of mobile telecommunications

28

services.

29

(e)  "Person."  Any natural person, association, fiduciary,

30

partnership, corporation or other entity, including the

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1

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, its political subdivisions and

2

instrumentalities and public authorities. Whenever used in

3

prescribing and imposing a penalty or imposing a fine or

4

imprisonment, or both, the term as applied to an association,

5

includes the members of the association and, as applied to a

6

corporation, the officers of the corporation.

7

(f)  "Purchase at retail."

8

(1)  The acquisition for a consideration of the

9

ownership, custody or possession of tangible personal

10

property other than for resale by the person acquiring the

11

same when the acquisition is made for the purpose of

12

consumption or use, whether the acquisition is absolute or

13

conditional, and by any means it is effected.

14

(2)  The acquisition of a license to use or consume, and

15

the rental or lease of tangible personal property, other than

16

for resale regardless of the period of time the lessee has

17

possession or custody of the property.

18

(3)  The obtaining for a consideration of those services

19

described in subclauses (2), (3) and (4) of clause (k) of

20

this section other than for resale.

21

(4)  A retention after March 7, 1956, of possession,

22

custody or a license to use or consume pursuant to a rental

23

contract or other lease arrangement (other than as security)

24

other than for resale.

25

(5)  The obtaining for a consideration of those services

26

described in subclauses (11) through (18) of clause (k) of

27

this section.

28

The term, with respect to liquor and malt or brewed beverages,

29

includes the purchase of liquor from any Pennsylvania Liquor

30

Store by any person for any purpose, and the purchase of malt or

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1

brewed beverages from a manufacturer of malt or brewed

2

beverages, distributor or importing distributor by any person

3

for any purpose, except purchases from a manufacturer of malt or

4

brewed beverages by a distributor or importing distributor or

5

purchases from an importing distributor by a distributor within

6

the meaning of the Liquor Code. The term does not include any

7

purchase of malt or brewed beverages from a retail dispenser or

8

any purchase of liquor or malt or brewed beverages from a person

9

holding a retail liquor license within the meaning of and

10

pursuant to the provisions of the Liquor Code, but includes any

11

purchase or acquisition of liquor or malt or brewed beverages

12

other than pursuant to the provisions of the Liquor Code.

13

(g)  "Purchase price."

14

(1)  The total value of anything paid or delivered, or

15

promised to be paid or delivered, whether money or otherwise,

16

in complete performance of a sale at retail or purchase at

17

retail, without any deduction on account of the cost or value

18

of the property sold, cost or value of transportation, cost

19

or value of labor or service, interest or discount paid or

20

allowed after the sale is consummated, any other taxes

21

imposed by the Commonwealth or any other expense except that

22

there shall be excluded any gratuity or separately stated

23

deposit charge for returnable containers.

24

(2)  The value of any tangible personal property actually

25

taken in trade or exchange in lieu of the whole or any part

26

of the purchase price shall be deducted from the purchase

27

price. For the purpose of this clause, the amount allowed by

28

reason of tangible personal property actually taken in trade

29

or exchange shall be considered the value of such property.

30

(3)  (i)  In determining the purchase price on the sale

- 51 -

 


1

or use of taxable tangible personal property or a service

2

where, because of affiliation of interests between the

3

vendor and purchaser, or irrespective of any such

4

affiliation, if for any other reason the purchase price

5

declared by the vendor or taxpayer on the taxable sale or

6

use of such tangible personal property or service is, in

7

the opinion of the department, not indicative of the true

8

value of the article or service or the fair price

9

thereof, the department shall, pursuant to uniform and

10

equitable rules, determine the amount of constructive

11

purchase price on the basis of which the tax shall be

12

computed and levied. The rules shall provide for a

13

constructive amount of purchase price for each sale or

14

use which would naturally and fairly be charged in an

15

arms-length transaction in which the element of common

16

interest between the vendor or purchaser is absent or, if

17

no common interest exists, any other element causing a

18

distortion of the price or value is likewise absent.

19

(ii)  For the purpose of this clause where a taxable

20

sale or purchase at retail transaction occurs between a

21

parent and a subsidiary, affiliate or controlled

22

corporation of such parent corporation, there shall be a

23

rebuttable presumption, that because of the common

24

interest, the transaction was not at arms-length.

25

(4)  Where there is a transfer or retention of possession

26

or custody, whether it is termed a rental, lease, service or

27

otherwise, of tangible personal property including, but not

28

limited to, linens, aprons, motor vehicles, trailers, tires,

29

industrial office and construction equipment, and business

30

machines the full consideration paid or delivered to the

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1

vendor or lessor shall be considered the purchase price, even

2

though the consideration is separately stated and designated

3

as payment for processing, laundering, service, maintenance,

4

insurance, repairs, depreciation or otherwise. Where the

5

vendor or lessor supplies or provides an employee to operate

6

the tangible personal property, the value of the labor

7

supplied may be excluded and shall not be considered as part

8

of the purchase price if separately stated. There shall also

9

be included as part of the purchase price the value of

10

anything paid or delivered, or promised to be paid or

11

delivered by a lessee, whether money or otherwise, to any

12

person other than the vendor or lessor by reason of the

13

maintenance, insurance or repair of the tangible personal

14

property which a lessee has the possession or custody of

15

under a rental contract or lease arrangement.

16

(5)  (i)  With respect to the tax imposed by section

17

702(a)(2), on any tangible personal property originally

18

purchased by the user of the property six months or

19

longer prior to the first taxable use of the property

20

within this Commonwealth, the user may elect to pay tax

21

on a substituted base determined by considering the

22

purchase price of the property for tax purposes to be

23

equal to the prevailing market price of similar tangible

24

personal property at the time and place of the first use

25

within this Commonwealth.

26

(ii)  The election must be made at the time of filing

27

a tax return with the department and reporting the tax

28

liability and paying the proper tax due plus all accrued

29

penalties and interest, if any, within six months of the

30

due date of such report and payment, as provided for by

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1

section 717(a) and (c).

2

(6)  The purchase price of employment agency services and

3

help supply services shall be the service fee paid by the

4

purchaser to the vendor or supplying entity. The term

5

"service fee," as used in this subclause, means the total

6

charge or fee of the vendor or supplying entity minus the

7

costs of the supplied employee which costs are wages,

8

salaries, bonuses and commissions, employment benefits,

9

expense reimbursements and payroll and withholding taxes, to

10

the extent that these costs are specifically itemized or that

11

these costs in aggregate are stated in billings from the

12

vendor or supplying entity. To the extent that these costs

13

are not itemized or stated on the billings, then the service

14

fee shall be the total charge or fee of the vendor or

15

supplying entity.

16

(7)  Unless the vendor separately states that portion of

17

the billing which applies to premium cable service as defined

18

in clause (ll), the total bill for the provision of all cable

19

services shall be the purchase price.

20

(8)  The purchase price of prebuilt housing shall be 60%

21

of the manufacturer's selling price, provided that a

22

manufacturer of prebuilt housing who precollects tax from a

23

prebuilt housing builder at the time of the sale to the

24

prebuilt housing builder shall have the option to collect tax

25

on 60% of the selling price or on 100% of the actual cost of

26

the supplies and materials used in the manufacture of the

27

prebuilt housing.

28

(h)  "Purchaser."  Any person who acquires, for a

29

consideration, the ownership, custody or possession by sale,

30

lease or otherwise of tangible personal property, or who obtains

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1

services in exchange for a purchase price but not including an

2

employer who obtains services from his employees in exchange for

3

wages or salaries when such services are rendered in the

4

ordinary scope of their employment.

5

(i)  "Resale."

6

(1)  Any transfer of ownership, custody or possession of

7

tangible personal property for a consideration, including the

8

grant of a license to use or consume and transactions where

9

the possession of the property is transferred but where the

10

transferor retains title only as security for payment of the

11

selling price whether the transaction is designated as

12

bailment lease, conditional sale or otherwise.

13

(2)  The physical incorporation of tangible personal

14

property as an ingredient or constituent into other tangible

15

personal property, which is to be sold in the regular course

16

of business or the performance of those services described in

17

subclauses (2), (3) and (4) of clause (k) upon tangible

18

personal property which is to be sold in the regular course

19

of business or where the person incorporating the property

20

has undertaken at the time of purchase to cause it to be

21

transported in interstate commerce to a destination outside

22

this Commonwealth. The term includes telecommunications

23

services purchased by a cable operator or video programmer

24

that are used to transport or deliver cable or video

25

programming services which are sold in the regular course of

26

business.

27

(3)  The term also includes tangible personal property

28

purchased or having a situs within this Commonwealth solely

29

for the purpose of being processed, fabricated or

30

manufactured into, attached to or incorporated into tangible

- 55 -

 


1

personal property and thereafter transported outside this

2

Commonwealth for use exclusively outside this Commonwealth.

3

(4)  The term does not include any sale of malt or brewed

4

beverages by a retail dispenser, or any sale of liquor or

5

malt or brewed beverages by a person holding a retail liquor

6

license within the meaning of the act of April 12, 1951

7

(P.L.90, No.21), known as the Liquor Code.

8

(5)  The physical incorporation of tangible personal

9

property as an ingredient or constituent in the construction

10

of foundations for machinery or equipment the sale or use of

11

which is excluded from tax under the provisions of paragraphs

12

(A), (B), (C) and (D) of subclause (8) of clause (k) and

13

subparagraphs (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) of paragraph (B) of

14

subclause (4) of clause (o), whether the foundations at the

15

time of construction or transfer constitute tangible personal

16

property or real estate.

17

(j)  "Resident."

18

(1)  Any natural person:

19

(i)  who is domiciled in this Commonwealth; or

20

(ii)  who maintains a permanent place of abode within

21

this Commonwealth and spends in the aggregate more than

22

60 days of the year within this Commonwealth.

23

(2)  Any corporation:

24

(i)  incorporated under the laws of this

25

Commonwealth;

26

(ii)  authorized to do business or doing business

27

within this Commonwealth; or

28

(iii)  maintaining a place of business within this

29

Commonwealth.

30

(3)  Any association, fiduciary, partnership or other

- 56 -

 


1

entity:

2

(i)  domiciled in this Commonwealth;

3

(ii)  authorized to do business or doing business

4

within this Commonwealth; or

5

(iii)  maintaining a place of business within this

6

Commonwealth.

7

(k)  "Sale at retail."

8

(1)  Any transfer, for a consideration, of the ownership,

9

custody or possession of tangible personal property,

10

including the grant of a license to use or consume whether

11

the transfer is absolute or conditional and by any means the

12

transfer is effected.

13

(2)  The rendition of the service of printing or

14

imprinting of tangible personal property for a consideration

15

for persons who furnish, either directly or indirectly, the

16

materials used in the printing or imprinting.

17

(3)  The rendition for a consideration of the service of:

18

(i)  washing, cleaning, waxing, polishing or

19

lubricating of motor vehicles of another, regardless of

20

whether any tangible personal property is transferred in

21

conjunction with the activity; and

22

(ii)  inspecting motor vehicles pursuant to the

23

mandatory requirements of 75 Pa.C.S. (relating to

24

vehicles).

25

(4)  The rendition for a consideration of the service of

26

repairing, altering, mending, pressing, fitting, dyeing,

27

laundering, drycleaning or cleaning tangible personal

28

property other than wearing apparel or shoes, or applying or

29

installing tangible personal property as a repair or

30

replacement part of other tangible personal property other

- 57 -

 


1

than wearing apparel or shoes for a consideration, regardless

2

of whether the services are performed directly or by any

3

means other than by coin-operated self-service laundry

4

equipment for wearing apparel or household goods and whether

5

or not any tangible personal property is transferred in

6

conjunction with the activity, including such services as are

7

rendered in the construction, reconstruction, remodeling,

8

repair or maintenance of real estate.

9

(5)  (Reserved).

10

(6)  (Reserved).

11

(7)  (Reserved).

12

(8)  Any retention of possession, custody or a license to

13

use or consume tangible personal property or any further

14

obtaining of services described in subclauses (2), (3) and

15

(4) of this clause pursuant to a rental or service contract

16

or other arrangement (other than as security). The term does

17

not include:

18

(i)  any transfer of tangible personal property or

19

rendition of services for the purpose of resale; or

20

(ii)  the rendition of services or the transfer of

21

tangible personal property, including, but not limited

22

to, machinery and equipment and their parts and supplies

23

to be used or consumed by the purchaser directly in the

24

operations of:

25

(A)  The manufacture of tangible personal

26

property.

27

(B)  Farming, dairying, agriculture, horticulture

28

or floriculture when engaged in as a business

29

enterprise. The term "farming" includes the

30

propagation and raising of ranch raised fur-bearing

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1

animals and the propagation of game birds for

2

commercial purposes by holders of propagation permits

3

issued under 34 Pa.C.S. (relating to game) and the

4

propagation and raising of horses to be used

5

exclusively for commercial racing activities.

6

(C)  The producing, delivering or rendering of a

7

public utility service, or in constructing,

8

reconstructing, remodeling, repairing or maintaining

9

the facilities which are directly used in producing,

10

delivering or rendering the service.

11

(D)  Processing as defined in clause (d). The

12

exclusions provided in this paragraph or paragraph

13

(A), (B) or (C) do not apply to any vehicle required

14

registered under 75 Pa.C.S. (relating to vehicles),

15

except those vehicles used directly by a public

16

utility engaged in business as a common carrier; to

17

maintenance facilities; or to materials, supplies or

18

equipment to be used or consumed in the construction,

19

reconstruction, remodeling, repair or maintenance of

20

real estate other than directly used machinery,

21

equipment, parts or foundations that may be affixed

22

to such real estate. The exclusions provided in this

23

paragraph or paragraph (A), (B) or (C) do not apply

24

to tangible personal property or services to be used

25

or consumed in managerial sales or other

26

nonoperational activities, nor to the purchase or use

27

of tangible personal property or services by any

28

person other than the person directly using the same

29

in the operations described in this paragraph or

30

paragraph (A), (B) or (C).

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1

The exclusion provided in paragraph (C) does not apply to:

2

(i)  construction materials, supplies or equipment

3

used to construct, reconstruct, remodel, repair or

4

maintain facilities not used directly by the purchaser in

5

the production, delivering or rendition of public utility

6

service;

7

(ii)  construction materials, supplies or equipment

8

used to construct, reconstruct, remodel, repair or

9

maintain a building, road or similar structure; or

10

(iii)  tools and equipment used but not installed in

11

the maintenance of facilities used directly in the

12

production, delivering or rendition of a public utility

13

service. The exclusions provided in paragraphs (A), (B),

14

(C) and (D) do not apply to the services enumerated in

15

clauses (k)(11) through (18) and (w) through (kk), except

16

that the exclusion provided in this subclause for

17

farming, dairying and agriculture shall apply to the

18

service enumerated in clause (z).

19

(9)  Where tangible personal property or services are

20

utilized for purposes constituting a sale at retail and for

21

purposes excluded from the definition of "sale at retail," it

22

shall be presumed that the tangible personal property or

23

services are utilized for purposes constituting a sale at

24

retail and subject to tax unless the user proves to the

25

department that the predominant purposes for which such

26

tangible personal property or services are utilized do not

27

constitute a sale at retail.

28

(10)  The term, with respect to liquor and malt or brewed

29

beverages, includes the sale of liquor by any Pennsylvania

30

liquor store to any person for any purpose, and the sale of

- 60 -

 


1

malt or brewed beverages by a manufacturer of malt or brewed

2

beverages, distributor or importing distributor to any person

3

for any purpose, except sales by a manufacturer of malt or

4

brewed beverages to a distributor or importing distributor or

5

sales by an importing distributor to a distributor within the

6

meaning of the act of April 12, 1951 (P.L.90, No.21), known

7

as the Liquor Code. The term does not include any sale of

8

malt or brewed beverages by a retail dispenser or any sale of

9

liquor or malt or brewed beverages by a person holding a

10

retail liquor license within the meaning of and pursuant to

11

the provisions of the Liquor Code, but shall include any sale

12

of liquor or malt or brewed beverages other than pursuant to

13

the provisions of the Liquor Code.

14

(11)  The rendition for a consideration of lobbying

15

services.

16

(12)  The rendition for a consideration of adjustment

17

services, collection services or credit reporting services.

18

(13)  The rendition for a consideration of secretarial or

19

editing services.

20

(14)  The rendition for a consideration of disinfecting

21

or pest control services, building maintenance or cleaning

22

services.

23

(15)  The rendition for a consideration of employment

24

agency services or help supply services.

25

(16)  (Reserved).

26

(17)  The rendition for a consideration of lawn care

27

service.

28

(18)  The rendition for a consideration of self-storage

29

service.

30

(19)  The rendition for a consideration of a mobile

- 61 -

 


1

telecommunications service.

2

(20)  Except as otherwise provided under section 704:

3

(i)  The rendition for a consideration of any

4

service, other than physician or dental services, when

5

the primary objective of the purchaser is the receipt of

6

any benefit of the service performed, as distinguished

7

from the receipt of property. In determining what is a

8

service, the intended use or stated objective of the

9

contracting parties shall not necessarily be controlling.

10

(ii)  Any service performed in this Commonwealth

11

shall be subject to the tax imposed under this chapter

12

unless specifically exempted in this chapter. With

13

respect to services, other than telecommunication

14

services, the services shall be considered to be

15

performed in this Commonwealth if:

16

(A)  performed completely in this Commonwealth;

17

(B)  performed partially in this Commonwealth and

18

partially outside this Commonwealth when the

19

recipient or user of the service is located in this

20

Commonwealth;

21

(C)  performed partially in this Commonwealth and

22

partially outside this Commonwealth if the recipient

23

or user of the service is not located in this

24

Commonwealth, but only to the extent of those

25

services actually performed in this Commonwealth; or

26

(D)  the place of performance cannot be

27

determined if the recipient or user of the service is

28

located in this Commonwealth.

29

(iii)  With respect to services, other than

30

telecommunication services, the services performed

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1

partially in this Commonwealth and partially outside this

2

Commonwealth shall be presumed to have been performed

3

completely in this Commonwealth unless the taxpayer can

4

show the place of performance by clear and convincing

5

evidence.

6

(iv)  With respect to interstate telecommunications

7

services, only those charges for interstate

8

telecommunications which originate or are terminated in

9

this Commonwealth and which are billed and charged to a

10

service address in this Commonwealth shall be subject to

11

tax.

12

(v)  With respect to services, other than

13

telecommunication services, that are performed in this

14

Commonwealth for a recipient or user of the services

15

located in another state in which the services, had they

16

been performed in that state, would not be subject to a

17

sales or use tax under the laws of that state, then no

18

tax may be imposed under this chapter.

19

(vi)  The tax on the sale or use of services shall

20

become due at the time payment or other consideration is

21

made for the portion of services actually paid.

22

(l)  "Storage."  Any keeping or retention of tangible

23

personal property within this Commonwealth for any purpose

24

including the interim keeping, retaining or exercising any right

25

or power over such tangible personal property. This term is in

26

no way limited to the provision of self-storage service.

27

(m)  "Tangible personal property."  Corporeal personal

28

property including, but not limited to, goods, wares,

29

merchandise, steam and natural and manufactured and bottled gas

30

for non-residential use, electricity for non-residential use,

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1

prepaid telecommunications, premium cable or premium video

2

programming service, spirituous or vinous liquor and malt or

3

brewed beverages and soft drinks, interstate telecommunications

4

service originating or terminating in this Commonwealth and

5

charged to a service address in this Commonwealth, intrastate

6

telecommunications service with the exception of:

7

(1)  Subscriber line charges and basic local telephone

8

service for residential use.

9

(2)  Charges for telephone calls paid for by inserting

10

money into a telephone accepting direct deposits of money to

11

operate, provided further, the service address of any

12

intrastate telecommunications service is deemed to be within

13

this Commonwealth or within a political subdivision,

14

regardless of how or where billed or paid.

15

In the case of any interstate or intrastate telecommunications

16

service, any charge paid through a credit or payment mechanism

17

which does not relate to a service address, such as a bank,

18

travel, credit or debit card, but not including prepaid

19

telecommunications, is deemed attributable to the address of

20

origination of the telecommunications service.

21

(n)  "Taxpayer."  Any person required to pay or collect the

22

tax imposed by this chapter.

23

(o)  "Use."

24

(1)  The exercise of any right or power incidental to the

25

ownership, custody or possession of tangible personal

26

property and includes, but is not limited to, transportation,

27

storage or consumption.

28

(2)  The obtaining by a purchaser of the service of

29

printing or imprinting of tangible personal property when the

30

purchaser furnishes, either directly or indirectly, the

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1

articles used in the printing or imprinting.

2

(3)  The obtaining by a purchaser of the services of:

3

(i)  washing, cleaning, waxing, polishing or

4

lubricating of motor vehicles regardless of whether any

5

tangible personal property is transferred to the

6

purchaser in conjunction with the services; and

7

(ii)  inspecting motor vehicles pursuant to the

8

mandatory requirements of 75 Pa.C.S. (relating to

9

vehicles).

10

(4)  The obtaining by a purchaser of the service of

11

repairing, altering, mending, pressing, fitting, dyeing,

12

laundering, drycleaning or cleaning tangible personal

13

property other than wearing apparel or shoes or applying or

14

installing tangible personal property as a repair or

15

replacement part of other tangible personal property,

16

including, but not limited to, wearing apparel or shoes,

17

regardless of whether the services are performed directly or

18

by any means other than by means of coin-operated self-

19

service laundry equipment for wearing apparel or household

20

goods, and regardless of whether any tangible personal

21

property is transferred to the purchaser in conjunction with

22

the activity. The term use does not include:

23

(A)  Any tangible personal property acquired and

24

kept, retained or over which power is exercised

25

within this Commonwealth on which the taxing of the

26

storage, use or other consumption thereof is

27

expressly prohibited by the Constitution of the

28

United States or which is excluded from tax under

29

other provisions of this chapter.

30

(B)  The use or consumption of tangible personal

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1

property, including, but not limited to, machinery

2

and equipment and parts therefor, and supplies or the

3

obtaining of the services described in subclauses

4

(2), (3) and (4) of this clause directly in the

5

operations of:

6

(i)  The manufacture of tangible personal property.

7

(ii)  Farming, dairying, agriculture, horticulture or

8

floriculture when engaged in as a business enterprise.

9

The term includes the propagation and raising of ranch-

10

raised furbearing animals and the propagation of game

11

birds for commercial purposes by holders of propagation

12

permits issued under 34 Pa.C.S. (relating to game) and

13

the propagation and raising of horses to be used

14

exclusively for commercial racing activities.

15

(iii)  The producing, delivering or rendering of a

16

public utility service, or in constructing,

17

reconstructing, remodeling, repairing or maintaining the

18

facilities which are directly used in producing,

19

delivering or rendering such service.

20

(iv)  Processing as defined in subclause (d).

21

The exclusions provided in subparagraphs (i), (ii), (iii)

22

and (iv) do not apply to any vehicle required to be

23

registered under 75 Pa.C.S. (relating to vehicles) except

24

those vehicles directly used by a public utility engaged

25

in the business as a common carrier; to maintenance

26

facilities; or to materials, supplies or equipment to be

27

used or consumed in the construction, reconstruction,

28

remodeling, repair or maintenance of real estate other

29

than directly used machinery, equipment, parts or

30

foundations therefor that may be affixed to such real

- 66 -

 


1

estate. The exclusions provided in subparagraphs (i),

2

(ii), (iii) and this subparagraph do not apply to

3

tangible personal property or services to be used or

4

consumed in managerial sales or other nonoperational

5

activities, nor to the purchase or use of tangible

6

personal property or services by any person other than

7

the person directly using the same in the operations

8

described in subparagraphs (i), (ii), (iii) and this

9

subparagraph. The exclusion provided in subparagraph

10

(iii) does not apply to:

11

(A)  construction materials, supplies or

12

equipment used to construct, reconstruct, remodel,

13

repair or maintain facilities not used directly by

14

the purchaser in the production, delivering or

15

rendition of public utility service; or

16

(B)  tools and equipment used but not installed

17

in the maintenance of facilities used directly in the

18

production, delivering or rendition of a public

19

utility service.

20

The exclusion provided in subparagraphs (i), (ii), (iii)

21

and this subparagraph does not apply to the services

22

enumerated in clauses (9) through (16) and (w) through

23

(kk), except that the exclusion provided in subparagraph

24

(ii) for farming, dairying and agriculture shall apply to

25

the service enumerated in clause (z).

26

(5)  Where tangible personal property or services are

27

utilized for purposes constituting a use, and for purposes

28

excluded from the definition of "use," it shall be presumed

29

that the property or services are utilized for purposes

30

constituting a sale at retail and subject to tax unless the

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1

user proves to the department that the predominant purposes

2

for which the property or services are utilized do not

3

constitute a sale at retail.

4

(6)  The term, with respect to liquor and malt or brewed

5

beverages, includes the purchase of liquor from any

6

Pennsylvania Liquor Store by any person for any purpose and

7

the purchase of malt or brewed beverages from a manufacturer

8

of malt or brewed beverages, distributor or importing

9

distributor by any person for any purpose, except purchases

10

from a manufacturer of malt or brewed beverages by a

11

distributor or importing distributor, or purchases from an

12

importing distributor by a distributor within the meaning of

13

the act of April 12, 1951 (P.L.90, No.21), known as the

14

Liquor Code. The term does not include any purchase of malt

15

or brewed beverages from a retail dispenser or any purchase

16

of liquor or malt or brewed beverages from a person holding a

17

retail liquor license within the meaning of and pursuant to

18

the provisions of the Liquor Code, but includes the exercise

19

of any right or power incidental to the ownership, custody or

20

possession of liquor or malt or brewed beverages obtained by

21

the person exercising the right or power in any manner other

22

than pursuant to the provisions of the Liquor Code.

23

(7)  The use of tangible personal property purchased at

24

retail on which the services described in subclauses (2), (3)

25

and (4) of this clause have been performed shall be deemed to

26

be a use of said services by the person using the property.

27

(8)  (Reserved).

28

(9)  The obtaining by the purchaser of lobbying services.

29

(10)  The obtaining by the purchaser of adjustment

30

services, collection services or credit reporting services.

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1

(11)  The obtaining by the purchaser of secretarial or

2

editing services.

3

(12)  The obtaining by the purchaser of disinfecting or

4

pest control services, building maintenance or cleaning

5

services.

6

(13)  The obtaining by the purchaser of employment agency

7

services or help supply services.

8

(14)  (Reserved).

9

(15)  The obtaining by the purchaser of lawn care

10

service.

11

(16)  The obtaining by the purchaser of self-storage

12

service.

13

(17)  The obtaining by a construction contractor of

14

tangible personal property or services provided to tangible

15

personal property which will be used pursuant to a

16

construction contract regardless of whether the tangible

17

personal property or services are transferred.

18

(18)  The obtaining of mobile telecommunications service

19

by a customer.

20

(19)  Except as otherwise provided under section 704:

21

(i)  The obtaining by the purchaser of any service,

22

not otherwise set forth in this definition, other than

23

physician or dental services, when the primary objective

24

of the purchaser is the receipt of any benefit of the

25

service performed, as distinguished from the receipt of

26

property. In determining what is a service, the intended

27

use or stated objective of the contracting parties shall

28

not necessarily be controlling.

29

(ii)  Any service performed in this Commonwealth

30

shall be subject to the tax imposed under this chapter

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1

unless specifically exempted in this chapter. With

2

respect to services, other than telecommunication

3

services, such services shall be considered to be

4

performed in this Commonwealth if:

5

(A)  performed completely in this Commonwealth;

6

(B)  performed partially in this Commonwealth and

7

partially outside this Commonwealth when the

8

recipient or user of the service is located in this

9

Commonwealth;

10

(C)  performed partially in this Commonwealth and

11

partially outside this Commonwealth if the recipient

12

or user of the service is not located in this

13

Commonwealth, but only to the extent of those

14

services actually performed in this Commonwealth; or

15

(D)  the place of performance cannot be

16

determined if the recipient or user of the service is

17

located in this Commonwealth.

18

(iii)  With respect to services, other than

19

telecommunication services, such services performed

20

partially in this Commonwealth and partially outside this

21

Commonwealth shall be presumed to have been performed

22

completely in this Commonwealth unless the taxpayer shows

23

the place of performance by clear and convincing

24

evidence.

25

(iv)  With respect to interstate telecommunications

26

services, only those charges for interstate

27

telecommunications which originate or are terminated in

28

this Commonwealth and which are billed and charged to a

29

service address in this Commonwealth shall be subject to

30

tax.

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1

(v)  With respect to services, other than

2

telecommunication services, that are performed in this

3

Commonwealth for a recipient or user of the services

4

located in another state in which the services, had they

5

been performed in that state, would not be subject to a

6

sales or use tax under the laws of that state, then no

7

tax may be imposed under this chapter.

8

(p)  "Vendor."  Any person maintaining a place of business in

9

this Commonwealth, selling or leasing tangible personal

10

property, or rendering services, the sale or use of which is

11

subject to the tax imposed by this chapter but not including any

12

employee who in the ordinary scope of employment renders

13

services to his employer in exchange for wages and salaries.

14

(q)  (Reserved).

15

(r)  "Gratuity."  Any amount paid or remitted for services

16

performed in conjunction with any sale of food or beverages, or

17

hotel or motel accommodations which amount is in excess of the

18

charges and the tax for such food, beverages or accommodations

19

regardless of the method of billing or payment.

20

(s)  "Commercial aircraft operator."  A person, excluding a

21

scheduled airline who engages in any or all of the following:

22

charter of aircraft, leasing of aircraft, aircraft sales,

23

aircraft rental, flight instruction, air freight or any other

24

flight activities for compensation.

25

(t)  "Transient vendor."

26

(1)  Any person who:

27

(i)  brings into this Commonwealth, by automobile,

28

truck or other means of transportation, or purchases in

29

this Commonwealth tangible personal property the sale or

30

use of which is subject to the tax imposed by this

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1

chapter or comes into this Commonwealth to perform

2

services the sale or use of which is subject to the tax

3

imposed by this chapter;

4

(ii)  offers or intends to offer the tangible

5

personal property or services for sale at retail within

6

this Commonwealth; and

7

(iii)  does not maintain an established office,

8

distribution house, saleshouse, warehouse, service

9

enterprise, residence from which business is conducted or

10

other place of business within this Commonwealth.

11

(2)  The term does not include a person who delivers

12

tangible personal property within this Commonwealth pursuant

13

to orders for the property which were solicited or placed by

14

mail or other means.

15

(3)  The term does not include a person who handcrafts

16

items for sale at special events, including, but not limited

17

to, fairs, carnivals, art and craft shows and other festivals

18

and celebrations within this Commonwealth.

19

(u)  "Promoter."  A person who either, directly or

20

indirectly, rents, leases or otherwise operates or grants

21

permission to any person to use space at a show for the display

22

for sale or for the sale of tangible personal property or

23

services subject to tax under section 702.

24

(v)  "Show."  An event, the primary purpose of which involves

25

the display or exhibition of any tangible personal property or

26

services for sale, including, but not limited to, a flea market,

27

antique show, coin show, stamp show, comic book show, hobby

28

show, automobile show, fair or any similar show, whether held

29

regularly or of a temporary nature, at which more than one

30

vendor displays for sale or sells tangible personal property or

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1

services subject to tax under section 702.

2

(w)  "Lobbying services."  Providing the services of a

3

lobbyist, as defined in the definition of "lobbyist" in 65

4

Pa.C.S. Ch. 13 (relating to lobby regulation and disclosures).

5

(x)  "Adjustment services, collection services or credit

6

reporting services."  Providing collection or adjustments of

7

accounts receivable or mercantile or consumer credit reporting,

8

including, but not limited to, services of the type provided by

9

adjustment bureaus or collection agencies, consumer or

10

mercantile credit reporting bureaus, credit bureaus or agencies,

11

credit clearinghouses or credit investigation services. The term

12

does not include providing credit card service with collection

13

by a central agency, providing debt counseling or adjustment

14

services to individuals or billing or collection services

15

provided by local exchange telephone companies.

16

(y)  "Secretarial or editing services."  Providing services

17

which include, but are not limited to, editing, letter writing,

18

proofreading, resume writing, typing or word processing. The

19

term does not include court reporting and stenographic services.

20

(z)  "Disinfecting or pest control services."  Providing

21

disinfecting, termite control, insect control, rodent control or

22

other pest control services. The term includes, but is not

23

limited to, deodorant servicing of rest rooms, washroom

24

sanitation service, rest room cleaning service, extermination

25

service or fumigating service. As used in this clause, the term

26

"fumigating service" does not include the fumigation of

27

agricultural commodities or containers used for agricultural

28

commodities. As used in this clause, the term "insect control"

29

does not include the gypsy moth control spraying of trees which

30

are harvested for commercial purposes.

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1

(aa)  "Building maintenance or cleaning services."  Providing

2

services which include, but are not limited to, janitorial, maid

3

or housekeeping service, office or interior building cleaning or

4

maintenance service, window cleaning service, floor waxing

5

service, lighting maintenance service such as bulb replacement,

6

cleaning, chimney cleaning service, acoustical tile cleaning

7

service, venetian blind cleaning, cleaning and maintenance of

8

telephone booths or cleaning and degreasing of service stations.

9

The term does not include: repairs on buildings and other

10

structures; the maintenance or repair of boilers, furnaces and

11

residential air conditioning equipment or their parts; the

12

painting, wallpapering or applying other like coverings to

13

interior walls, ceilings or floors; or the exterior painting of

14

buildings.

15

(bb)  "Employment agency services."  Providing employment

16

services to a prospective employer or employee other than

17

employment services provided by theatrical employment agencies

18

and motion picture casting bureaus. The term includes, but is

19

not limited to, services of the type provided by employment

20

agencies, executive placing services and labor contractor

21

employment agencies other than farm labor.

22

(cc)  "Help supply services."  Providing temporary or

23

continuing help where the help supplied is on the payroll of the

24

supplying person or entity, but is under the supervision of the

25

individual or business to which help is furnished. The term

26

includes, but is not limited to, service of a type provided by

27

labor and manpower pools, employee leasing services, office help

28

supply services, temporary help services, usher services,

29

modeling services or fashion show model supply services. The

30

term does not include: providing farm labor services or human

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1

health-related services, including nursing, home health care and

2

personal care. As used in this clause, "personal care" shall

3

include providing at least one of the following types of

4

assistance to persons with limited ability for self-care:

5

(1)  dressing, bathing or feeding;

6

(2)  supervising self-administered medication;

7

(3)  transferring a person to or from a bed or

8

wheelchair; or

9

(4)  routine housekeeping chores when provided in

10

conjunction with and supplied by the same provider of the

11

assistance listed in subclause (1), (2) or (3).

12

(dd)  (Reserved).

13

(ee)  (Reserved).

14

(ff)  (Reserved).

15

(gg)  (Reserved).

16

(hh)  (Reserved).

17

(ii)  (Reserved).

18

(jj)  "Lawn care service."  Providing services for lawn

19

upkeep, including, but not limited to, fertilizing, lawn mowing,

20

shrubbery trimming or other lawn treatment services.

21

(kk)  "Self-storage service."  Providing a building, a room

22

in a building or a secured area within a building with separate

23

access provided for each purchaser of self-storage service,

24

primarily for the purpose of storing personal property. The term

25

does not include service involving:

26

(1)  safe deposit boxes by financial institutions;

27

(2)  storage in refrigerator or freezer units;

28

(3)  storage in commercial warehouses;

29

(4)  facilities for goods distribution; and

30

(5)  lockers in airports, bus stations, museums and other

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1

public places.

2

(ll)  "Premium cable or premium video programming service."

3

That portion of cable television services, video programming

4

services, community antenna television services or any other

5

distribution of television, video, audio or radio services which

6

meets all of the following criteria:

7

(1)  is transmitted with or without the use of wires to

8

purchasers;

9

(2)  which consists substantially of programming

10

uninterrupted by paid commercial advertising, including, but

11

not limited to, programming primarily composed of

12

uninterrupted full-length motion pictures or sporting events,

13

pay-per-view, paid programming or like audio or radio

14

broadcasting; and

15

(3)  does not constitute a component of a basic service

16

tier provided by a cable television system or a cable

17

programming service tier provided by a cable television

18

system. A basic service tier includes all signals of domestic

19

television broadcast stations, any public, educational,

20

governmental or religious programming and any additional

21

video programming signals or service added to the basic

22

service tier by the cable operator. The basic service tier

23

also includes a single additional lower-priced package of

24

broadcast channels and access information channels which is a

25

subset of the basic service tier as set forth above. A cable

26

programming service tier includes any video programming other

27

than:

28

(i)  the basic service tier;

29

(ii)  video programming offered on a pay-per-channel

30

or pay-per-view basis; or

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1

(iii)  a combination of multiple channels of pay-per-

2

channel or pay-per-view programming offered as a package.

3

If a purchaser receives or agrees to receive premium cable or

4

premium video programming service, then the following charges

5

are included in the purchase price: charges for installation or

6

repair of any premium cable or premium video programming

7

service, upgrade to include additional premium cable or premium

8

video programming service, downgrade to exclude all or some

9

premium cable or premium video programming service, additional

10

premium cable outlets in excess of ten or any other charge or

11

fee related to premium cable or premium video programming

12

services. The term does not apply to: transmissions by public

13

television, public radio services or official Federal, State or

14

local government cable services; local origination programming

15

which provides a variety of public service programs unique to

16

the community, programming which provides coverage of public

17

affairs issues which are presented without commentary or

18

analysis, including United States Congressional proceedings, or

19

programming which is substantially related to religious

20

subjects; or subscriber charges for access to a video dial tone

21

system or charges by a common carrier to a video programmer for

22

the transport of video programming.

23

(mm)  (Reserved).

24

(nn)  "Construction contract."  A written or oral contract or

25

agreement for the construction, reconstruction, remodeling,

26

renovation or repair of real estate or a real estate structure.

27

The term shall not apply to services which are taxable under

28

clauses (k)(14) and (17) and (o)(12) and (15).

29

(oo)  "Construction contractor."  A person who performs an

30

activity pursuant to a construction contract, including a

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1

subcontractor.

2

(pp)  "Building machinery and equipment."  Generation

3

equipment, storage equipment, conditioning equipment,

4

distribution equipment and termination equipment, limited to the

5

following:

6

(1)  air conditioning limited to heating, cooling,

7

purification, humidification, dehumidification and

8

ventilation;

9

(2)  electrical;

10

(3)  plumbing;

11

(4)  communications limited to voice, video, data, sound,

12

master clock and noise abatement;

13

(5)  alarms limited to fire, security and detection;

14

(6)  control system limited to energy management, traffic

15

and parking lot and building access;

16

(7)  medical system limited to diagnosis and treatment

17

equipment, medical gas, nurse call and doctor paging;

18

(8)  laboratory system;

19

(9)  cathodic protection system; or

20

(10)  furniture, cabinetry and kitchen equipment.

21

The term includes boilers, chillers, air cleaners, humidifiers,

22

fans, switchgear, pumps, telephones, speakers, horns, motion

23

detectors, dampers, actuators, grills, registers, traffic

24

signals, sensors, card access devices, guardrails, medial

25

devices, floor troughs and grates and laundry equipment,

26

together with integral coverings and enclosures, regardless of

27

whether: the item constitutes a fixture or is otherwise affixed

28

to the real estate; damage would be done to the item or its

29

surroundings on removal; or the item is physically located

30

within a real estate structure. The term does not include

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1

guardrail posts, pipes, fittings, pipe supports and hangers,

2

valves, underground tanks, wire, conduit, receptacle and

3

junction boxes, insulation, ductwork and coverings.

4

(qq)  "Real estate structure." A structure or item purchased

5

by a construction contractor pursuant to a construction contract

6

with:

7

(1)  a charitable organization, a volunteer firemen's

8

organization, a nonprofit educational institution or a

9

religious organization for religious purposes and which

10

qualifies as an institution of purely public charity under

11

the act of November 26, 1997 (P.L.508, No.55), known as the

12

Institutions of Purely Public Charity Act;

13

(2)  the United States; or

14

(3)  the Commonwealth, its instrumentalities or political

15

subdivisions.

16

The term includes building machinery and equipment; developed or

17

undeveloped land; streets; roads; highways; parking lots;

18

stadiums and stadium seating; recreational courts; sidewalks;

19

foundations; structural supports; walls; floors; ceilings;

20

roofs; doors; canopies; millwork; elevators; windows and

21

external window coverings; outdoor advertising boards or signs;

22

airport runways; bridges; dams; dikes; traffic control devices,

23

including traffic signs; satellite dishes; antennas; guardrail

24

posts; pipes; fittings; pipe supports and hangers; valves;

25

underground tanks; wire; conduit; receptacle and junction boxes;

26

insulation; ductwork and coverings; and any structure or item

27

similar to any of the foregoing, regardless of whether the

28

structure or item constitutes a fixture or is affixed to the

29

real estate; or damage would be done to the structure or item or

30

its surroundings on removal.

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1

(rr)  "Telecommunications service."  Any one-way transmission

2

or any two-way, interactive transmission of sounds, signals or

3

other intelligence converted to like form which effects or is

4

intended to effect meaningful communications by electronic or

5

electromagnetic means via wire, cable, satellite, light waves,

6

microwaves, radio waves or other transmission media. The term

7

includes all types of telecommunication transmissions, local,

8

toll, wide-area or any other type of telephone service; private

9

line service; telegraph service; radio repeater service;

10

wireless communication service; personal communications system

11

service; cellular telecommunication service; specialized mobile

12

radio service; stationary two-way radio service; and paging

13

service. The term does not include any of the following:

14

(1)  Subscriber charges for access to a video dial tone

15

system.

16

(2)  Charges to video programmers for the transport of

17

video programming.

18

(3)  Charges for access to the Internet. Access to the

19

Internet does not include any of the following:

20

(i)  The transport over the Internet or any

21

proprietary network using the Internet protocol of

22

telephone calls, facsimile transmissions or other

23

telecommunications traffic to or from end users on the

24

public switched telephone network if the signal sent from

25

or received by an end user is not in an Internet

26

protocol.

27

(ii)  Telecommunication services purchased by an

28

Internet service provider to deliver access to the

29

Internet to its customers.

30

(4)  Mobile telecommunications services.

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1

(ss)  "Internet."  The international nonproprietary computer

2

network of both Federal and non-Federal interoperable packet

3

switched data networks.

4

(tt)  "Commercial racing activities."  Any of the following:

5

(1)  Thoroughbred and harness racing at which pari-mutuel

6

wagering is conducted under the act of December 17, 1981

7

(P.L.435, No.135), known as the Race Horse Industry Reform

8

Act.

9

(2)  Fair racing sanctioned by the State Harness Racing

10

Commission.

11

(uu)  "Prepaid telecommunications."  A tangible item

12

containing a prepaid authorization number that can be used

13

solely to obtain telecommunications service, including any

14

renewal or increases in the prepaid amount.

15

(vv)  "Prebuilt housing."  Either of the following:

16

(1)  Manufactured housing, including mobile homes, which

17

bears a label as required by and referred to in the act of

18

November 17, 1982 (P.L.676, No.192), known as the

19

Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards

20

Authorization Act.

21

(2)  Industrialized housing as defined in the act of May

22

11, 1972 (P.L.286, No.70), known as the Industrialized

23

Housing Act.

24

(ww)  "Used prebuilt housing."  Prebuilt housing that was

25

previously subject to a sale to a prebuilt housing purchaser.

26

(xx)  "Prebuilt housing builder."  A person who makes a

27

prebuilt housing sale to a prebuilt housing purchaser.

28

(yy)  "Prebuilt housing sale."  A sale of prebuilt housing to

29

a prebuilt housing purchaser, including a sale to a landlord,

30

without regard to whether the person making the sale is

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1

responsible for installing the prebuilt housing or whether the

2

prebuilt housing becomes a real estate structure upon

3

installation. Temporary installation by a prebuilt housing

4

builder for display purposes of a unit held for resale shall not

5

be considered occupancy for residential purposes.

6

(zz)  "Prebuilt housing purchaser."  A person who purchases

7

prebuilt housing in a transaction and who intends to occupy the

8

unit for residential purposes in this Commonwealth.

9

(aaa)  "Mobile telecommunications service."  Mobile

10

telecommunications service as that term is defined in the Mobile

11

Telecommunications Sourcing Act (Public Law 106-252, 4 U.S.C. §

12

116 et seq.).

13

(bbb)  "Fiscal Code."  The act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343,

14

No.176), known as The Fiscal Code.

15

(ccc)  "Prepaid mobile telecommunications service."  Mobile

16

telecommunications service which is paid for in advance and

17

which enables the origination of calls using an access number,

18

authorization code or both, regardless of whether manually or

19

electronically dialed, if the remaining amount of units of the

20

prepaid mobile telecommunications service is known by the

21

service provider of the prepaid mobile telecommunications

22

service on a continuous basis. The term does not include the

23

advance purchase of mobile telecommunications service if the

24

purchase is pursuant to a service contract between the service

25

provider and customer and if the service contract requires the

26

customer to make periodic payments to maintain the mobile

27

telecommunications service.

28

(ddd)  "Call center."  The physical location in this

29

Commonwealth:

30

(1)  where at least 150 employees are employed to

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1

initiate or answer telephone calls;

2

(2)  where there are at least 200 telephone lines; and

3

(3)  which utilizes an automated call distribution system

4

for customer telephone calls in one or more of the following

5

activities:

6

(i)  customer service and support;

7

(ii)  technical assistance;

8

(iii)  help desk service;

9

(iv)  providing information;

10

(v)  conducting surveys;

11

(vi)  revenue collections; or

12

(vii)  receiving orders or reservations.

13

For purposes of this clause, a physical location may include

14

multiple buildings utilized by a taxpayer located within this

15

Commonwealth. Transactions for which purchase agreements are

16

executed after June 30, 2000.

17

(eee)  "Dental services."  The general and usual services

18

rendered and care administered by doctors of dental medicine or

19

doctors of dental surgery, as defined in the act of May 1, 1933

20

(P.L.216, No.76), known as The Dental Law.

21

(fff)  "Physician services."  The general and usual services

22

rendered and care administered by medical doctors, as defined in

23

the act of December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112), known as the

24

Medical Practice Act of 1985, or doctors of osteopathy, as

25

defined in the act of October 5, 1978 (P.L.1109, No.261), known

26

as the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act.

27

(ggg)  "Clothing."  All vesture, wearing apparel, raiments,

28

garments, footwear and other articles of clothing, including

29

clothing patterns and items that are to be a component part of

30

clothing, worn or carried on or about the human body including,

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1

but not limited to, all accessories, ornamental wear, formal day

2

or evening apparel and articles made of fur on the hide or pelt

3

or any material imitative of fur and articles of which such fur,

4

real, imitation or synthetic, is the component material of chief

5

value and sporting goods and clothing not normally used or worn

6

when not engaged in sports.

7

(hhh)  "Food and beverages."  All food and beverages for

8

human consumption, including, but not limited to:

9

(1)  Soft drinks.

10

(2)  Malt and brewed beverages and spiritous and vinous

11

liquors.

12

(3)  Food or beverages, whether sold for consumption on

13

or off the premises of on a take-out or to go basis or

14

delivered to the purchaser or consumer, when purchased:

15

(i)  from persons engaged in the business of

16

catering; or

17

(ii)  from persons engaged in the business of

18

operating establishments from which ready-to-eat food and

19

beverages are sold, including, but not limited to,

20

restaurants, cafes, lunch counters, private and social

21

clubs, taverns, dining cars, hotels, night clubs, fast

22

food operations, pizzerias, fairs, carnivals, lunch

23

carts, ice cream stands, snack bars, cafeterias, employee

24

cafeterias, theaters, stadiums, arenas, amusement parks,

25

carryout shops, coffee shops and other establishments

26

whether mobile or immobile.

27

For purposes of this clause, a bakery, a pastry shop, a donut

28

shop, a delicatessen, a grocery store, a supermarket, a farmer's

29

market, a convenience store or a vending machine shall not be

30

considered an establishment from which food or beverages ready

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1

to eat are sold except for the sale of meals, sandwiches, food

2

from salad bars, hand-dipped or hand-served ice-based products

3

including ice cream and yogurt, hot soup, hot pizza and other

4

hot food items, brewed coffee and hot beverages. For purposes of

5

this subclause, beverages shall not include malt and brewed

6

beverages and spiritous and vinous liquors but shall include

7

soft drinks.

8

SUBCHAPTER B

9

SALES AND USE TAX

10

Section 702.  Imposition of tax.

11

(a)  Tax on certain sales at retail and uses of tangible

12

personal property and services.--

13

(1)  There is hereby imposed on each separate sale at

14

retail of tangible personal property or services in this

15

Commonwealth a tax of 6% of the purchase price, which tax

16

shall be collected by the vendor from the purchaser, and

17

shall be paid over to the Commonwealth as provided in this

18

chapter.

19

(2)  There is hereby imposed on the use in this

20

Commonwealth of tangible personal property purchased at

21

retail and on those services purchased at retail a tax of 6%

22

of the purchase price, which tax shall be paid to the

23

Commonwealth by the person who makes such use as provided

24

under this chapter, except that the tax shall not be paid to

25

the Commonwealth by the person where the person has paid the

26

tax imposed by paragraph (1) or has paid the tax imposed by

27

this subsection to the vendor with respect to the use.

28

(b)  (Reserved).

29

(c)  Telecommunications service.--

30

(1)  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this

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1

chapter, the tax with respect to telecommunications service

2

within the meaning of "tangible personal property" in section

3

701 shall be computed at the rate of 6% on the total amount

4

charged to customers for the services, irrespective of

5

whether such charge is based on a flat rate or on a message

6

unit charge.

7

(2)  A telecommunications service provider shall have no

8

responsibility or liability to the Commonwealth for billing,

9

collecting or remitting taxes that apply to services,

10

products or other commerce sold over telecommunications lines

11

by third-party vendors.

12

(3)  To prevent actual multistate taxation of interstate

13

telecommunications service, any taxpayer, on proof that the

14

taxpayer has paid a similar tax to another state on the same

15

interstate telecommunications service, shall be allowed a

16

credit against the tax imposed by this section on the same

17

interstate telecommunications service to the extent of the

18

amount of the tax properly due and paid to the other state.

19

(d)  Coin-operated vending machines.--Notwithstanding any

20

other provisions of this chapter, the sale or use of food and

21

beverages dispensed by means of coin-operated vending machines

22

shall be taxed at the rate of 6% of the receipts collected from

23

any coin-operated vending machine which dispenses food and

24

beverages that were previously taxable.

25

(e)  Prepaid telecommunications.--

26

(1)  Notwithstanding any provisions of this chapter, the

27

sale or use of prepaid telecommunications evidenced by the

28

transfer of tangible personal property shall be subject to

29

the tax imposed by subsection (a).

30

(2)  The sale or use of prepaid telecommunications not

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1

evidenced by the transfer of tangible personal property shall

2

be subject to the tax imposed by subsection (a) and shall be

3

deemed to occur at the purchaser's billing address.

4

(3)  (i)  Notwithstanding paragraph (2), the sale or use

5

of prepaid telecommunications service not evidenced by

6

the transfer of tangible personal property shall be taxed

7

at the rate of 6% of the receipts collected on each sale

8

if the service provider elects to collect the tax imposed

9

by this chapter on receipts of each sale.

10

(ii)  The service provider shall notify the

11

department of its election and shall collect the tax on

12

receipts of each sale until the service provider notifies

13

the department otherwise.

14

(e.1)  Prepaid mobile telecommunications service.--

15

(1)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter,

16

the sale or use of prepaid mobile telecommunications service

17

evidenced by the transfer of tangible personal property shall

18

be subject to the tax imposed by subsection (a).

19

(2)  The sale or use of prepaid mobile telecommunications

20

service not evidenced by the transfer of tangible personal

21

property shall be subject to the tax imposed by subsection

22

(a) and shall be deemed to occur at the purchaser's billing

23

address or the location associated with the mobile telephone

24

number or the point of sale, whichever is applicable.

25

(3)  (i)  Notwithstanding paragraph (2), the sale or use

26

of prepaid mobile telecommunications service not

27

evidenced by the transfer of tangible personal property

28

shall be taxed at the rate of 6% of the receipts

29

collected on each sale if the service provider elects to

30

collect the tax imposed by this chapter on receipts of

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1

each sale.

2

(ii)  The service provider shall notify the

3

department of its election and shall collect the tax on

4

receipts of each sale until the service provider notifies

5

the department otherwise.

6

(f)  Prebuilt housing.--

7

(1)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter,

8

tax with respect to sales of prebuilt housing shall be

9

imposed on the prebuilt housing builder at the time of the

10

prebuilt housing sale within this Commonwealth and shall be

11

paid and reported by the prebuilt housing builder to the

12

department in the time and manner provided in this chapter.

13

(2)  A manufacturer of prebuilt housing may, at its

14

option, precollect the tax from the prebuilt housing builder

15

at the time of sale to the prebuilt housing builder.

16

(3)  In any case where prebuilt housing is purchased and

17

the tax is not paid by the prebuilt housing builder or

18

precollected by the manufacturer, the prebuilt housing

19

purchaser shall remit tax directly to the department if the

20

prebuilt housing is used in this Commonwealth without regard

21

to whether the prebuilt housing becomes a real estate

22

structure.

23

(g)  Home service providers.--

24

(1)  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter

25

and in accordance with the Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing

26

Act (Public Law 106-252, 4 U.S.C. § 116 et seq.), the sale or

27

use of mobile telecommunications services which are deemed to

28

be provided to a customer by a home service provider under 4

29

U.S.C. § 117 (relating to sourcing rules) shall be subject to

30

the tax of 6% of the purchase price, which tax shall be

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1

collected by the home service provider from the customer, and

2

shall be paid over to the Commonwealth as provided in this

3

chapter if the customer's place of primary use is located

4

within this Commonwealth, regardless of where the mobile

5

telecommunications services originate, terminate or pass

6

through.

7

(2)  For purposes of this subsection, words and phrases

8

used in this subsection shall have the same meanings given to

9

them in the Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act.

10

Section 703.  Computation of tax.

11

(a)  Table to be published.--Within 60 days of the effective

12

date of this section, the department shall prepare and publish

13

as a notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin a table setting forth

14

the amount of tax imposed under section 702 for purchase prices

15

that are less than $1.

16

(b)  Deposit into Education Operating Fund.--The tax

17

collected under section 702 shall be deposited into the

18

Education Operating Fund.

19

SUBCHAPTER C

20

EXCLUSIONS FROM SALES AND USE TAX

21

Section 704.  Exclusions from tax.

22

The tax imposed by section 702 shall not be imposed upon any

23

of the following:

24

(1)  The sale at retail or use of tangible personal

25

property (other than motor vehicles, trailers, semi-trailers,

26

motor boats, aircraft or other similar tangible personal

27

property required under either Federal law or laws of this

28

Commonwealth to be registered or licensed) or services sold

29

by or purchased from a person not a vendor in an isolated

30

transaction or sold by or purchased from a person who is a

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1

vendor but is not a vendor with respect to the tangible

2

personal property or services sold or purchased in such

3

transaction, provided that inventory and stock in trade so

4

sold or purchased shall not be excluded from the tax by the

5

provisions of this subsection.

6

(2)  The use of tangible personal property purchased by a

7

nonresident person outside of, and brought into this

8

Commonwealth for use therein for a period not to exceed seven

9

days, or for any period of time when such nonresident is a

10

tourist or vacationer and, in either case not consumed within

11

the Commonwealth.

12

(3)  (i)  The use of tangible personal property purchased

13

outside this Commonwealth for use outside this

14

Commonwealth by a then nonresident natural person or a

15

business entity not actually doing business within this

16

Commonwealth, who later brings the tangible personal

17

property into this Commonwealth in connection with the

18

person's or entity's establishment of a permanent

19

business or residence in this Commonwealth, provided that

20

the property was purchased more than six months prior to

21

the date it was first brought into this Commonwealth or

22

prior to the establishment of the business or residence,

23

whichever first occurs.

24

(ii)  This paragraph shall not apply to tangible

25

personal property temporarily brought into this

26

Commonwealth for the performance of contracts for the

27

construction, reconstruction, remodeling, repairing and

28

maintenance of real estate.

29

(4)  The sale at retail or use of disposable diapers;

30

premoistened wipes; incontinence products; colostomy

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1

deodorants; toilet paper; sanitary napkins, tampons or

2

similar items used for feminine hygiene; or toothpaste,

3

toothbrushes or dental floss.

4

(5)  The sale at retail or use of steam, natural and

5

manufactured and bottled gas, fuel oil, electricity or

6

intrastate subscriber line charges, basic local telephone

7

service or telegraph service when purchased directly by the

8

user solely for the user's own residential use and charges

9

for telephone calls paid for by inserting money into a

10

telephone accepting direct deposits of money to operate.

11

(6)  (Reserved).

12

(7)  (Reserved).

13

(8)  (Reserved).

14

(9)  (Reserved).

15

(10)  (i)  The sale at retail to or use by any charitable

16

organization, volunteer firefighters' organization or

17

nonprofit educational institution or a religious

18

organization for religious purposes of tangible personal

19

property or services other than pursuant to a

20

construction contract.

21

(ii)  This paragraph shall not apply with respect to

22

any tangible personal property or services used in any

23

unrelated trade or business carried on by the

24

organization or institution or with respect to any

25

materials, supplies and equipment used and transferred to

26

the organization or institution in the construction,

27

reconstruction, remodeling, renovation, repairs and

28

maintenance of any real estate structure, other than

29

building machinery and equipment, except materials and

30

supplies when purchased by the organization or

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1

institution for routine maintenance and repairs.

2

(11)  The sale at retail, or use of gasoline and other

3

motor fuels, the sales of which are otherwise subject to

4

excise taxes under 75 Pa.C.S. Ch. 90 (relating to liquid

5

fuels and fuels tax).

6

(12)  (i)  The sale at retail to, or use by the United

7

States, this Commonwealth or its instrumentalities or

8

political subdivisions, nonpublic schools, charter

9

schools, cyber charter schools or vocational schools of

10

tangible personal property or services.

11

(ii)  This paragraph includes the sale at retail to a

12

supervisor of a home education program of tangible

13

personal property or services used exclusively for the

14

home education program.

15

(iii)  As used in this paragraph, the terms

16

"nonpublic school," "charter school," "cyber charter

17

school," "vocational school," "supervisor" and "home

18

education program" shall have the meanings given to them

19

in the Public School Code of 1949.

20

(13)  (Reserved).

21

(14)  (Reserved).

22

(15)  (Reserved).

23

(16)  (Reserved).

24

(17)  The sale at retail or use of prescription

25

medicines, drugs or medical supplies, crutches and

26

wheelchairs for the use of persons with disabilities and

27

invalids, artificial limbs, artificial eyes and artificial

28

hearing devices when designed to be worn on the person of the

29

purchaser or user, false teeth and materials used by a

30

dentist in dental treatment, eyeglasses when especially

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1

designed or prescribed by an ophthalmologist, oculist or

2

optometrist for the personal use of the owner or purchaser

3

and artificial braces and supports designed solely for the

4

use of persons with disabilities or any other therapeutic,

5

prosthetic or artificial device designed for the use of a

6

particular individual to correct or alleviate a physical

7

incapacity, including, but not limited to, hospital beds,

8

iron lungs and kidney machines.

9

(18)  The sale at retail or use of coal.

10

(19)  (Reserved).

11

(20)  (Reserved).

12

(21)  (Reserved).

13

(22)  (Reserved).

14

(23)  (Reserved).

15

(24)  (Reserved).

16

(25)  The sale at retail or use of water.

17

(26)  The sale at retail or use of all vesture, wearing

18

apparel, raiments, garments, footwear and other articles of

19

clothing, including clothing patterns and items that are to

20

be a component part of clothing, worn or carried on or about

21

the human body but all accessories, ornamental wear, formal

22

day or evening apparel, and articles made of fur on the hide

23

or pelt or any material imitative of fur and articles of

24

which such fur, real, imitation or synthetic, is the

25

component material of chief value, but only if such value is

26

more than three times the value of the next most valuable

27

component material, and sporting goods and clothing not

28

normally used or worn when not engaged in sports shall not be

29

excluded from the tax.

30

(27)  (Reserved).

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1

(28)  (Reserved).

2

(29)  The sale at retail or use of food and beverages for

3

human consumption, except that this exclusion shall not apply

4

with respect to:

5

(i)  soft drinks;

6

(ii)  malt and brewed beverages and spirituous and

7

vinous liquors;

8

(iii)  food or beverages, whether sold for

9

consumption on or off the premises or on a "take-out" or

10

"to go" basis or delivered to the purchaser or consumer,

11

when purchased (A) from persons engaged in the business

12

of catering; or (B) from persons engaged in the business

13

of operating establishments from which ready-to-eat food

14

and beverages are sold, including, but not limited to,

15

restaurants, cafes, lunch counters, private and social

16

clubs, taverns, dining cars, hotels, night clubs, fast

17

food operations, pizzerias, fairs, carnivals, lunch

18

carts, ice cream stands, snack bars, cafeterias, employee

19

cafeterias, theaters, stadiums, arenas, amusement parks,

20

carryout shops, coffee shops and other establishments

21

whether mobile or immobile. For purposes of this

22

paragraph, a bakery, a pastry shop, a donut shop, a

23

delicatessen, a grocery store, a supermarket, a farmer's

24

market, a convenience store or a vending machine shall

25

not be considered an establishment from which food or

26

beverages ready to eat are sold except for the sale of

27

meals, sandwiches, food from salad bars, hand-dipped or

28

hand-served iced based products, including ice cream and

29

yogurt, hot soup, hot pizza and other hot food items,

30

brewed coffee and hot beverages. For purposes of this

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1

subparagraph, beverages shall not include malt and brewed

2

beverages and spirituous and vinous liquors but shall

3

include soft drinks. The sale at retail of food and

4

beverages at or from a school or church in the ordinary

5

course of the activities of such organization is not

6

subject to tax. Notwithstanding any other provision of

7

this paragraph or act to the contrary, the sale at retail

8

or use of candy or gum, regardless of the location from

9

which the candy or gum is sold, is subject to tax.

10

(30)  (i)  The sale at retail or use of any printed or

11

other form of advertising materials regardless of where

12

or by whom the advertising material was produced.

13

(ii)  This paragraph shall not include the sale at

14

retail or use of mail order catalogs and direct mail

15

advertising literature or materials, including electoral

16

literature or materials, such as envelopes, address

17

labels and a one-time license to use a list of names and

18

mailing addresses for each delivery of direct mail

19

advertising literature or materials, including electoral

20

literature or materials, through the United States Postal

21

Service.

22

(31)  (Reserved).

23

(32)  (Reserved).

24

(33)  (Reserved).

25

(34)  (Reserved).

26

(35)  (Reserved).

27

(36)  The sale at retail or use of rail transportation

28

equipment used in the movement of personalty.

29

(37)  (Reserved).

30

(38)  (Reserved).

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1

(39)  The sale at retail or use of fish feed purchased by

2

or on behalf of sportsmen's clubs, fish cooperatives or

3

nurseries approved by the Pennsylvania Fish Commission.

4

(40)  (Reserved).

5

(41)  (Reserved).

6

(42)  The sale or use of brook trout (salvelinus

7

fontinalis), brown trout (Salmo trutta) or rainbow trout

8

(Salmo gairdneri).

9

(43)  The sale at retail or use of buses to be used

10

exclusively for the transportation of children for school

11

purposes.

12

(44)  The sale at retail or use of firewood.

13

(45)  (Reserved).

14

(46)  The sale at retail or use of tangible personal

15

property purchased in accordance with the Food Stamp Act of

16

1977, as amended (Public Law 95-113, 7 U.S.C. §§ 2011-2029).

17

(47)  (Reserved).

18

(48)  (Reserved).

19

(49)  (i)  The sale at retail or use of food and

20

beverages by nonprofit associations which support sports

21

programs.

22

(ii)  The following words and phrases when used in

23

this paragraph shall have the meanings given to them in

24

this subparagraph unless the context clearly indicates

25

otherwise:

26

"Nonprofit association."  An entity which is

27

organized as a nonprofit corporation or nonprofit

28

unincorporated association under the laws of this

29

Commonwealth or the United States or any entity which is

30

authorized to do business in this Commonwealth as a

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1

nonprofit corporation or unincorporated association under

2

the laws of this Commonwealth, including, but not limited

3

to, youth or athletic associations, volunteer fire,

4

ambulance, religious, charitable, fraternal, veterans,

5

civic, or any separately chartered auxiliary of the

6

foregoing, if organized and operated on a nonprofit

7

basis.

8

"Sports program."  Baseball, softball, football,

9

basketball, soccer and any other competitive sport

10

formally recognized as a sport by the United States

11

Olympic Committee as specified by and under the

12

jurisdiction of the Amateur Sports Act of 1978 (Public

13

Law 95-606, 36 U.S.C. Ch. 2205), the Amateur Athletic

14

Union or the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

15

The term shall be limited to a program or that portion of

16

a program that is organized for recreational purposes and

17

whose activities are substantially for such purposes and

18

which is primarily for participants who are 18 years of

19

age or younger or whose 19th birthday occurs during the

20

year of participation or the competitive season,

21

whichever is longer. There shall, however, be no age

22

limitation for programs operated for persons with

23

physical handicaps or persons with mental retardation.

24

"Support."  The funds raised from sales are used to

25

pay the expenses of a sports program or the nonprofit

26

association sells the food and beverages at a location

27

where a sports program is being conducted under this

28

chapter or the Tax Reform Code of 1971.

29

(50)  (Reserved).

30

(51)  (Reserved).

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1

(52)  (Reserved).

2

(53)  (Reserved).

3

(54)  (Reserved).

4

(55)  (Reserved).

5

(56)  The sale at retail or use of tangible personal

6

property or services used, transferred or consumed in

7

installing or repairing equipment or devices designed to

8

assist persons in ascending or descending a stairway when:

9

(i)  The equipment or devices are used by a person

10

who, by virtue of a physical disability, is unable to

11

ascend or descend stairs without the aid of such

12

equipment or device.

13

(ii)  The equipment or device is installed or used in

14

the person's place of residence.

15

(iii)  A physician has certified the physical

16

disability of the person in whose residence the equipment

17

or device is installed or used.

18

(57)  (Reserved).

19

(58)  (Reserved).

20

(59)  The sale at retail or use of molds and related mold

21

equipment used directly and predominantly in the manufacture

22

of products, regardless of whether the person that holds

23

title to the equipment manufactures a product.

24

(60)  (Reserved).

25

(61)  (Reserved).

26

(62)  The sale at retail or use of tangible personal

27

property or services which are directly used in farming,

28

dairying or agriculture when engaged in as a business

29

enterprise, regardless of whether the sale is made to the

30

person directly engaged in the business enterprise or to a

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1

person contracting with the person directly engaged in the

2

business enterprise for the production of food.

3

(63)  (Reserved).

4

(64)  The sale at retail to or use by a construction

5

contractor, employed by a public school district pursuant to

6

a construction contract, of any materials and building

7

supplies which, during construction or reconstruction, are

8

made part of any public school building utilized for

9

instructional classroom education within this Commonwealth,

10

if the construction or reconstruction:

11

(i)  is necessitated by a disaster emergency, as

12

defined in 35 Pa.C.S. § 7102 (relating to definitions);

13

and

14

(ii)  takes place during the period when there is a

15

declaration of disaster emergency under 35 Pa.C.S. §

16

7301(c) (relating to general authority of Governor).

17

(65)  The sale at retail or use of investment metal

18

bullion and investment coins. "Investment metal bullion"

19

means any elementary precious metal which has been put

20

through a process of smelting or refining, including, but not

21

limited to, gold, silver, platinum and palladium, and which

22

is in such state or condition that its value depends upon its

23

contents and not its form. The term does not include precious

24

metal which has been assembled, fabricated, manufactured or

25

processed in one or more specific and customary industrial,

26

professional, aesthetic or artistic uses. "Investment coins"

27

means numismatic coins or other forms of money or legal

28

tender manufactured of gold, silver, platinum, palladium or

29

other metal and of the United States or any foreign nation

30

with a fair market value greater than any nominal value of

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1

such coins. The term does not include jewelry or works of art

2

made of coins, nor does it include commemorative medallions.

3

(66)  (Reserved).

4

(67)  The sale at retail of medical goods or services by

5

a hospital, as defined in the act of December 20, 1985

6

(P.L.457, No.112), known as the Medical Practice Act of 1985.

7

(68)  The sale at retail of medical or dental services,

8

including charges for office visits.

9

(69)  The sale at retail or use of goods or services that

10

are part of a Medicare Part B transaction.

11

(70)  The sale at retail or use of transportation of

12

persons provided or funded by the Federal, State or local

13

government.

14

(71)  The sale at retail of insurance premiums.

15

(72)  The sale at retail, between an owner of real

16

property and a financial institution, of a mortgage.

17

(73)  An investment or gain on an investment, including,

18

but not limited to, bank deposits, stocks and bonds,

19

including any commissions, maintenance costs and other

20

charges, which commissions, maintenance costs and other

21

charges related to the making of such investment or a gain

22

thereon.

23

(74)  The rental of real property.

24

(75)  The sale at retail of tuition.

25

(76)  The sale at retail of any of the following:

26

(i)  Legal services.

27

(ii)  Accounting, auditing and bookkeeping services.

28

(iii)  Engineering services.

29

(iv)  Research.

30

(v)  Computer services and data processing.

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1

(77)  The sale at retail to or use by a person of legal

2

services rendered by an attorney where the payment is made

3

pursuant to a contingency fee based upon a percentage of the

4

amount recovered with respect to a legal claim or dispute.

5

(78)  The sale at retail to or use by a person of the

6

services rendered by or under the supervision of a licensed

7

real estate broker, associate broker or salesperson in

8

connection with any aspect of the sale, lease or acquisition

9

of any interest in real property.

10

(79)  The sale at retail, or the use of motion picture

11

film rented or licensed from a distributor for the purpose of

12

commercial exhibition.

13

(80)  The sale at retail or use of services performed by

14

minors under 18 years of age.

15

(81)  The sale at retail or use of services performed by

16

any person to the extent that the recipient or user of such

17

services receives those services free of charge.

18

(82)  The sale at retail or use of services provided by

19

employees to their employers in exchange for wages and

20

salaries when such services are rendered in the ordinary

21

course of employment.

22

(83)  The sale at retail or use of services performed for

23

resale in the ordinary course of business of the purchaser or

24

user of such services.

25

(84)  The sale at retail or use of services that are

26

otherwise taxable that are an integral, inseparable part of

27

the services that are to be sold or used and that are

28

taxable.

29

Section 705.  Alternate imposition of tax.

30

(a)  General rule.--If any person actively and principally

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1

engaged in the business of selling new or used motor vehicles,

2

trailers or semitrailers, and registered with the department in

3

the "dealer's class," acquires a motor vehicle, trailer or

4

semitrailer for the purpose of resale, and prior to such resale,

5

uses the motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer for a taxable use

6

under this chapter or the Tax Reform Code of 1971, the person

7

may pay a tax equal to 6% of the fair rental value of the motor

8

vehicle, trailer or semitrailer during use.

9

(b)  Aircraft.--A commercial aircraft operator who acquires

10

an aircraft for the purpose of resale, or lease, or is entitled

11

to claim another valid exemption at the time of purchase, and

12

subsequent to the purchase, periodically uses the same aircraft

13

for a taxable use under this chapter or the Tax Reform Code of

14

1971, may elect to pay a tax equal to 6% of the fair rental

15

value of the aircraft during such use.

16

(c)  Applicability.--This section shall not apply to the use

17

of a vehicle as a wrecker, parts truck, delivery truck or

18

courtesy car.

19

Section 706.  Credit against tax.

20

(a)  Tax paid to another state.--

21

(1)  A credit against the tax imposed by section 702

22

shall be granted with respect to tangible personal property

23

or services purchased for use outside the Commonwealth equal

24

to the tax paid to another state by reason of the imposition

25

by the other state of a tax similar to the tax imposed by

26

this chapter.

27

(2)  No credit under paragraph (1) shall be granted

28

unless the other state grants substantially similar tax

29

relief by reason of the payment of tax under this chapter or

30

under the Tax Reform Code of 1971.

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1

(b)  Telecommunications services.--A credit against the tax

2

imposed by section 702 on telecommunications services shall be

3

granted to a call center for gross receipts tax paid by a

4

telephone company on the receipts derived from the sale of

5

incoming and outgoing interstate telecommunications services to

6

the call center under section 1101(a)(2) of the Tax Reform Code

7

of 1971. The following apply:

8

(1)  A telephone company, on request, shall notify a call

9

center of the amount of gross receipts tax paid by the

10

telephone company on the receipts derived from the sale of

11

incoming and outgoing interstate telecommunications services

12

to the call center.

13

(2)  A call center that is eligible for the credit in

14

this subsection may apply for a tax credit as set forth in

15

this subsection.

16

(3)  By February 15, a taxpayer must submit an

17

application to the department for gross receipts tax paid on

18

the receipts derived from the sale of incoming and outgoing

19

interstate telecommunications services incurred in the prior

20

calendar year.

21

(4)  By April 15 of the calendar year following the close

22

of the calendar year during which the gross receipts tax was

23

incurred, the department shall notify the applicant of the

24

amount of the applicant's tax credit approved by the

25

department.

26

(5)  The total amount of tax credits provided for in this

27

subsection and approved by the department shall not exceed

28

$30,000,000 in any fiscal year. If the total amount of tax

29

credits applied for by all applicants exceeds the amount

30

allocated for those credits, then the credit to be received

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1

by each applicant shall be determined as follows:

2

(i)  Divide:

3

(A)  the tax credit applied for by the applicant;

4

by

5

(B)  the total of all tax credits applied for by

6

all applicants.

7

(ii)  Multiply:

8

(A)  the quotient under subparagraph (i); by

9

(B)  the amount allocated for all tax credits.

10

SUBCHAPTER D

11

LICENSES

12

Section 708.  Licenses.

13

(a)  Duty to obtain license.--Every person maintaining a

14

place of business in this Commonwealth, selling or leasing

15

services or tangible personal property, the sale or use of which

16

is subject to tax and who has not obtained a license from the

17

department, shall, prior to the beginning of business, make

18

application to the department, on a form prescribed by the

19

department, for a license. If such person maintains more than

20

one place of business in this Commonwealth, the license shall be

21

issued for the principal place of business in this Commonwealth.

22

(b)  Criteria for issuance of license.--

23

(1)  The department shall, after the receipt of an

24

application, issue the license applied for under subsection

25

(a) if the applicant filed all required State tax reports and

26

paid any State taxes not subject to a timely perfected

27

administrative or judicial appeal or subject to a duly

28

authorized deferred payment plan. The license shall be

29

nonassignable.

30

(2)  All licenses in effect on the effective date of this

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1

section under former Article III of the Tax Reform Code of

2

1971 and all licenses issued or renewed on or after the

3

effective date of this section shall be valid for a period of

4

five years.

5

(b.1)  Refusal of license.--

6

(1)  If an applicant for a license or any person holding

7

a license has not filed all required State tax reports and

8

paid any State taxes not subject to a timely perfected

9

administrative or judicial appeal or subject to a duly

10

authorized deferred payment plan, the department may refuse

11

to issue, may suspend or may revoke said license.

12

(2)  The department shall notify the applicant or

13

licensee of any refusal, suspension or revocation. The notice

14

shall contain a statement that the refusal, suspension or

15

revocation may be made public. The notice shall be made by

16

first class mail.

17

(3)  An applicant or licensee aggrieved by the

18

determination of the department may file an appeal pursuant

19

to the provisions for administrative appeals in this chapter.

20

In the case of a suspension or revocation which is appealed,

21

the license shall remain valid pending a final outcome of the

22

appeals process.

23

(4)  Notwithstanding section 774 or sections 353(f),

24

408(b), 603, 702, 802, 904 and 1102 of the Tax Reform Code of

25

1971, or any other provision of law to the contrary, if no

26

appeal is taken or if an appeal is taken and denied at the

27

conclusion of the appeal process, the department may

28

disclose, by publication or otherwise, the identity of a

29

person and the fact that the person's license has been

30

refused, suspended or revoked under this subsection.

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1

Disclosure may include the basis for refusal, suspension or

2

revocation.

3

(c)  Penalties.--

4

(1)  A person that maintains a place of business in this

5

Commonwealth for the purpose of selling or leasing services

6

or tangible personal property, the sale or use of which is

7

subject to tax, without having first been licensed by the

8

department shall be guilty of a summary offense and, upon

9

conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less

10

than $300 nor more than $1,500 and, in default thereof, a

11

term of imprisonment of not less than five days nor more than

12

30 days.

13

(2)  The penalties imposed by this subsection shall be in

14

addition to any other penalties imposed by this chapter.

15

(3)  For purposes of this subsection, the offering for

16

sale or lease of any service or tangible personal property,

17

the sale or use of which is subject to tax, during any

18

calendar day shall constitute a separate violation.

19

(4)  The secretary may designate employees of the

20

department to enforce the provisions of this subsection. The

21

employees shall exhibit proof of and be within the scope of

22

the designation when instituting proceedings as provided by

23

the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure.

24

(d)  Effect of failure to obtain license.--Failure of any

25

person to obtain a license shall not relieve that person of

26

liability to pay the tax imposed by this chapter.

27

SUBCHAPTER E

28

HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX

29

Section 709.  Definitions.

30

(a)  General rule.--The following words and phrases when used

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1

in this subchapter shall have the meanings given to them in this

2

section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

3

"Hotel."  A building or buildings in which the public may,

4

for a consideration, obtain sleeping accommodations. The term

5

does not include any charitable, educational or religious

6

institution summer camp for children, hospital or nursing home.

7

"Occupancy." The use or possession or the right to the use or

8

possession by any person, other than a permanent resident, of

9

any room or rooms in a hotel for any purpose or the right to the

10

use or possession of the furnishings or to the services and

11

accommodations accompanying the use and possession of the room

12

or rooms.

13

"Occupant."  A person, other than a permanent resident, who,

14

for a consideration, uses, possesses or has a right to use or

15

possess any room or rooms in a hotel under any lease,

16

concession, permit, right of access, license or agreement.

17

"Operator."  Any person who operates a hotel.

18

"Permanent resident."  Any occupant who has occupied or has

19

the right to occupancy of any room or rooms in a hotel for at

20

least 30 consecutive days.

21

"Rent." The consideration received for occupancy valued in

22

money, whether received in money or otherwise, including all

23

receipts, cash, credits and property or services of any kind or

24

nature, and also any amount for which the occupant is liable for

25

the occupancy without any deduction. The term "rent" shall not

26

include a gratuity.

27

(b)  Other definitions.--The following words and phrases,

28

when used in Subchapters D and F, shall, in addition to the

29

meaning ascribed to them by section 701, have the meaning

30

ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context

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1

clearly indicates a different meaning:

2

"Maintaining a place of business in this Commonwealth."

3

Being the operator of a hotel in this Commonwealth.

4

"Purchase at retail."  Occupancy.

5

"Purchase price."  Rent.

6

"Purchaser."  Occupant.

7

"Sale at retail."  The providing of occupancy to an occupant

8

by an operator.

9

"Services."  Occupancy.

10

"Tangible personal property."  Occupancy.

11

"Use."  Occupancy.

12

"Vendor."  Operator.

13

Section 710.  Imposition of tax.

14

There is hereby imposed an excise tax of 6% of the rent on

15

every occupancy of a room or rooms in a hotel in this

16

Commonwealth, which tax shall be collected by the operator from

17

the occupant and paid over to the Commonwealth as provided in

18

this chapter and deposited into the Education Operating Fund.

19

Section 711.  Seasonal tax returns.

20

Notwithstanding any other provisions in this chapter or the

21

Tax Reform Code of 1971, the department may, by regulation,

22

waive the requirement for the filing of quarterly returns in the

23

case of any operator whose hotel is operated only during certain

24

seasons of the year, and may provide for the filing of returns

25

by such persons at times other than those provided by section

26

721.

27

SUBCHAPTER F

28

PROCEDURE AND ADMINISTRATION

29

Section 715.  Persons required to make returns.

30

Every person required to pay tax to the department or collect

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1

and remit tax to the department shall file returns with respect

2

to the tax.

3

Section 716.  Form of returns.

4

The returns required by section 715 shall be on forms

5

prescribed by the department and shall show such information

6

with respect to the taxes imposed by this chapter as the

7

department may reasonably require.

8

Section 717.  Time for filing returns.

9

(a)  Monthly reporting.--A return shall be filed monthly with

10

respect to each month by every licensee whose total tax reported

11

or, in the event no report is filed, the total tax which should

12

have been reported, for the third calendar quarter of the

13

preceding year equals or exceeds $600. The returns shall be

14

filed on or before the 20th day of the next succeeding month

15

with respect to which the return is made. Any licensee required

16

to file monthly returns under this chapter shall be relieved

17

from filing quarterly returns.

18

(b)  Annual reporting.--No annual return shall be filed,

19

except as may be required by rules and regulations of the

20

department promulgated and published at least 60 days prior to

21

the end of the year with respect to which the returns are made.

22

Where such annual returns are required, licensees shall not be

23

required to file such returns prior to the 20th day of the year

24

succeeding the year with respect to which the returns are made.

25

(c)  Persons other than licensees.--Any person, other than a

26

licensee, liable to pay to the department any tax under this

27

chapter, shall file a return on or before the 20th day of the

28

month succeeding the month in which the person becomes liable

29

for the tax.

30

(d)  Waivers.--The department, by regulation, may waive the

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1

requirement for the filing of quarterly return in the case of

2

any licensee whose individual tax collections do not exceed $75

3

per calendar quarter and may provide for reporting on a less

4

frequent basis in such cases.

5

Section 718.  Extension of time for filing returns.

6

The department may, on written application and for good cause

7

shown, grant a reasonable extension of time for filing any

8

return required under this subchapter. However, the time for

9

making a return shall not be extended for more than three

10

months.

11

Section 719.  Place for filing returns.

12

Returns shall be filed with the department at its main office

13

or at any branch office which it may designate for filing

14

returns.

15

Section 720.  Timely mailing treated as timely filing and

16

payment.

17

(a)  General rule.--Notwithstanding the provisions of any

18

State tax law to the contrary, whenever a report or payment of

19

all or any portion of a State tax is required by law to be

20

received by the department or other agency of the Commonwealth

21

on or before a day certain, the taxpayer shall be deemed to have

22

complied with the law if the letter transmitting the report or

23

payment of the tax which has been received by the department is

24

postmarked by the United States Postal Service on or prior to

25

the final day on which the payment is to be received.

26

(b)  Presentation of receipt.--For the purposes of this

27

chapter, presentation of a receipt indicating that the report or

28

payment was mailed by registered or certified mail on or before

29

the due date shall be evidence of timely filing and payment.

30

Section 721.  Payment of tax.

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1

When a return of tax is required under this subchapter, the

2

person required to make the return shall pay the tax to the

3

department.

4

Section 722.  Time of payment.

5

(a)  General rule.--The tax imposed by this chapter and

6

incurred or collected by a licensee shall be due and payable by

7

the licensee on the day the return is required to be filed under

8

the provisions of section 717 and the payment must accompany the

9

return for the preceding period.

10

(b)  Other payments.--If the amount of tax due for the

11

preceding year as shown by the annual return of a taxpayer is

12

greater than the amount already paid by the taxpayer in

13

connection with the taxpayer's monthly or quarterly returns, the

14

taxpayer shall send with the annual return a remittance for the

15

unpaid amount of tax for the year.

16

(c)  Persons other than licensees.--Any person other than a

17

licensee liable to pay any tax under this chapter shall remit

18

the tax at the time of filing the return required by this

19

chapter.

20

Section 723.  Other times for payment.

21

In the event that the department authorizes a taxpayer to

22

file a return at other times than those specified in section

23

717, the tax due shall be paid at the time the return is filed.

24

Section 724.  Place for payment.

25

The tax imposed by this chapter shall be paid to the

26

department at the place fixed for filing the return.

27

Section 725.  Tax held in trust for Commonwealth.

28

(a)  General rule.--All taxes collected by any person from

29

purchasers in accordance with this chapter and all taxes

30

collected by any person from purchasers under color of this

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1

chapter which have not been properly refunded by the person to

2

the purchaser shall constitute a trust fund for the

3

Commonwealth, and such trust shall be enforceable against such

4

person, the person's representatives and any person, other than

5

a purchaser to whom a refund has been made properly, receiving

6

any part of the fund without consideration, or knowing that the

7

taxpayer is committing a breach of trust.

8

(b)  Presumption.--Any person receiving payment of a lawful

9

obligation of the taxpayer from the fund identified under

10

subsection (a) shall be presumed to have received the same in

11

good faith and without any knowledge of the breach of trust.

12

(c)  Right to petition and appeal.--Any person, other than a

13

taxpayer, against whom the department makes any claim under this

14

section shall have the same right to petition and appeal as is

15

given taxpayers by any provisions of this subchapter.

16

Section 726.  Local receivers of use tax.

17

(a)  General rule.--In every county, except counties of the

18

first class, the county treasurer shall receive use tax due and

19

payable under this chapter from any person other than a

20

licensee. The receiving of the taxes shall be pursuant to rules

21

and regulations promulgated by the department and on forms

22

furnished by the department.

23

(b)  Deduction for administrative costs.--Each county

24

treasurer shall remit to the department all use taxes received

25

under the authority of this section minus the costs of

26

administering this section not to exceed 1% of the amount of use

27

taxes received, which amount shall be retained in lieu of any

28

commission otherwise allowable by law for the collection of the

29

tax.

30

Section 727.  Discount.

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1

If a return is filed by a licensee and the tax shown to be

2

due thereon less any discount is paid all within the time

3

prescribed, the licensee shall be entitled to credit and apply

4

against the tax payable by the licensee a discount of 1% of the

5

amount of the tax collected by the licensee, as compensation for

6

the expense of collecting and remitting the same and as

7

consideration of the prompt payment.

8

Section 728.  (Reserved).

9

Section 729.  (Reserved).

10

Section 730.  Assessment.

11

The department shall make the inquiries, determinations and

12

assessments of the tax, including interest, additions and

13

penalties, imposed by this chapter. A notice of assessment and

14

demand for payment shall be mailed by certified mail to the

15

taxpayer. The notice shall set forth the basis of the

16

assessment.

17

Section 731.  Mode and time of assessment.

18

(a)  Duty to examine.--

19

(1)  Within a reasonable time after any return is filed,

20

the department shall examine it and, if the return shows a

21

greater tax due or collected than the amount of tax remitted

22

with the return, the department shall issue an assessment for

23

the difference, together with an addition of 3% of the

24

difference, which shall be paid to the department within ten

25

days after a notice of the assessment has been mailed to the

26

taxpayer.

27

(2)  If such assessment is not paid within ten days,

28

there shall be added and paid to the department an additional

29

3% of the difference for each month during which the

30

assessment remains unpaid. The total of all additions shall

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1

not exceed 18% of the difference shown on the assessment.

2

(b)  Underestimated tax on returns.--

3

(1)  If the department determines that any return or

4

returns of any taxpayer understates the amount of tax due, it

5

shall determine the proper amount and shall ascertain the

6

difference between the amount of tax shown in the return and

7

the amount determined. The difference may be referred to as

8

the deficiency.

9

(2)  The department shall send a notice of assessment for

10

the deficiency and the reasons to the taxpayer.

11

(3)  The taxpayer shall pay the deficiency to the

12

department within 30 days after a notice of the assessment

13

has been mailed to the taxpayer.

14

(c)  Estimated assessments.--

15

(1)  In the event that any taxpayer fails to file a

16

return required by this chapter, the department may make an

17

estimated assessment, based on information available, of the

18

proper amount of tax owed by the taxpayer and shall send a

19

notice of assessment in the estimated amount to the taxpayer.

20

(2)  The taxpayer shall pay the tax within 30 days after

21

a notice of the estimated assessment has been mailed to the

22

taxpayer.

23

(d)  Studies.--

24

(1)  The department may conduct the studies necessary to

25

compute effective rates by business classification, based

26

upon the ratio between the tax required to be collected and

27

taxable sales and to use such rates in arriving at the

28

apparent tax liability of a taxpayer.

29

(2)  Any assessment based on such rates shall be prima

30

facie correct, except that the rate shall not be considered

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1

where a taxpayer establishes the rate is based on a sample

2

inapplicable to the taxpayer.

3

Section 732.  Reassessment.

4

Any taxpayer against whom an assessment is made may petition

5

the department for a reassessment under Article XXVII of the Tax

6

Reform Code of 1971.

7

Section 733.  (Reserved).

8

Section 734.  Review by Board of Finance and Revenue.

9

(a)  Procedure.--

10

(1)  Within 60 days after the date of mailing of notice

11

by the department of the decision on any petition for

12

reassessment filed with it, the person against whom the

13

assessment was made may, by petition, request the Board of

14

Finance and Revenue to review the decision.

15

(2)  The failure of the department to notify the

16

petitioner of a decision within the time provided by section

17

732 shall act as a denial of such petition, and a petition

18

for review may be filed with the Board of Finance and Revenue

19

within 120 days of the date prior to which the department

20

should have mailed to the petitioner its notice of decision.

21

(b)  Contents of petition for review.--Each petition for

22

review filed under this section shall state specifically the

23

reasons on which the petitioner relies, or shall incorporate by

24

reference the petition for reassessment in which the reasons are

25

stated. The petition shall be supported by affidavit that it is

26

not made for the purpose of delay and that the facts set forth

27

in the petition are true.

28

(c)  Action by board.--

29

(1)  The Board of Finance and Revenue shall act finally

30

in disposing of petitions filed with it within six months

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1

after they have been received.

2

(2)  In the event of the failure of the board to dispose

3

of any petition within six months, the action taken by the

4

department, upon the petition for reassessment, shall be

5

sustained.

6

(3)  The Board of Finance and Revenue may sustain the

7

action taken by the department on the petition for

8

reassessment, or it may reassess the tax due on such basis as

9

it deems according to law.

10

(4)  The board shall give notice of its action to the

11

department and to the petitioner.

12

Section 735.  (Reserved).

13

Section 736.  Burden of proof.

14

In all cases of petitions for reassessment, review or appeal,

15

the burden of proof shall be on the petitioner or appellant, as

16

applicable.

17

Section 737.  Collection of tax.

18

(a)  General rule.--The department shall collect the tax in

19

the manner provided by law for the collection of taxes imposed

20

by the laws of this Commonwealth.

21

(b)  Collection by persons maintaining a place of business in

22

the Commonwealth.--

23

(1)  Every person maintaining a place of business in this

24

Commonwealth and selling or leasing tangible personal

25

property or services, the sale or use of which is subject to

26

tax shall collect the tax from the purchaser or lessee at the

27

time of making the sale or lease, and shall remit the tax to

28

the department, unless the collection and remittance is

29

otherwise provided for in this chapter.

30

(2)  (i)  Every person not otherwise required to collect

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1

tax that delivers tangible personal property to a

2

location within this Commonwealth and that unpacks,

3

positions, places or assembles the tangible personal

4

property shall collect the tax from the purchaser at the

5

time of delivery and shall remit the tax to the

6

department if the person delivering the tangible personal

7

property is responsible for collecting any portion of the

8

purchase price of the tangible personal property

9

delivered and the purchaser has not provided the person

10

with proof that the tax imposed by this chapter has been

11

or will be collected by the seller or that the purchaser

12

provided the seller with a valid exemption certificate.

13

(ii)  Every person required to collect tax under this

14

paragraph shall be deemed to be selling or leasing

15

tangible personal property or services, the sale or use

16

of which is subject to the tax imposed under section 702.

17

(3)  Any person required under this chapter to collect

18

tax from another person, who shall fail to collect the proper

19

amount of the tax, shall be liable for the full amount of the

20

tax which the person should have collected.

21

(c)  Certificate for tax-exempt sales or leases.--

22

(1)  If the tax does not apply to the sale or lease of

23

tangible personal property or services, the purchaser or

24

lessee shall furnish to the vendor a certificate indicating

25

that the sale is not legally subject to the tax. The

26

certificate shall be in substantially such form as the

27

department may, by regulation, prescribe.

28

(2)  Where the tangible personal property or service is

29

of a type which is never subject to the tax imposed or where

30

the sale or lease is in interstate commerce, the certificate

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1

need not be furnished.

2

(3)  Where a series of transactions are not subject to

3

tax, a purchaser or user may furnish the vendor with a single

4

exemption certificate in substantially such form and valid

5

for such period of time as the department may, by regulation,

6

prescribe.

7

(4)  The department shall provide all school districts

8

and intermediate units with a permanent tax exemption number.

9

(5)  An exemption certificate, which is complete and

10

regular and on its face discloses a valid basis of exemption

11

if taken in good faith, shall relieve the vendor from the

12

liability imposed by this section.

13

(6)  An exemption certificate:

14

(i)  accepted by a vendor from a natural person

15

domiciled within this Commonwealth or any association,

16

fiduciary, partnership, corporation or other entity,

17

either authorized to do business within this Commonwealth

18

or having an established place of business within this

19

Commonwealth, in the ordinary course of the vendor's

20

business;

21

(ii)  which on its face discloses a valid basis of

22

exemption consistent with the activity of the purchaser

23

and character of the property or service being purchased

24

or which is provided to the vendor by a charitable,

25

religious, educational or volunteer firefighters'

26

organization;

27

(iii)  contains the organization's charitable

28

exemption number; and

29

(iv)  which, in the case of any purchase costing $200

30

or more, is accompanied by a sworn declaration on a form

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1

to be provided by the department of an intended usage of

2

the property or service which would render it nontaxable,

3

shall be presumed to be taken in good faith and the burden of

4

proving otherwise shall be on the department.

5

(d)  Waivers.--

6

(1)  The department may authorize a purchaser or lessee

7

who acquires tangible personal property or services under

8

circumstances which make it impossible at the time of

9

acquisition to determine the manner in which the tangible

10

personal property or service will be used, to pay the tax

11

directly to the department, and waive the collection of the

12

tax by the vendor.

13

(2)  No such authority shall be granted or exercised,

14

except on application to the department, and the issuance by

15

the department, in its discretion, of a direct payment

16

permit.

17

(3)  If a direct payment permit is granted, its use shall

18

be subject to conditions specified by the department, and the

19

payment of tax on all acquisitions pursuant to the permit

20

shall be made directly to the department by the permit

21

holder.

22

Section 738.  Collection of tax on motor vehicles, trailers and

23

semitrailers.

24

(a)  General rule.--Notwithstanding the provisions of section

25

737(b)(1), tax due on the sale at retail or use of a motor

26

vehicle, trailer or semitrailer, except mobile homes as defined

27

in 75 Pa.C.S (relating to vehicles), required by law to be

28

registered with the department under the provisions of 75

29

Pa.C.S. shall be paid by the purchaser or user directly to the

30

department on application to the department for an issuance of a

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1

certificate of title on the motor vehicle, trailer or

2

semitrailer.

3

(b)  No issuance of certificate of title without payment of

4

tax.--

5

(1)  The department shall not issue a certificate of

6

title until the tax has been paid, or evidence satisfactory

7

to the department has been given to establish that tax is not

8

due.

9

(2)  The department may cancel or suspend any record of

10

certificate of title or registration of a motor vehicle,

11

trailer or semitrailer when the check received in payment of

12

the tax on the vehicle is not paid on demand.

13

(c)  First encumbrance.--The tax shall be considered as a

14

first encumbrance against the vehicle and the vehicle may not be

15

transferred without first payment in full of the tax and any

16

interest additions or penalties which shall accrue in accordance

17

with this chapter.

18

Section 739.  Precollection of tax.

19

(a)  Authorization.--

20

(1)  Except as otherwise provided under paragraph (2),

21

the department may, by regulation, authorize or require

22

particular categories of vendors selling tangible personal

23

property for resale to precollect from the purchaser the tax

24

which the purchaser will collect on making a sale at retail

25

of the tangible personal property.

26

(2)  The department, pursuant to this section, may not

27

require a vendor to precollect tax from a purchaser who

28

purchases for resale more than $1,000 worth of tangible

29

personal property from the vendor per year.

30

(b)  No license required.--In any case in which a vendor has

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1

been authorized to prepay the tax to the person from whom the

2

vendor purchased the tangible personal property for resale, the

3

vendor authorized to prepay the tax may, under the regulations

4

of the department, be relieved from the duty to secure a license

5

if the duty arises only by reason of the vendor's sale of the

6

tangible personal property with respect to which the vendor is,

7

under authorization of the department, to prepay the tax.

8

(c)  Reimbursement.--

9

(1)  The vendor, on making a sale at retail of tangible

10

personal property with respect to which the vendor has

11

prepaid the tax, must separately state at the time of resale

12

the proper amount of tax on the transaction, and reimburse

13

itself on account of the taxes which the vendor has

14

previously prepaid.

15

(2)  If the vendor collects a greater amount of tax in

16

any reporting period than the vendor previously prepaid on

17

purchase of the goods with respect to which the vendor

18

prepaid the tax, the vendor must file a return and remit the

19

balance to the Commonwealth at the time at which a return

20

would otherwise be due with respect to the sales.

21

Section 740.  Bulk and auction sales.

22

A person who sells or causes to be sold at auction, or who

23

sells or transfers in bulk, 51% or more of any stock, of goods,

24

wares or merchandise of any kind, fixtures, machinery,

25

equipment, buildings or real estate, involved in a business for

26

which the person is licensed or required to be licensed under

27

this chapter, or is liable for filing use tax returns in

28

accordance with this chapter, shall be subject to the provisions

29

of section 1403 of The Fiscal Code.

30

Section 741.  Collection on failure to request reassessment,

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1

review or appeal.

2

(a)  General rule.--The department may collect any tax:

3

(1)  If an assessment of tax is not paid within ten days

4

or 30 days, as the case may be, after notice of the

5

assessment to the taxpayer and no petition for reassessment

6

has been filed.

7

(2)  Within 60 days from the date of reassessment, if no

8

petition for review has been filed.

9

(3)  Within 30 days from the date of the decision of the

10

Board of Finance and Revenue on a petition for review, or of

11

the expiration of the board's time for acting on the

12

petition, if no appeal has been made.

13

(4)  In all cases of judicial sales, receiverships,

14

assignments or bankruptcies.

15

(b)  Limitation on defenses.--

16

(1)  Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2), in any

17

such case in a proceeding for the collection of the taxes,

18

the person against whom the taxes were assessed shall not be

19

permitted to set up any ground of defense that might have

20

been determined by the department, the Board of Finance and

21

Revenue or the courts.

22

(2)  The defense of failure of the department to mail

23

notice of assessment or reassessment to the taxpayer and the

24

defense of payment of assessment or reassessment may be

25

raised in proceedings for collection by a motion to stay the

26

proceedings.

27

Section 742.  Lien for taxes.

28

(a)  Nature and effect of lien.--

29

(1)  If any person liable to pay any tax neglects or

30

refuses to pay the same after demand, the amount, including

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1

any interest, addition or penalty, together with any costs

2

that may accrue in addition, shall be a lien in favor of the

3

Commonwealth on the property, both real and personal, of the

4

person but only after same has been entered and docketed of

5

record by the prothonotary of the county where the property

6

is situated.

7

(2)  The department may, at any time, transmit to the

8

prothonotaries of the respective counties certified copies of

9

all liens for taxes imposed by this chapter or the Tax Reform

10

Code of 1971 and penalties and interest.

11

(3)  Each prothonotary receiving the lien shall enter and

12

docket the lien of record in the prothonotary's office, which

13

lien shall be indexed as judgments are now indexed.

14

(4)  No prothonotary shall require, as a condition

15

precedent to the entry of the liens, the payment of the costs

16

incident thereto.

17

(b)  Priority status.--

18

(1)  The lien imposed under this section shall have

19

priority from the date of its recording, and shall be fully

20

paid and satisfied out of the proceeds of any judicial sale

21

of property before any other obligation, judgment, claim,

22

lien or estate to which the property may subsequently become

23

subject, except costs of the sale and of the writ on which

24

the sale was made, and real estate taxes and municipal claims

25

against such property, but shall be subordinate to mortgages

26

and other liens existing and duly recorded or entered of

27

record prior to the recording of the tax lien.

28

(2)  In the case of a judicial sale of property, subject

29

to a lien imposed under this section, on a lien or claim over

30

which the lien imposed under this section has priority, the

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1

sale shall discharge the lien imposed under this section to

2

the extent only that the proceeds are applied to its payment,

3

and the lien shall continue in full force and effect as to

4

the balance remaining unpaid.

5

(3)  There shall be no inquisition or condemnation upon

6

any judicial sale of real estate made by the Commonwealth

7

pursuant to the provisions of this section.

8

(4)  (i)  The lien of the taxes, interest and penalties,

9

shall continue for five years from the date of entry, and

10

may be revived and continued in the manner now or

11

hereafter provided for renewal of judgments, or as may be

12

provided in The Fiscal Code, and a writ of execution may

13

directly issue upon the lien without the issuance and

14

prosecution to judgment of a writ of scire facias.

15

(ii)  Not less than ten days before issuance of any

16

execution on the lien, notice of the filing and the

17

effect of the lien shall be sent by registered mail to

18

the taxpayer at the taxpayer's last known post office

19

address.

20

(iii)  The lien shall have no effect on any stock of

21

goods, wares or merchandise regularly sold or leased in

22

the ordinary course of business by the person against

23

whom the lien has been entered, unless and until a writ

24

of execution has been issued and a levy made on the stock

25

of goods, wares and merchandise.

26

(c)  Penalty.--Any willful failure of any prothonotary to

27

carry out any duty imposed on the prothonotary under this

28

section shall be a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, the

29

prothonotary shall be sentenced to pay a fine not more than

30

$1,000 and costs of prosecution or to a term of imprisonment not

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1

exceeding one year, or both.

2

(d)  Priority payment from distribution.--

3

(1)  Except as otherwise provided under the law, in the

4

distribution, voluntary or compulsory, in receivership,

5

bankruptcy or otherwise, of the property or estate of any

6

person, all taxes imposed by this chapter which are due and

7

unpaid and are not collectible under section 725 shall be

8

paid from the first money available for distribution in

9

priority to all other claims and liens, except insofar as the

10

laws of the United States may give a prior claim to the

11

Federal Government.

12

(2)  Any person charged with the administration or

13

distribution of the property or estate, who violates the

14

provisions of this section, shall be personally liable for

15

any taxes imposed by this chapter, which are accrued and

16

unpaid and are chargeable against the person whose property

17

or estate is being administered or distributed.

18

(e)  Construction.--Subject to the limitations contained in

19

this chapter as to the assessment of taxes, nothing contained in

20

this section shall be construed to restrict, prohibit or limit

21

the use by the department in collecting taxes finally due and

22

payable of any other remedy or procedure available at law or

23

equity for the collection of debts.

24

Section 743.  Suit for taxes.

25

(a)  General rule.--At any time within three years after any

26

tax or any amount of tax shall be finally due and payable, the

27

department may commence an action in the courts of this

28

Commonwealth, of any state or of the United States, in the name

29

of the Commonwealth, to collect the amount of tax due together

30

with additions, interest, penalties and costs in the manner

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1

provided at law or in equity for the collection of ordinary

2

debts.

3

(b)  Prosecution by Attorney General.--The Attorney General

4

shall prosecute the action and, except as provided in this

5

chapter, the provisions of the Rules of Civil Procedure and the

6

provisions of the laws of this Commonwealth relating to civil

7

procedures and remedies shall, to the extent that they are

8

applicable, be available in such proceedings.

9

(c)  Construction.--The provisions of this section are in

10

addition to any process, remedy or procedure for the collection

11

of taxes provided by this chapter or by the laws of this

12

Commonwealth, and this section is neither limited by nor

13

intended to limit any such process, remedy or procedure.

14

Section 744.  Tax suit comity.

15

The courts of this Commonwealth shall recognize and enforce

16

liabilities for sales and use taxes, lawfully imposed by any

17

other state if the other state extends a like comity to this

18

Commonwealth.

19

Section 745.  Service.

20

(a)  General rule.--Any person who maintains a place of

21

business in this Commonwealth is deemed to have appointed the

22

Secretary of the Commonwealth as the person's agent for the

23

acceptance of service of process or notice in any proceedings

24

for the enforcement of the civil provisions of this chapter, and

25

any service made upon the Secretary of the Commonwealth as agent

26

shall be of the same legal force and validity as if the service

27

had been personally made on the person.

28

(b)  Substitute service.--Where service cannot be made on the

29

person in the manner provided by other laws of this Commonwealth

30

relating to service of process, service may be made on the

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1

Secretary of the Commonwealth and, in such case, a copy of the

2

process or notice shall also be personally served on any agent

3

or representative of the person who may be found within this

4

Commonwealth, or where no such agent or representative may be

5

found a copy of the process or notice shall be sent by

6

registered mail to the person at the last known address of the

7

person's principal place of business, home office or residence.

8

Section 746.  Collection and payment of tax on credit sales.

9

If any sale subject to tax under this chapter is wholly or

10

partly on credit, the vendor shall require the purchaser to pay

11

in cash at the time the sale is made, or within 30 days

12

thereafter, the total amount of tax due upon the entire purchase

13

price. The vendor shall remit the tax to the department,

14

regardless of whether payment was made by the purchaser to the

15

vendor, with the next return required to be filed under section

16

717.

17

Section 747.  Prepayment of tax.

18

(a)  General rule.--Whenever a vendor is prohibited by law or

19

governmental regulation to charge and collect the purchase price

20

in advance of or at the time of delivery, the vendor shall

21

prepay the tax as required by section 722, but in that case, if

22

the purchaser fails to pay to the vendor the total amount of the

23

purchase price and the tax and the amount is written off as

24

uncollectible by the vendor, the vendor shall not be liable for

25

the tax and shall be entitled to a credit or refund of the tax

26

paid.

27

(b)  Subsequent collection of tax.--If the purchase price is

28

thereafter collected, in whole or in part, the amount collected

29

shall be first applied to the payment of the entire tax portion

30

of the bill, and shall be remitted to the department by the

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1

vendor with the first return filed after such collection.

2

(c)  Time period for refund.--Tax prepaid shall be subject to

3

refund on petition to the department under the provisions of

4

section 752, filed within 105 days of the close of the fiscal

5

year in which the accounts are written off.

6

Section 747.1.  Refund of sales tax attributed to bad debt.

7

(a)  General rule.--A vendor may file a petition for refund

8

of sales tax paid to the department that is attributed to a bad

9

debt if all of the following apply:

10

(1)  The purchaser fails to pay the vendor the total

11

purchase price.

12

(2)  The purchase price is written off, either in whole

13

or in part, as a bad debt on the vendor's books and records.

14

(3)  The bad debt has been deducted for Federal income

15

tax purposes under section 166 of the Internal Revenue Code

16

of 1986 (Public Law 99-514, 26 U.S.C. § 166).

17

The petition must be filed with the department under Article

18

XXVII of the Tax Reform Code of 1971 within the time limitations

19

prescribed by section 3003.1 of the Tax Reform Code of 1971.

20

(b)  Limitation.--

21

(1)  The refund authorized by this section shall be

22

limited to the sales tax paid to the department that is

23

attributed to the bad debt, less any discount under section

24

727.

25

(2)  Partial payments by the purchaser to the vendor

26

shall be prorated between the original purchase price and the

27

sales tax due on the sale.

28

(3)  Payments made to a vendor on any transaction which

29

includes both taxable and nontaxable components shall be

30

allocated proportionally between the taxable and nontaxable

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1

components.

2

(c)  Assignment.--A vendor may assign its right to petition

3

and receive a refund of sales tax attributed to a bad debt to an

4

affiliated entity. A vendor may not assign its right to petition

5

and receive a refund of sales tax attributed to a bad debt to

6

any other person.

7

(d)  Items not refundable.--No refund shall be granted under

8

this section for interest, finance charges or expenses incurred

9

in attempting to collect any amount receivable.

10

(e)  Contents of petition for refund.--The documentation,

11

procedures and methods for claiming and calculating the refund

12

allowed under this section shall be in such form as the

13

department may prescribe.

14

(f)  Subsequent collection.--If the purchase price that is

15

attributed to a prior bad debt refund is collected in whole or

16

in part, the vendor or affiliated entity shall remit the

17

proportional tax to the department with the first return filed

18

after the collection.

19

(g)  Interest prohibited.--Notwithstanding the provisions of

20

section 806.1 of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176),

21

known as The Fiscal Code, no interest shall be paid by the

22

Commonwealth on refunds of sales tax attributed to bad debt

23

under this section.

24

(h)  Administration.--

25

(1)  No refund or credit of sales tax shall be made for

26

any uncollected purchase price or bad debt except as

27

authorized by this section.

28

(2)  No deduction or credit for bad debt may be taken on

29

any return filed with the department.

30

(3)  This section shall provide the exclusive procedure

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1

for claiming a refund or credit of sales tax attributed to

2

uncollected purchase price or bad debt.

3

(i)  Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term

4

"affiliated entity" means any corporation that is part of the

5

same affiliated group as the vendor as defined by section

6

1504(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

7

Section 748.  Registration of transient vendors.

8

(a)  General rule.--Prior to conducting business or otherwise

9

commencing operations in this Commonwealth, a transient vendor

10

shall register with the department. The application for

11

registration shall be in such form and contain such information

12

as the department, by regulation, shall prescribe and shall set

13

forth truthfully and accurately the information desired by the

14

department. This registration shall be renewed and updated

15

annually.

16

(b)  Certificate to be issued.--After registration and the

17

posting of the bond required by section 748.1, the department

18

shall issue to the transient vendor a certificate valid for one

19

year. On renewal of registration, the department shall issue a

20

new certificate valid for one year, if the department is

21

satisfied that the transient vendor has complied with the

22

provisions of this chapter.

23

(c)  Possession and exhibition of certificate.--The transient

24

vendor shall possess the certificate at all times when

25

conducting business within this Commonwealth and shall exhibit

26

the certificate upon demand by authorized employees of the

27

department or any law enforcement officer.

28

(d)  Contents of certificate.--The certificate issued by the

29

department shall state that the transient vendor named in the

30

certificate has registered with the department and shall provide

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1

notice to the transient vendor that:

2

(1)  The transient vendor must notify the department in

3

writing before it enters this Commonwealth to conduct

4

business, of the location or locations where it intends to

5

conduct business and the date or dates on which it intends to

6

conduct business.

7

(2)  Failure to notify or giving false information to the

8

department may result in suspension or revocation of the

9

transient vendor's certificate.

10

(3)  Conducting business in this Commonwealth after a

11

certificate has been suspended or revoked may result in

12

criminal conviction and the imposition of fines or other

13

penalties.

14

Section 748.1.  Bond.

15

(a)  General rule.--Upon registration with the department, a

16

transient vendor shall also post a bond with the department in

17

the amount of $500 as surety for compliance with the provisions

18

of this chapter. After a period of demonstrated compliance with

19

these provisions or, if the transient vendor provides the

20

license number of a promoter who has notified the department of

21

a show, in accordance with the provisions of section 748.6(a),

22

the department may reduce the amount of bond required of a

23

transient vendor or may eliminate the bond entirely.

24

(b)  Voluntary suspension of certificate.--A transient vendor

25

may file a request for voluntary suspension of certificate with

26

the department. If the department is satisfied that the

27

provisions of this chapter have been complied with and has

28

possession of the transient vendor's certificate, it shall

29

return the bond posted to the transient vendor.

30

Section 748.2.  Notification to department.

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1

(a)  General rule.--Prior to entering this Commonwealth to

2

conduct business, a transient vendor shall notify the department

3

in writing of the location or locations where it intends to

4

conduct business and the date or dates on which it intends to

5

conduct business.

6

(b)  Inspection of records.--While conducting business in

7

this Commonwealth, the transient vendor shall permit authorized

8

employees of the department to inspect its sales records,

9

including, but not limited to, sales receipts and inventory or

10

price lists and to permit inspection of the tangible personal

11

property offered for sale at retail.

12

(c)  Conditions for suspension or revocation of

13

certificate.--The department may suspend or revoke a certificate

14

issued to a transient vendor if the transient vendor:

15

(1)  fails to notify the department as required by

16

subsection (a);

17

(2)  provides the department with false information

18

regarding the conduct of business in this Commonwealth;

19

(3)  fails to collect sales tax on all tangible personal

20

property or services sold subject to the sales tax; or

21

(4)  fails to file with the department a tax return as

22

required by section 717.

23

(d)  Regulations.--The department shall promulgate the rules

24

and regulations necessary to implement this section.

25

Section 748.3.  Seizure of property.

26

(a)  General rule.--If a transient vendor conducting business

27

in this Commonwealth fails to exhibit a valid certificate on

28

demand by authorized employees of the department, those

29

authorized employees shall seize, without warrant, the tangible

30

personal property and the automobile, truck or other means of

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1

transportation used to transport or carry that property. All

2

property seized shall be deemed contraband and shall be subject

3

to immediate forfeiture proceedings instituted by the department

4

pursuant to procedures adopted by regulation, except as

5

otherwise provided by this section.

6

(b)  Release of seized property.--Property seized pursuant to

7

subsection (a) shall be released on:

8

(1)  presentation of a valid certificate to authorized

9

employees of the department; or

10

(2)  registration by the transient vendor with the

11

department and the posting of a bond in the amount of $500,

12

either immediately or within 15 days after the property is

13

seized.

14

Section 748.4.  Fines.

15

Any transient vendor conducting business in this Commonwealth

16

while its certificate is suspended or revoked, as provided by

17

sections 748.1(b) and 748.2(c), commits a misdemeanor of the

18

third degree and, upon conviction, shall be sentenced to pay a

19

fine of not more than $2,500 for each offense.

20

Section 748.5.  Transient vendors subject to chapter.

21

Except as otherwise provided, a transient vendor shall be

22

subject to the provisions of this chapter in the same manner as

23

a vendor who maintains a place of business in this Commonwealth.

24

Section 748.6.  Promoters.

25

(a)  General rule.--A promoter of a show or shows in this

26

Commonwealth may annually file with the department an

27

application for a promoter's license stating the location and

28

dates of such show or shows. The application shall be filed at

29

least 30 days prior to the opening of the first show and shall

30

be in such form as the department may prescribe.

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1

(b)  License.--

2

(1)  Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the

3

department shall, within 15 days after receipt of an

4

application for a license, issue to the promoter without

5

charge a license to operate such shows.

6

(2)  If application for a license under this section has

7

been timely filed and if the license has not been received by

8

the promoter prior to the opening of the show, the

9

authorization contained in this section with respect to the

10

obtaining of a promoter's license shall be deemed to have

11

been complied with, unless or until the promoter receives

12

notice from the department denying the application for a

13

promoter's license.

14

(c)  Compliance.--Any promoter who is a vendor under the

15

provisions of section 701 shall comply with all the provisions

16

of this chapter applicable to vendors and with the provisions of

17

this section applicable to promoters.

18

(d)  Prohibited conduct.--No licensed promoter shall permit

19

any person to display for sale or to sell tangible personal

20

property or services subject to tax under section 702 at a show

21

unless the person is licensed under section 708 and provides to

22

the promoter the information required under law.

23

(e)  Penalties.--

24

(1)  Any licensed promoter who:

25

(i)  permits any person to display for sale or to

26

sell tangible personal property or service without first

27

having been licensed under section 708;

28

(ii)  fails to maintain records of a show as required

29

by law; or

30

(iii)  knowingly maintains false records or fails to

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1

comply with any provision contained in this section or

2

any regulation promulgated by the department pertaining

3

to shows,

4

shall be subject to denial of a license or the revocation of

5

any existing license issued pursuant to this section.

6

(2)  The department may deny the promoter a license

7

certificate to operate a show for a period of not more than

8

six months from the date of such denial. The penalty shall be

9

in addition to any other penalty imposed by this chapter.

10

(3)  Within 20 days of notice of denial or revocation of

11

a license by the department, the promoter may petition the

12

department for a hearing pursuant to 2 Pa.C.S. (relating to

13

administrative law and procedure).

14

Section 749.  (Reserved).

15

Section 750.  (Reserved).

16

Section 751.  (Reserved).

17

Section 752.  Refunds.

18

(a)  General rule.--Subject to the provisions of subsection

19

(b), the department shall, pursuant to the provisions of Article

20

XXVII of the Tax Reform Code of 1971, refund all taxes, interest

21

and penalties paid to the Commonwealth under the provisions of

22

this chapter and to which the Commonwealth is not rightfully

23

entitled. The refunds shall be made to the person, the person's

24

heirs, successors, assigns or other personal representatives,

25

who actually paid the tax.

26

(b)  Exception.--No refund shall be made under this section

27

with respect to any payment made by reason of an assessment with

28

respect to which a taxpayer has filed a petition for

29

reassessment pursuant to section 2702 of the Tax Reform Code of

30

1971 to the extent that the petition has been determined

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1

adversely to the taxpayer by a decision which is no longer

2

subject to further review or appeal.

3

(c)  Construction.--Nothing contained in this section shall

4

be deemed to prohibit a taxpayer who has filed a timely petition

5

for reassessment from amending it to a petition for refund where

6

the petitioner has paid the tax assessed.

7

Section 753.  Refund petition.

8

(a)  General rule.--Except as provided for in subsection (b)

9

and section 756, the refund or credit of tax, interest or

10

penalty provided for by section 752 shall be made only where the

11

person who has actually paid the tax files a petition for refund

12

with the department under Article XXVII of the Tax Reform Code

13

of 1971, within the limits of section 3003.1 of the Tax Reform

14

Code of 1971.

15

(b)  Assessments.--A refund or credit of tax, interest or

16

penalty paid as a result of an assessment made by the department

17

under section 731 shall be made only where the person who has

18

actually paid the tax files with the department a petition for a

19

refund with the department under Article XXVII of the Tax Reform

20

Code of 1971 within the time limits of section 3003.1 of the Tax

21

Reform Code of 1971. The filing of a petition for refund under

22

the provisions of this subsection shall not affect the abatement

23

of interest, additions or penalties to which the person may be

24

entitled by reason of the person's payment of the assessment.

25

Section 754.  (Reserved).

26

Section 755.  (Reserved).

27

Section 756.  Extended time for filing special petition for

28

refund.

29

(a)  General rule.--Any party to a transaction who has paid

30

tax by reason of a transaction with respect to which the

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1

department is assessing tax against another person may, within

2

six months after the filing by the department of the assessment

3

against the other person, file a special petition for refund,

4

notwithstanding the person's failure to timely file a petition

5

pursuant to section 3003.1 of the Tax Reform Code of 1971. The

6

provisions of Article XXVII of the Tax Reform Code of 1971 shall

7

be applicable to the special petition for refund, except that

8

the department need not act on the petition until there is a

9

final determination as to the propriety of the assessment filed

10

against the other party to the transaction. Where a petition is

11

filed under this provision in order to take advantage of the

12

extended period of limitations, overpayments by the petitioner

13

shall be refunded but only to the extent of the actual tax,

14

without consideration of interest and penalties, paid by the

15

other party to the transaction.

16

(b)  Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to avoid

17

duplicate payment of tax where a determination is made by the

18

department that one party to a transaction is subject to tax,

19

and another party to the transaction has previously paid tax

20

with respect to the transaction and, as such, this section shall

21

be construed as extending right beyond that provided for by

22

section 753, and not to limit the other section.

23

Section 757.  (Reserved).

24

Section 758.  Limitation on assessment and collection.

25

The amount of the tax imposed by this chapter or the Tax

26

Reform Code of 1971 shall be assessed within three years after

27

the date when the return provided for by section 717(a) or (c)

28

is filed or the end of the year in which the tax liability

29

arises, whichever occurs later. Any assessment may be made at

30

any time during the period notwithstanding that the department

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1

may have made one or more previous assessments against the

2

taxpayer for the year in question, or for any part of the year.

3

In any case, no credit shall be given for any penalty previously

4

assessed or paid.

5

Section 759.  Failure to file return.

6

Where no return is filed, the amount of the tax due may be

7

assessed and collected at any time as to taxable transactions

8

not reported.

9

Section 760.  False or fraudulent return.

10

Where the taxpayer willfully files a false or fraudulent

11

return with intent to evade the tax imposed by this chapter, the

12

amount of tax due may be assessed and collected at any time.

13

Section 761.  Extension of limitation period.

14

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this subchapter

15

where, before the expiration of the period prescribed in that

16

other provision for the assessment of a tax, a taxpayer has

17

consented in writing that the period be extended, the amount of

18

tax due may be assessed at any time within the extended period.

19

The period so extended may be extended further by subsequent

20

consents in writing made before the expiration of the extended

21

period.

22

Section 762.  (Reserved).

23

Section 763.  (Reserved).

24

Section 764.  (Reserved).

25

Section 765.  Interest.

26

If any amount of tax imposed by this chapter is not paid to

27

the department on or before the last date prescribed for

28

payment, interest on the amount at the rate of .75% per month

29

for each month, or fraction thereof, from the date, shall be

30

paid for the period from the last date to the date paid. The

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1

last date prescribed for payment shall be determined under

2

section 722(a) or (c) without regard to any extension of time

3

for payment. In the case of any amount assessed as a deficiency

4

or as an estimated assessment, the date prescribed for payment

5

shall be 30 days after notice of the assessment.

6

Section 766.  Additions to tax.

7

(a)  Failure to file return.--In the case of failure to file

8

any return required by section 715 on the date prescribed for

9

the return, determined with regard to any extension of time for

10

filing, and, in the case in which a return filed understates the

11

true amount due by more than 50%, there shall be added to the

12

amount of tax actually due 5% of the amount of the tax if the

13

failure to file a proper return is for not more than one month,

14

with an additional 5% for each additional month, or fraction

15

thereof, during which such failure continues, not exceeding 25%

16

in the aggregate. In every case at least $2 shall be added.

17

(b)  Addition for understatement.--There shall be added to

18

every assessment under section 731(b) an addition equal to 5% of

19

the amount of the understatement and no addition to the tax

20

shall be paid under section 731(a).

21

(c)  Interest.--If the department assesses a tax according to

22

section 731(a), (b) or (c), there shall be added to the amount

23

of the deficiency interest at the rate of .75% per month for

24

each month, or fraction thereof, from the date prescribed by

25

subsection (a) or section 722(c) for the payment of the tax to

26

the date of notice of the assessment.

27

Section 767.  Penalties.

28

(a)  General rule.--The penalties, additions, interest and

29

liabilities provided by this chapter shall be paid on notice and

30

demand by the department, and shall be assessed and collected in

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1

the same manner as taxes. Except as otherwise provided, any

2

reference in this chapter to tax imposed by this chapter shall

3

be deemed also to refer to the penalties, additions, interest

4

and liabilities provided by this chapter.

5

(b)  Monetary penalty.--Any person who willfully attempts, in

6

any manner, to evade or defeat the tax imposed by this chapter,

7

or the payment thereof, or to assist any other person to evade

8

or defeat the tax imposed by this chapter, or the payment

9

thereof, or to receive a refund improperly shall, in addition to

10

other penalties provided by law, be liable for a penalty equal

11

to one-half of the total amount of the tax evaded.

12

(c)  Burden of proof.--In any direct proceeding arising out

13

of a petition for reassessment or refund as provided in this

14

chapter, in which an issue of fact is raised with respect to

15

whether a return is fraudulent or with respect to the propriety

16

of the imposition by the department of the penalty prescribed in

17

subsection (b), the burden of proof with respect to the issue

18

shall be on the department.

19

Section 768.  Criminal offenses.

20

(a)  False returns.--Any person who with intent to defraud

21

the Commonwealth willfully makes, or causes to be made, any

22

return required by this chapter which is false commits a

23

misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be sentenced to pay a

24

fine of not more than $2,000 or to imprisonment not exceeding

25

three years, or both.

26

(b)  Other offenses.--Except as otherwise provided by

27

subsection (a) and subject to the provisions of subsection (c),

28

any person who:

29

(1)  advertises or holds out or states to the public or

30

to any purchaser or user, directly or indirectly, that the

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1

tax or any part imposed by this chapter will be absorbed by

2

the person, or that it will not be added to the purchase

3

price of the tangible personal property or services described

4

in section 701(k)(2), (3), (4) and (11) through (18) sold or,

5

if added, that the tax or any part will be refunded, other

6

than when the person refunds the purchase price because of

7

the property being returned to the vendor;

8

(2)  sells or leases tangible personal property or the

9

services, the sale or use of which by the purchaser is

10

subject to tax under this chapter, and willfully fails to

11

collect the tax from the purchaser and timely remit the same

12

to the department;

13

(3)  willfully fails or neglects to timely file any

14

return or report required by this chapter or, as a taxpayer,

15

refuses to timely pay any tax, penalty or interest imposed or

16

provided for by this chapter, or willfully fails to preserve

17

the person's books, papers and records as directed by the

18

department;

19

(4)  refuses to permit the department or any of its

20

authorized agents to examine the person's books, records or

21

papers, or who knowingly makes any incomplete, false or

22

fraudulent return or report;

23

(5)  does or attempts to do anything to prevent the full

24

disclosure of the amount or character of taxable sales

25

purchases or use made by himself or any other person;

26

(6)  provides any person with a false statement as to the

27

payment of tax with respect to particular tangible personal

28

property or services; or

29

(7)  makes, utters or issues a false or fraudulent

30

exemption certificate;

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1

commits a misdemeanor and, upon conviction shall be sentenced to

2

pay a fine of not more than $1,000 and costs of prosecution or

3

to imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.

4

(c)  Exceptions.--

5

(1)  Any person who maintains a place of business outside

6

this Commonwealth may absorb the tax with respect to taxable

7

sales made in the normal course of business to customers

8

present at that place of business without being subject to

9

the penalty and fines.

10

(2)  Advertising tax-included prices shall be

11

permissible, if the prepaid services are sold by the service

12

provider, for prepaid telecommunications services not

13

evidenced by the transfer of tangible personal property or

14

for prepaid mobile telecommunications services.

15

(d)  Penalties are cumulative.--The penalties imposed by this

16

section shall be in addition to any other penalties imposed by

17

any provision of this chapter.

18

Section 769.  Abatement of additions or penalties.

19

On the filing of a petition for reassessment or a petition

20

for refund as provided under this chapter by a taxpayer,

21

additions or penalties imposed on the taxpayer by this chapter

22

or the Tax Reform Code of 1971 may be waived or abated, in whole

23

or in part, where the petitioner has established that the

24

petitioner has acted in good faith, without negligence and with

25

no intent to defraud.

26

Section 770.  Rules and regulations.

27

(a)  General rule.--The department shall enforce the

28

provisions of this chapter and shall prescribe, adopt,

29

promulgate and enforce rules and regulations not inconsistent

30

with the provisions of this chapter, relating to any matter or

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1

thing pertaining to the administration and enforcement of the

2

provisions of this chapter, and the collection of taxes,

3

penalties and interest imposed by this chapter. The department

4

may prescribe the extent, if any, to which any of the rules and

5

regulations shall be applied without retroactive effect.

6

(b)  Determination of purchase price.--

7

(1)  In determining the purchase price of taxable sales

8

where, because of affiliation of interests between the vendor

9

and the purchaser or irrespective of any such affiliation, if

10

for any other reason, the purchase price of the sale is in

11

the opinion of the department not indicative of the true

12

value of the article or the fair price of the article, the

13

department shall, pursuant to uniform and equitable rules,

14

determine the amount of constructive purchase price on the

15

basis of which the tax shall be computed and levied.

16

(2)  The rules shall provide for a constructive amount of

17

a purchase price for each sale, which price shall equal a

18

price for the article which would naturally and fairly be

19

charged in an arm's-length transaction in which the element

20

of common interests between vendor and purchaser or, if no

21

common interest exists, any other element causing a

22

distortion of the price or value is absent.

23

(3)  For the purpose of this chapter where a taxable sale

24

occurs between a parent corporation and a subsidiary

25

affiliate or controlled corporation of such parent, there

26

shall be a rebuttable presumption that because of such common

27

interest the transaction was not at arm's-length.

28

Section 771.  Keeping of records.

29

(a)  Persons liable for taxes.--Every person liable for any

30

tax imposed by this chapter, or for the collection of the tax,

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1

shall keep the records, render such statements, make the returns

2

and comply with the rules and regulations as the department may,

3

from time to time, prescribe regarding matters pertinent to the

4

person's business. Whenever in the judgment of the department it

5

is necessary, it may require any person, by notice served on the

6

person, or by regulations, to make the returns, render the

7

statements or keep the records as the department deems

8

sufficient to show whether the person is liable to pay or

9

collect tax under this chapter.

10

(b)  Persons collecting taxes.--Any person liable to collect

11

tax from another person under the provisions of this chapter

12

shall file reports, keep records, make payments and be subject

13

to interest and penalties as provided for under this chapter, in

14

the same manner as if the person were directly subject to the

15

tax.

16

(c)  Nonresidents.--

17

(1)  A nonresident who does business in this Commonwealth

18

as a retail dealer shall keep adequate records of the

19

business and of the tax due with respect to the business,

20

which records shall at all times be retained within this

21

Commonwealth unless retention outside this Commonwealth is

22

authorized by the department.

23

(2)  No taxes collected from purchasers shall be sent

24

outside this Commonwealth without the written consent of and

25

in accordance with conditions prescribed by the department.

26

(3)  The department may require a taxpayer who desires to

27

retain records or tax collections outside this Commonwealth

28

to assume reasonable out-of-State audit expenses.

29

(d)  Retail dealers.--

30

(1)  Any person doing business as a retail dealer who at

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1

the same time is engaged in another business which does not

2

involve the making of sales taxable under this chapter shall

3

keep separate books and records of the person's businesses so

4

as to show the sales taxable under this chapter separately

5

from the sales not taxable under this chapter.

6

(2)  If the person fails to keep such separate books and

7

records, the person shall be liable for tax at the rate

8

designated in section 702 on the entire purchase price of

9

sales from both or all of the person's businesses.

10

(e)  Segregation of taxes required.--

11

(1)  In those instances where a vendor gives no sales

12

memoranda or uses registers showing only total sales, the

13

vendor shall adopt some method of segregating tax from sales

14

receipts and keep records showing the segregation, all in

15

accordance with proper accounting and business practices.

16

(2)  A vendor may apply to the department for permission

17

to use a collection and recording procedure which will show

18

the information as the law requires with reasonable accuracy

19

and simplicity. The application must contain a detailed

20

description of the procedure to be adopted.

21

(3)  Permission to use the proposed procedure is not to

22

be construed as relieving the vendor from remitting the full

23

amount of tax collected.

24

(4)  The department may revoke the permission on 30 days'

25

notice to the vendor.

26

(5)  Refusal of the department to grant permission in

27

advance to use the procedure shall not be construed to

28

invalidate a procedure which on examination shows the

29

information as the law requires.

30

Section 771.1.  Reports and records of promoters.

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1

Every licensed promoter shall keep a record of the date and

2

place of each show and the name, address, sales, use and hotel

3

occupancy license number of every person whom the licensed

4

promoter permits to display for sale or to sell tangible

5

personal property or services subject to tax under section 702

6

at the show. The records shall be open for inspection and

7

examination at any reasonable time by the department or a duly

8

authorized representative, and the records shall, unless the

9

department consents in writing to an earlier destruction, be

10

preserved for three years after the date the report was filed or

11

the date it was due, whichever occurs later, except that the

12

department may by regulation require that they be kept for a

13

longer period of time.

14

Section 772.  Examinations.

15

(a)  Power of department.--The department or any of its

16

authorized agents may examine the books, papers and records of

17

any taxpayer in order to verify the accuracy and completeness of

18

any return made or if no return was made, to ascertain and

19

assess the tax imposed by this chapter. The department may

20

require the preservation of all such books, papers and records

21

for any period deemed proper by it but not to exceed three years

22

from the end of the calendar year to which the records relate.

23

(b)  Duty of taxpayers.--Every taxpayer shall give to the

24

department, or its agent, the means, facilities and opportunity

25

for the examinations and investigation.

26

(c)  Other powers of department.--

27

(1)  The department is further authorized to examine any

28

person, under oath, concerning taxable sales or use by any

29

taxpayer or concerning any other matter relating to the

30

enforcement or administration of this chapter, and to this

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1

end may compel the production of books, papers and records

2

and the attendance of all persons whether as parties or

3

witnesses whom it believes to have knowledge of such matters.

4

(2)  The procedure for such hearings or examinations

5

shall be the same as that provided by the act of April 9,

6

1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, relating to

7

inquisitorial powers of fiscal officers.

8

Section 773.  Records and examinations of delivery agents.

9

Every agent for the purpose of delivery of goods shipped into

10

this Commonwealth by a nonresident, including, but not limited

11

to, a common carrier, shall maintain adequate records of such

12

deliveries pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the

13

department and shall make the records available to the

14

department upon request after due notice.

15

Section 774.  Unauthorized disclosure.

16

Any information gained by the department as a result of any

17

return, examination, investigation, hearing or verification

18

required or authorized by this chapter shall be confidential,

19

except for official purposes and except in accordance with

20

proper judicial order or as otherwise provided by law, and any

21

person unlawfully divulging such information commits a

22

misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be sentenced to pay a

23

fine of not more than $1,000 and costs of prosecution or to

24

imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.

25

Section 775.  Cooperation with other governments.

26

Notwithstanding the provisions of section 774, the department

27

may permit the Commissioner of Internal Revenue of the United

28

States, or the proper officer of any state, or the authorized

29

representative of either such officer, to inspect the tax

30

returns of any taxpayer, or may furnish to the officer or to the

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1

officer's authorized representative an abstract of the return of

2

any taxpayer, or supply the officer or the authorized

3

representative with information concerning any item contained in

4

any return or disclosed by the report of any examination or

5

investigation of the return of any taxpayer. This permission

6

shall be granted only if the statutes of the United States or of

7

such other state, as the case may be, grant substantially

8

similar privileges to the proper officer of the Commonwealth

9

charged with the administration of this chapter.

10

Section 776.  Interstate compacts.

11

(a)  General rule.--The Governor, or the Governor's

12

authorized representative, may confer with the Governor and the

13

authorized representatives of other states with respect to

14

reciprocal use tax collection between the Commonwealth and such

15

other states.

16

(b)  Other powers.--The Governor, or the Governor's

17

authorized representative, may join with the authorities of

18

other states to conduct joint investigations, to exchange

19

information, hold joint hearings and enter into compacts or

20

interstate agreements with such other states to accomplish

21

uniform reciprocal use tax collections between those states who

22

are parties to any compact or interstate agreement and the

23

Commonwealth.

24

Section 777.  Bonds.

25

(a)  Procedure.--

26

(1)  Whenever the department, in its discretion, deems it

27

necessary to protect the revenues to be obtained under the

28

provisions of this chapter, it may require any nonresident

29

natural person or any foreign corporation, association,

30

fiduciary, partnership or other entity, not authorized to do

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1

in this Commonwealth or not having an established place of

2

business in this Commonwealth and subject to the tax imposed

3

by section 702, to file a bond issued by a surety company

4

authorized to do business in this Commonwealth and approved

5

by the Insurance Commissioner as to solvency and

6

responsibility, in such amounts as it may fix, to secure the

7

payment of any tax or penalties due, or which may become due,

8

from a natural person or corporation.

9

(2)  In order to protect the revenues to be obtained

10

under the provisions of this chapter, the department shall

11

require any nonresident natural person or any foreign

12

corporation, association, fiduciary, partnership or entity,

13

who or which is a building contractor, or who or which is a

14

supplier delivering building materials for work in this

15

Commonwealth and is not authorized to do business in this

16

Commonwealth or does not have an established place of

17

business in this Commonwealth and is subject to the tax

18

imposed by section 702, to file a bond issued by a surety

19

company authorized to do business in this Commonwealth and

20

approved by the Insurance Commissioner as to solvency and

21

responsibility, in the amounts as it may fix, to secure the

22

payments of any tax or penalties due, or which may become

23

due, from a natural person, corporation or other entity.

24

(3)  The department may also require a bond of any person

25

petitioning the department for reassessment, in the case of

26

any assessment over $500 or where it is of the opinion that

27

the ultimate collection is in jeopardy.

28

(4)  (i)  The department may, for a period of three

29

years, require a bond of any person who has on three or

30

more occasions within a 12-month period either filed a

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1

return or made payment to the department more than 30

2

days late.

3

(ii)  If the department determines that a taxpayer is

4

to file a bond, the department shall give notice to the

5

taxpayer to that effect, specifying the amount of the

6

bond required.

7

(iii)  The taxpayer shall file a bond within five

8

days after the giving of the notice by the department

9

unless, within the five-day period, the taxpayer requests

10

in writing a hearing before the secretary or the

11

secretary's representative at which hearing the

12

necessity, propriety and amount of the bond shall be

13

determined by the secretary or a representative. The

14

determination shall be final and shall be complied within

15

15 days after notice is mailed to the taxpayer.

16

(b)  Alternative security.--

17

(1)  In lieu of the bond required by this section,

18

securities approved by the department, or cash in the amount

19

as it may prescribe, may be deposited.

20

(2)  Such securities or cash shall be kept in the custody

21

of the department, who may, at any time, without notice to

22

the depositor, apply them to any tax and/or interest or

23

penalties due, and for that purpose the securities may be

24

sold by the department, at public or private sale, on five

25

days' written notice to the depositor.

26

(c)  Lien may be filed.--

27

(1)  The department may file a lien pursuant to section

28

742 against any taxpayer who fails to file a bond when

29

required to do so under this section.

30

(2)  All funds received on execution of the judgment on

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1

the lien shall be refunded to the taxpayer with 3% interest

2

should a final determination be made that the taxpayer does

3

not owe any payment to the department.

4

SUBCHAPTER G

5

FUNDING PROVISIONS

6

Section 780.  (Reserved).

7

Section 781.  Appropriation for refunds.

8

So much of the proceeds of the tax imposed by this chapter as

9

shall be necessary for the payment of refunds, enforcement or

10

administration under this chapter is hereby appropriated for

11

those purposes.

12

Section 781.1.  Construction.

13

To the extent that the language of this chapter is identical

14

to that of equivalent provisions in the former act of March 6,

15

1956 (P.L.1228, No.381), known as the Tax Act of 1963 for

16

Education, or Article II of the Tax Reform Code of 1971, that

17

language shall be deemed a reenactment of such identical

18

provisions.

19

Section 781.2.  Transfers to Public Transportation Reserve Fund.

20

(a)  Establishment of fund.--The amount of additional

21

revenues that are generated by taxes received under this chapter

22

that are necessary to replace the revenue earmarked for

23

transportation under 74 Pa.C.S. § 1506 (relating to fund), not

24

to exceed 4.4% of such additional revenues, shall be deposited

25

in the Public Transportation Reserve Fund which is hereby

26

established in the State Treasury and shall be disbursed as

27

provided under an act of the General Assembly enacted after the

28

effective date of this section.

29

(b)  Time period for transfers.--Within 30 days of the close

30

of a calendar month, 1.01% of the taxes and other sums specified

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1

in subsection (a) received in the prior calendar month shall be

2

transferred to the Public Transportation Reserve Fund.

3

Section 782.  Transfers to Education Operating Fund.

4

(a)  Legislative intent.--It is the intent of the General

5

Assembly to broaden the sales and use tax base in order to

6

provide funds for the operating expenses of school districts and

7

as a means to abolish the school property tax.

8

(b)  Source of funding for transfers.--Except as otherwise

9

provided under section 781.2, all revenues received on or after

10

January 1, 2011, from the tax imposed by this chapter shall be

11

transferred to the Education Operating Fund.

12

CHAPTER 9

13

SENIOR CITIZENS PROPERTY TAX AND

14

RENT REBATE ASSISTANCE

15

Section 901.  Scope of chapter.

16

This chapter provides senior citizens with assistance in the

17

form of property tax and rent rebates.

18

Section 902.  (Reserved).

19

Section 903.  Definitions.

20

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter

21

shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

22

context clearly indicates otherwise:

23

"Board."  The Board of Finance and Revenue of the

24

Commonwealth.

25

"Claimant."  A person who files a claim for property tax

26

rebate or rent rebate in lieu of property taxes and:

27

(1)  was at least 65 years of age or whose spouse, if a

28

member of the household, was at least 65 years of age during

29

a calendar year in which real property taxes, rent and

30

inflation costs were due and payable;

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1

(2)  was a widow or widower and was at least 50 years of

2

age during a calendar year or part thereof in which real

3

property taxes, rent and inflation costs were due and

4

payable; or

5

(3)  was a permanently disabled person 18 years of age or

6

older during a calendar year or part thereof in which the

7

real property taxes, rent and inflation costs were due and

8

payable.

9

"Homestead."  A dwelling, whether owned or rented, and so

10

much of the land surrounding it, as is reasonably necessary for

11

the use of the dwelling as a home, occupied by a claimant. The

12

term includes, but is not limited to:

13

(1)  Premises occupied by reason of ownership or lease in

14

a cooperative housing corporation.

15

(2)  A mobile home which is assessed as realty for local

16

property tax purposes and the land, if owned or rented by the

17

claimant, upon which the mobile home is situated, and any

18

other similar living accommodation.

19

(3)  A part of a multidwelling or multipurpose building

20

and a part of the land upon which it is built.

21

(4)  Premises occupied by reason of the claimant's

22

ownership or rental of a dwelling located on land owned by a

23

nonprofit incorporated association, of which the claimant is

24

a member, if the claimant is required to pay a pro rata share

25

of the property taxes levied against the association's land.

26

(5)  Premises occupied by a claimant if the claimant is

27

required by law to pay a property tax by reason of the

28

claimant's ownership or rental, including a possessory

29

interest, in the dwelling, the land or both. An owner

30

includes a person in possession under a contract of sale,

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1

deed of trust, life estate, joint tenancy or tenancy in

2

common or by reason of statutes of descent and distribution.

3

"Household income."  All income received by a claimant and

4

the claimant's spouse while residing in their homestead during

5

the calendar year for which a rebate is claimed.

6

"Income."  All income from whatever source derived,

7

including, but not limited to:

8

(1)  Salaries, wages, bonuses, commissions, income from

9

self-employment, alimony, support money, cash public

10

assistance and relief.

11

(2)  The gross amount of any pensions or annuities,

12

including railroad retirement benefits for calendar years

13

prior to 1999 and 50% of railroad retirement benefits for

14

calendar years 1999 and thereafter.

15

(3)  All benefits received under the Social Security Act

16

(49 Stat. 620, 42 U.S.C. § 301 et seq.), except Medicare

17

benefits, for calendar years prior to 1999, and 50% of all

18

benefits received under the Social Security Act, except

19

Medicare benefits, for calendar years 1999 and thereafter.

20

(4)  All benefits received under State unemployment

21

insurance laws and veterans' disability payments.

22

(5)  All interest received from the Federal or any state

23

government or any instrumentality or political subdivision

24

thereof.

25

(6)  Realized capital gains and rentals.

26

(7)  Workers' compensation.

27

(8)  The gross amount of loss of time insurance benefits,

28

life insurance benefits and proceeds, except the first $5,000

29

of the total of death benefit payments.

30

(9)  Gifts of cash or property, other than transfers by

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1

gift between members of a household, in excess of a total

2

value of $300.

3

The term does not include surplus food or other relief in kind

4

supplied by a governmental agency, property tax or rent rebate

5

or inflation dividend.

6

"Inflation costs."  The additional costs of those essential

7

consumer needs of senior citizens in this Commonwealth. The term

8

includes, but is not limited to, the additional cost of medical

9

prescriptions, energy needs, transportation and food and

10

clothing essentials.

11

"Permanently disabled person."  A person who is unable to

12

engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any

13

medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can

14

be expected to continue indefinitely, except as provided in

15

section 904(b)(3) and (c).

16

"Real property taxes."  All taxes on a homestead, exclusive

17

of municipal assessments, delinquent charges and interest, due

18

and payable during a calendar year.

19

"Rent rebate in lieu of property taxes."  Twenty percent of

20

the gross amount actually paid in cash or its equivalent in any

21

calendar year to a landlord in connection with the occupancy of

22

a homestead by a claimant, irrespective of whether such amount

23

constitutes payment solely for the right of occupancy or

24

otherwise.

25

"Widow" or "widower."  The surviving wife or the surviving

26

husband, as the case may be, of a deceased individual and who

27

has not remarried except as provided in section 904(b)(3) and

28

(c).

29

Section 904.  Property tax, rent rebate and inflation cost.

30

(a)  Schedule of rebates.--

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1

(1)  The amount of any claim for property tax rebate or

2

rent rebate in lieu of property taxes for real property taxes

3

or rent due and payable during calendar years 1985 and

4

thereafter shall be determined in accordance with the

5

following schedule:

6

7

8

9

  

  

  

Household Income

Percentage of Real Property Taxes or Rent Rebate in Lieu of Property Taxes Allowed as Rebate

10

$    0 - $4,999

100%

11

 5,000 -  5,499

100

12

 5,500 -  5,999

 90

13

 6,000 -  6,499

80

14

 6,500 -  6,999

70

15

 7,000 -  7,499

60

16

 7,500 -  7,999

50

17

 8,000 -  8,499

40

18

 8,500 -  8,999

35

19

 9,000 -  9,999

25

20

10,000 - 11,999

20

21

12,000 - 12,999

15

22

13,000 - 15,000

10

23

(2)  To all claimants eligible for a property tax or rent

24

rebate pursuant to paragraph (1), there shall be paid an

25

inflation dividend determined in accordance with the

26

following schedule:

27

Household Income

Dividend

28

$    0 - $4,999

$125

29

 5,000 -  5,499

  100

30

 5,500 -  5,999

  100

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1

 6,000 -  6,499

75

2

 6,500 -  6,999

75

3

 7,000 -  7,499

60

4

 7,500 -  7,999

60

5

 8,000 -  8,499

45

6

 8,500 -  8,999

45

7

 9,000 -  9,999

30

8

10,000 - 11,999

30

9

12,000 - 12,999

30

10

13,000 - 15,000

20

11

(b)  Limitations on claims.--

12

(1)  No claim shall be allowed if the amount of property

13

tax or rent rebate computed in accordance with this section

14

is less than $10, and the maximum amount of property tax or

15

rent rebate payable shall not exceed $500.

16

(2)  No claim shall be allowed if the claimant is a

17

tenant of an owner of real property exempt from real property

18

taxes.

19

(c)  Apportionment and public assistance.--

20

(1)  If any of the following exist relating to a claim:

21

(i)  a homestead is owned or rented and occupied for

22

only a portion of a year or is owned or rented in part by

23

a person who does not meet the qualifications for a

24

claimant, exclusive of any interest owned or leased by a

25

claimant's spouse;

26

(ii)  the claimant is a widow or widower who

27

remarries; or

28

(iii)  the claimant is a formerly disabled person who

29

is no longer disabled,

30

the department shall apportion the real property taxes or

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1

rent in accordance with the period or degree of ownership or

2

leasehold or eligibility of the claimant in determining the

3

amount of rebate for which a claimant is eligible.

4

(2)  A claimant who receives public assistance from the

5

Department of Public Welfare shall not be eligible for rent

6

rebate in lieu of property taxes or an inflation dividend

7

during those months within which the claimant receives public

8

assistance.

9

(d)  Government subsidies.--Rent shall not include subsidies

10

provided by or through a governmental agency.

11

Section 905.  Filing of claim.

12

(a)  General rule.--Except as otherwise provided in

13

subsection (b), a claim for property tax or rent rebate shall be

14

filed with the department on or before the 30th day of June of

15

the year next succeeding the end of the calendar year in which

16

real property taxes or rent was due and payable.

17

(b)  Exception.--A claim filed after the June 30 deadline

18

until December 31 of such calendar year shall be accepted by the

19

secretary as long as funds are available to pay the benefits to

20

the late filing claimant.

21

(c)  Payments from State Lottery Fund.--No reimbursement on a

22

claim shall be made from the State Lottery Fund earlier than the

23

day following the 30th day of June provided in this chapter on

24

which that claim may be filed with the department.

25

(d)  Eligibility of claimants.--

26

(1)  Only one claimant from a homestead each year shall

27

be entitled to the property tax or rent rebate.

28

(2)  If two or more persons are able to meet the

29

qualifications for a claimant, they may determine who the

30

claimant shall be.

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1

(3)  If they are unable to agree, the department shall

2

determine to whom the rebate is to be paid.

3

Section 906.  Proof of claim.

4

(a)  Contents.--Each claim shall include:

5

(1)  Reasonable proof of household income.

6

(2)  The size and nature of the property claimed as a

7

homestead.

8

(3)  The rent, tax receipt or other proof that the real

9

property taxes on the homestead have been paid or rent in

10

connection with the occupancy of a homestead has been paid.

11

(4)  If the claimant is a widow or widower, a declaration

12

of such status in such manner as prescribed by the secretary.

13

(b)  Proof of disability.--

14

(1)  Proof that a claimant is eligible to receive

15

disability benefits under the Social Security Act (49 Stat.

16

620, 42 U.S.C. § 301 et seq.) shall constitute proof of

17

disability under this chapter.

18

(2)  No person who has been found not to be disabled by

19

the Social Security Administration shall be granted a rebate

20

under this chapter.

21

(3)  A claimant not covered under the Social Security Act

22

shall be examined by a physician designated by the department

23

and such status determined using the same standards used by

24

the Social Security Administration.

25

(c)  Direct payment of taxes or rent not required.--It shall

26

not be necessary that such taxes or rent were paid directly by

27

the claimant if the rent or taxes have been paid when the claim

28

is filed.

29

(d)  Proof of age on first claim.--The first claim filed

30

shall include proof that the claimant or the claimant's spouse

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1

was at least 65 years of age, or at least 50 years of age in the

2

case of a widow or widower during the calendar year in which

3

real property taxes or rent were due and payable.

4

Section 907.  Incorrect claim.

5

Whenever on audit of a claim the department finds the claim

6

to have been incorrectly determined, it shall redetermine the

7

correct amount of the claim and notify the claimant of the

8

reason for the redetermination and the amount of the corrected

9

claim.

10

Section 908.  Funds for payment of claims.

11

(a)  Payment.--Approved claims shall be paid from the State

12

Lottery Fund established by the act of August 26, 1971 (P.L.351,

13

No.91), known as the State Lottery Law.

14

(b)  Minimum funding level.--Not less than the percentage of

15

the State Lottery Fund expended in the fiscal year beginning

16

July 1, 2007, for the provision of property tax relief and rent

17

rebate in lieu of property taxes shall be transferred from the

18

State Lottery Fund each year into a restricted account within

19

the State Lottery Fund, which account is hereby established and

20

shall be known as the Property Tax and Rent Rebate Restricted

21

Account. The moneys of the account shall be expended for the

22

sole purpose of providing property tax relief and rent rebates

23

in lieu of property taxes as provided by law.

24

(c)  Restrictions on use of Gaming Fund.--No moneys in the

25

Gaming Fund shall be transferred to the State Lottery Fund or

26

otherwise used for the purposes of this chapter.

27

Section 909.  Claim forms and rules and regulations.

28

Necessary rules and regulations shall be prescribed by a

29

committee consisting of the Secretary of Aging, the Secretary of

30

Revenue and the Secretary of Community and Economic Development.

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1

The Secretary of Aging shall serve as the chairman of the

2

committee. The department shall receive all applications,

3

determine the eligibility of claimants, hear appeals, disburse

4

payments and make available suitable forms for the filing of

5

claims.

6

Section 910.  Fraudulent claims and conveyances to obtain

7

benefits.

8

(a)  Civil penalty.--In any case in which a claim is

9

excessive and was filed with fraudulent intent, the claim shall

10

be disallowed in full, and a penalty of 25% of the amount

11

claimed shall be imposed. The penalty and the amount of the

12

disallowed claim, if the claim has been paid, shall bear

13

interest at the rate of 1.5% per month from the date of the

14

claim until repaid.

15

(b)  Criminal penalty.--The claimant and any person who

16

assisted in the preparation or filing of a fraudulent claim

17

commits a misdemeanor of the third degree and, upon conviction

18

thereof, shall be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding $1,000

19

or to imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both.

20

(c)  Disallowance for receipt of title.--A claim shall be

21

disallowed if the claimant received title to the homestead

22

primarily for the purpose of receiving property tax rebate.

23

Section 911.  Petition for redetermination.

24

(a)  Right to file.--A claimant whose claim is either denied,

25

corrected or otherwise adversely affected by the department may

26

file with the department a petition for redetermination on forms

27

supplied by the department within 90 days after the date of

28

mailing of written notice by the department of such action.

29

(b)  Contents.--The petition shall set forth the grounds upon

30

which the claimant alleges that such departmental action is

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1

erroneous or unlawful, in whole or part, and shall contain an

2

affidavit or affirmation that the facts contained in the

3

petition are true and correct.

4

(c)  Extension of time for filing.--

5

(1)  An extension of time for filing the petition may be

6

allowed for cause but may not exceed 120 days.

7

(2)  The department shall hold such hearings as may be

8

necessary for the purpose of redetermination, and each

9

claimant who has duly filed such petition for redetermination

10

shall be notified by the department of the time when and the

11

place where such hearing in the claimant's case will be held.

12

(d)  Time period for decision.--The department shall, within

13

six months after receiving a filed petition for redetermination,

14

dispose of the matters raised by such petition and shall mail

15

notice of the department's decision to the claimant.

16

Section 912.  Review by Board of Finance and Revenue.

17

(a)  Right to review.--Within 90 days after the date of

18

official receipt by the claimant of notice mailed by the

19

department of its decision on a petition for redetermination

20

filed with it, the claimant who is adversely affected by the

21

decision may by petition request the board to review such

22

action.

23

(b)  Effect of no decision from department.--The failure of

24

the department to officially notify the claimant of a decision

25

within the six-month period provided for by section 911 shall

26

act as a denial of the petition, and a petition for review may

27

be filed with the board within 120 days after written notice is

28

officially received by the claimant that the department has

29

failed to dispose of the petition within the six-month period.

30

(c)  Contents of petition for redetermination.--A petition

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1

for redetermination filed under this section shall state the

2

reasons upon which the claimant relies or shall incorporate by

3

reference the petition for redetermination in which such reasons

4

were stated. The petition shall be supported by affidavit that

5

the facts set forth therein are correct and true.

6

(d)  Time period for decision.--The board shall act in

7

disposition of petitions filed with it within six months after

8

they have been received, and, in the event of failure of the

9

board to dispose of any petition within six months, the action

10

taken by the department upon the petition for redetermination

11

shall be deemed sustained.

12

(e)  Relief authorized by board.--The board may sustain the

13

action taken by the department on the petition for

14

redetermination or it may take such other action as it shall

15

deem necessary and consistent with provisions of this chapter.

16

(f)  Form of notice.--Notice of the action of the board shall

17

be given by mail to the department and to the claimant.

18

Section 913.  Appeal.

19

A claimant aggrieved by a decision of the board may appeal

20

from the decision of the board in the manner provided by law for

21

appeals from decisions of the board in tax cases.

22

CHAPTER 11

23

LIMITATIONS ON 

24

SCHOOL DISTRICT TAXATION

25

Section 1101.  Authority to levy taxes and effect of future

26

Constitutional amendment.

27

(a)  Abrogating authority to impose certain taxes.--

28

(1)  The authority of any school district to levy, assess

29

and collect any real property tax under the Public School

30

Code of 1949, or any other act shall expire in accordance

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1

with the schedule set forth under section 1102, at midnight

2

December 31, 2010.

3

(2)  The authority of a school district to impose or

4

continue any tax adopted pursuant to the Local Tax Enabling

5

Act or a school per capita tax pursuant to the Public School

6

Code of 1949 or to impose or continue any other tax not

7

authorized under this act shall expire at midnight on

8

December 31, 2011.

9

(3)  The authority of a city of the first class to impose

10

or continue to provide for the imposition or continuation of

11

any tax, including, but not limited to, the real property

12

tax, for the use of a school district of the first class that

13

is not specifically authorized under this act shall expire in

14

accordance with the schedule set forth under section 1102(b).

15

(4)  No school district shall have the authority to

16

increase any real property tax on commercial property under

17

the Public School Code of 1949 or any other act after the

18

effective date of this section.

19

(b)  Collection of certain taxes unaffected.--The provisions

20

of this section or any other provision of this act shall not

21

prevent or interfere with any action of any school district to

22

collect any tax owed by any taxpayer prior to the repeal of any

23

law authorizing such tax after such law is repealed pursuant to

24

this act.

25

(c)  Limitations on adoption of personal income taxes

26

authorized under Chapter 3 and earned income taxes authorized

27

under Chapter 5.--A school district that adopts a personal

28

income tax pursuant to Chapter 3 may not adopt an earned income

29

tax under Chapter 5. A school district that adopts an earned

30

income tax under Chapter 5 may not adopt a personal income tax

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1

under Chapter 3.

2

Section 1102.  Transitional taxes.

3

(a)  Transitional taxes for school districts other than

4

school districts of the first class.--Notwithstanding any other

5

provision of the Public School Code of 1949 or any other law to

6

the contrary:

7

(1)  Any school district, other than a school district of

8

the first class, may continue to levy, assess and collect a

9

real property tax for the fiscal years 2011-2012, 2012-2013

10

and 2013-2014 and, on commercial property, only for fiscal

11

year 2009-2010, subject to the limitations set forth in

12

paragraphs (2), (3), (4) and (5), and may continue to levy,

13

assess and collect taxes, other than realty transfer taxes,

14

pursuant to the Local Tax Enabling Act and the school per

15

capita tax until midnight on December 31, 2011.

16

(2)  For fiscal year 2011-2012, the rate of real property

17

tax shall be calculated to generate 75% of the revenue

18

generated by the real property tax on residential property

19

for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

20

(3)  For fiscal year 2012-2013, the rate of the real

21

property tax shall be calculated to generate 50% of the

22

revenue generated by the real property tax on residential

23

property for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

24

(4)  For fiscal year 2013-2014, the rate of the real

25

property tax shall be calculated to generate 25% of the

26

revenue generated by the real property tax on residential

27

property for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

28

(5)  For all fiscal years beginning after June 30, 2014,

29

no school district shall have any power or authority to levy,

30

assess and collect any real property tax on residential

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1

property.

2

(b)  Transitional taxes for school districts of the first

3

class.--Notwithstanding any other provision of the Public School

4

Code of 1949 or any other law to the contrary:

5

(1)  Subject to the provisions set forth in paragraphs

6

(2), (3) and (4), any school district of the first class and

7

city of the first class may continue to levy, assess and

8

collect a real property tax and all other taxes in existence

9

on July 31, 2010, at the rates in effect on that date as

10

reduced in accordance with this subsection, for the use of a

11

coterminous school district of the first class for fiscal

12

years 2011-2012, 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 and, on residential

13

property, only for fiscal year 2014-2015 and thereafter. The

14

authority to levy, assess and collect such taxes for the use

15

of coterminous school districts shall expire at midnight on

16

December 31, 2014.

17

(2)  For fiscal year 2011-2012, all taxes identified

18

under paragraph (1) shall be calculated to generate 75% of

19

the revenue generated by all such taxes on residential

20

property for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

21

(3)  For fiscal year 2012-2013, all taxes identified

22

under paragraph (1) shall be calculated to generate 50% of

23

the revenue generated by those taxes on residential property

24

for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

25

(4)  For fiscal year 2013-2014, all taxes identified

26

under paragraph (1) shall be calculated to generate 25% of

27

the revenue generated by those taxes on residential property

28

for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

29

(5)  For all fiscal years beginning after June 30, 2014,

30

no city of the first class shall have any power or authority

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1

to levy, assess and collect any of the taxes identified under

2

paragraph (1) for school purposes, except for a real property

3

tax on commercial property.

4

Section 1103.  Consideration of State appropriations or

5

reimbursements.

6

The personal income or earned income tax levied shall not be

7

invalidated by reason of the fact that in determining the amount

8

to be raised by such tax no deduction was made for

9

appropriations or reimbursements paid or payable by the

10

Commonwealth to the school district.

11

Section 1104.  Taxes for cities and school districts of the

12

first class.

13

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Public School Code

14

of 1949 or any other law to the contrary:

15

(1)  Nothing in this act shall be construed to limit or

16

impair a city of the first class from levying, assessing or

17

collecting any tax for municipal purposes or from increasing

18

the millage for real estate taxes or revenues if the revenues

19

derived from the real property tax are used solely for

20

municipal purposes.

21

(2)  The reduction in real property tax millage in cities

22

of the first class shall be made in four equal installments

23

beginning with the 2011-2012 fiscal year and shall reduce the

24

millage by not less than 60% from the millage in effect on

25

July 30, 2010.

26

CHAPTER 12

27

INDEBTEDNESS

28

Section 1201.  Expiration of authority to issue debt.

29

Notwithstanding any other provision of 53 Pa.C.S. Pt. VII 

30

Subpt. B (relating to indebtedness and borrowing) or any other

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1

law to the contrary, no school district, including a school

2

district of the first class, shall incur any electoral debt,

3

lease rental debt or nonelectoral debt under 53 Pa.C.S. Pt. VII 

4

Subpt. B after the effective date of this section.

5

Section 1202.  Notices and reporting by school districts of debt

6

outstanding.

7

(a)  Duties.--

8

(1)  (i)  On or before March 31, 2011, each school

9

district, including a school district of the first class,

10

shall identify the outstanding amount of all electoral

11

debt, lease rental debt or nonelectoral debt incurred as

12

of June 30, 2011, and shall notify on or before March 31,

13

2011, each holder of the bonds or notes of such debt of

14

the amount owed to each holder as of December 31, 2010.

15

The notice shall inform the holders of the provisions of

16

this section and section 1203.

17

(ii)  A holder of a bond or note of such debt shall

18

have the right to dispute the amount stated as owed to

19

the holder in the notice, provided that the holder

20

notifies the local government unit in writing prior to

21

April 15, 2011. A holder that fails to file a dispute

22

under this subparagraph shall waive the right to dispute

23

the amount owed to the holder after the Commonwealth

24

assumes the debt of the school district under section

25

1203.

26

(iii)  A school district that receives a written

27

dispute from a holder under subparagraph (ii) shall

28

attempt to resolve the dispute by May 1, 2011.

29

(2)  On or before June 30, 2011, each school district,

30

including a school district of the first class, shall certify

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1

and report to the Department of Revenue the outstanding

2

amount of all electoral debt, lease rental debt or

3

nonelectoral debt incurred as of December 31, 2010, together

4

with any information requested by the department in order for

5

the Commonwealth to comply with the requirements of this

6

section and section 1203.

7

(b)  Audit by Department of Revenue.--

8

(1)  The Department of Revenue shall audit each report

9

submitted under subsection (a) and shall certify the amount

10

of each report and the total aggregate amount of all reports

11

to the State Treasurer and the Education Operating Fund Board

12

on or before June 30, 2011.

13

(2)  If the Department of Revenue disputes all or any

14

portion of a report submitted under subsection (a), the

15

department shall not include such amount in the certification

16

to the State Treasurer and the Education Operating Fund Board

17

and shall notify the school district in writing of the

18

exclusion from the certification.

19

Section 1203.  Assumption of school district debt by

20

Commonwealth.

21

(a)  General rule.--Except as otherwise provided in

22

subsection (b), the Commonwealth shall assume on June 30, 2011,

23

the outstanding amount of all electoral debt, lease debt or

24

nonelectoral debt certified in the report submitted by the

25

Department of Revenue to the State Treasurer and the Education

26

Operating Fund Board. Such debt shall be managed and

27

administered by the School Financing Authority established under

28

section 1309, and repaid from the Education Operating Fund as

29

provided by law.

30

(b)  Exceptions.--The Commonwealth may not assume:

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1

(1)  Any of the outstanding debt of a school district

2

that fails to certify and file a report with the Department

3

of Revenue as required by section 1202.

4

(2)  That portion of the outstanding debt included in a

5

report filed by a school district, but which the Department

6

of Revenue does not include in its certification to the State

7

Treasurer and the Education Operating Fund Board under

8

section 1202(b)(2).

9

(3)  Any portion of outstanding debt that cannot be

10

rewritten or refinanced by the Commonwealth at a lower cost.

11

Section 1204.  Power to apply for debt and limitations.

12

The board of school directors in any school district may, in

13

any year after December 31, 2012, apply for an indebtedness in

14

the form of bonds and notes to secure the same, payable as

15

provided by 53 Pa.C.S. Pt. VII, Subpt. B (relating to

16

indebtedness and borrowing) or any amendment or re-enactment

17

thereof, for any or all of the following purposes:

18

(1)  To purchase or acquire proper sites, buildings or

19

grounds for school use, or any lands additional to any

20

existing school sites or grounds.

21

(2)  To erect, enlarge, equip or furnish any building for

22

school use.

23

(3)  To repair, remodel or rebuild any building of the

24

school district.

25

(4)  To lease for an extended period building facilities

26

or portions of buildings constructed for school use and/or

27

existing building facilities or portions of existing building

28

facilities altered for school use.

29

(5)  To refund certain bonds, as provided in this

30

chapter.

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1

(6)  To fund temporary indebtedness incurred for

2

permanent improvements, or in anticipation of proceeds from a

3

bond issue.

4

Section 1205.  Referendum requirement.

5

(a)  General rule.--No debt shall be incurred pursuant to

6

section 1204 unless the requirements of subsection (b) are

7

satisfied.

8

(b)  Adoption of referendum.--

9

(1)  In order to incur debt specified in subsection (a),

10

the governing body shall use the procedures set forth in this

11

subsection.

12

(2)  (i)  Subject to the notice and public hearing

13

requirements of this subsection, a governing body may

14

incur debt specified in subsection (a) only by obtaining

15

the approval of the electorate of the affected school

16

district in a public referendum at only the municipal

17

election preceding the fiscal year when the debt will be

18

initially incurred.

19

(ii)  The question shall be in clear language that is

20

readily understandable by a layperson. For the purpose of

21

illustration, a referendum question may be framed as

22

follows:

23

Do you favor the creation of debt in the amount of X

24

for school district purposes?

25

(iii)  A nonlegal interpretative statement must

26

accompany the question in accordance with section 201.1

27

of the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as

28

the Pennsylvania Election Code.

29

(3)  In the event a school district is located in more

30

than one county, petitions under this section shall be filed

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1

with the election officials of the county in which the

2

administrative offices of the school district are located.

3

(4)  The election officials who receive a petition shall

4

perform all administrative functions in reviewing and

5

certifying the validity of the petition and conduct all

6

necessary communications with the school district.

7

(5)  (i)  If the election officials of the county who

8

receive the petition certify that it is sufficient under

9

this section and determine that a question should be

10

placed on the ballot, the decision shall be communicated

11

to election officials in any other county in which the

12

school district is also located.

13

(ii)  Election officials in the other county or

14

counties shall cooperate with election officials of the

15

county receiving the petition to ensure that an identical

16

question is placed on the ballot at the same election

17

throughout the entire school district.

18

(6)  Election officials from each county involved shall

19

independently certify the results from their county to the

20

governing body.

21

(7)  (i)  In order to incur debt under this section, the

22

governing body shall adopt a resolution which refers to

23

this chapter prior to placing a question on the ballot.

24

(ii)  Prior to adopting a resolution incurring debt

25

authorized by this section, the governing body shall give

26

public notice of its intent to adopt the resolution and

27

shall conduct at least one public hearing regarding the

28

proposed adoption of the resolution.

29

Section 1206.  Temporary debt.

30

(a)  Authorization.--Any school district having no

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1

indebtedness or whose indebtedness, incurred or created without

2

the assent of the electors thereof, is less than an amount equal

3

to the standard disbursement for that school district made

4

pursuant to section 1304 for the immediately preceding fiscal

5

year may, at any time, for the purpose of providing funds in any

6

fiscal year for current expenses and debt service, for permanent

7

improvements, the acquiring of school buses, or in anticipation

8

of proceeds from a bond issue already officially authorized and,

9

except in school districts of the first class, approved by the

10

Department of Community and Economic Development, with such

11

limitations and for such length of term as provided in this

12

chapter, by or through its board of school directors, incur, in

13

addition to any bonds therein authorized, a temporary debt or

14

borrow money, and issue an obligation or obligations therefor,

15

under the seal of the district, if any, properly executed by the

16

president and attested by the secretary thereof, and bearing

17

interest not exceeding the legal rate, but no such obligation

18

shall be sold for less than par. The incurring of any such

19

temporary debt, or borrowing money upon such obligation, shall

20

receive the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the

21

members of the board of school directors.

22

(b)  Permanent improvements.--In addition, any school

23

district may, as provided in this section, incur a temporary

24

debt or borrow money for permanent improvements, where no bond

25

issue has been previously officially authorized, and refund such

26

temporary indebtedness by the issue of bonds, in the manner

27

provided by law, when the exact amount required for such

28

permanent improvement becomes known.

29

Section 1207.  Limit on temporary debt for current expenses and

30

debt service.

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1

The total amount of temporary indebtedness incurred for

2

current expenses and debt service shall at no time exceed an

3

amount equal to the standard disbursement for that school

4

district made pursuant to section 1304 for the immediately

5

preceding fiscal year. All loans shall be paid out of the

6

receipts available, or pledged for repayment when the funds are

7

received. The total amount of the temporary indebtedness for

8

such purpose remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year

9

shall become an obligation on the following year's budget and

10

shall be included in the following year's budget.

11

Section 1208.  Emergency loans for current expenses and debt

12

service.

13

(a)  General rule.--In case of an emergency, any school

14

district in any fiscal year, after borrowing money in

15

anticipation of current revenues to the full extent permitted by

16

law and finding the receipts from the loans, together with all

17

other receipts, to be inadequate to meet the expenditures of the

18

official fiscal year's budget, may appeal to the Education

19

Operating Fund Board for permission to incur a temporary debt

20

for the purpose of providing funds for current expenses and debt

21

service and shall present to the Education Operating Fund Board

22

the financial statements or reports as the Education Operating

23

Fund Board may require to give adequate facts relative to the

24

necessity of the increase in indebtedness. The Education

25

Operating Fund Board may, after due examination of the need of

26

the school district, grant or refuse permission to the school

27

district to borrow additional funds for current expenses and

28

debt service beyond the amount permitted by law. In case of

29

approval, the Education Operating Fund Board shall designate the

30

maximum length of the term and shall set a maximum limit of the

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1

total amount of the temporary indebtedness that the school

2

district may incur during the fiscal year in addition to all

3

temporary indebtedness for other purposes outstanding at the

4

time of the approval.

5

(b)  Limitations.--All temporary indebtedness, for the

6

purpose of current expenses and debt service by a school

7

district shall not exceed the standard disbursement for that

8

school district made pursuant to section 1304 for the

9

immediately preceding fiscal year.

10

Section 1209.  Limit on temporary debt for permanent

11

improvements and tax levy.

12

The total amount of temporary indebtedness incurred in any

13

school district for the purpose of permanent improvements and

14

the acquiring of school buses, except obligations incurred under

15

law, shall never exceed an amount equal to the standard

16

disbursement for that school district made pursuant to section

17

1304 for the immediately preceding fiscal year. Except where

18

such temporary indebtedness is to be refunded by the issue of

19

bonds, as authorized, at or before the time of incurring

20

indebtedness for such purpose, provision shall be made for the

21

collection of an annual tax sufficient to pay the interest and

22

also the principal thereof within the term of such indebtedness,

23

as provided by law.

24

Section 1210.  Limit on temporary debt in anticipation of

25

proceeds of bond issue.

26

(a)  General rule.--The total amount of temporary

27

indebtedness incurred in anticipation of proceeds from a bond

28

issue shall not exceed 75% of the full amount of bonds

29

authorized by the bond issue.

30

(b)  Payment.--All obligations, other than bonds, issued by

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1

any school district in anticipation of proceeds from a bond

2

issue shall be paid in full, together with interest, out of the

3

proceeds of the bond issue within one year and six months from

4

the date of authorization of the bond issue.

5

Section 1211.  Borrowing in anticipation of current revenue.

6

School districts may borrow money in anticipation of current

7

revenues to an amount not exceeding the anticipated current

8

revenues, which amount shall be pledged for the payment of the

9

loan or loans, and issue notes or other form of obligation,

10

executed by the president of the board of school directors and

11

attested by the secretary of the board under the seal of the

12

school district securing the loans. The notes, or other form of

13

obligation, shall mature and be payable during the current

14

fiscal year in which the money is borrowed. No borrowing shall

15

constitute an increase of indebtedness within the meaning of

16

section 8 of Article IX of the Constitution of Pennsylvania, or

17

any of the provisions of any other law. The notes shall bear

18

interest at a rate not exceeding 6% per annum, payable at

19

maturity or in advance, and may be sold at either public or

20

private sale for not less than par. If the loans are not repaid

21

in whole or in part during the fiscal year in which they are

22

made, they, or such amounts as remain unpaid, shall become an

23

obligation upon the following year's budget and shall be

24

included and paid not later than the first day of July of such

25

following year, in school districts of the first class, and not

26

later than the first day of November of the following year, in

27

school districts of the second, third, and fourth class. The

28

incurring of the obligations shall receive the affirmative vote

29

of not less than two-thirds of the members of the board of

30

school directors.

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1

Section 1212.  Mandatory reduction in local personal income tax

2

and earned income tax.

3

(a)  Duty to reduce tax.--

4

(1)  Each school district shall reduce the local personal

5

income tax adopted pursuant to Chapter 3 or earned income tax

6

adopted pursuant to Chapter 5, whichever is applicable, to

7

the full extent that the amount of money needed for the

8

payment of any obligations on debt authorized under this

9

chapter is reduced or eliminated.

10

(2)  If a school district fails to comply with this

11

section, the EOF board shall reduce the standard disbursement

12

to that school board for each applicable fiscal year in the

13

amount of the reduction required, but not implemented, for

14

that year, together with a penalty equal to 10% of the

15

required reduction.

16

(b)  Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be

17

construed to prohibit the school district from seeking an

18

increase in any tax reduced pursuant to this section in

19

accordance with the referendum procedure provided under Chapters

20

3 and 5.

21

CHAPTER 13

22

FUNDING PROVISIONS

23

Section 1301.  Definitions.

24

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter

25

shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

26

context clearly indicates otherwise:

27

"Authority."  The School Financing Authority established

28

under section 1309.

29

"Average per pupil expenditure."  An amount equal to a school

30

district's current expenditures for a school year to include

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1

General Fund expenditures in the functional classifications of

2

instruction, support services and operation of noninstructional

3

services, as designated in the Manual of Accounting and Related

4

Financial Procedures for Pennsylvania School Systems, divided by

5

the average daily membership of the school district for the same

6

school year.

7

"Average per pupil expenditure for each public school student

8

in the Commonwealth."  An amount equal to the current

9

expenditures for all school districts for a school year to

10

include General Fund expenditures in the functional

11

classifications of instruction, support services and operation

12

of noninstructional services, as designated in the Manual of

13

Accounting and Related Financial Procedures for Pennsylvania

14

School Systems, divided by the total number of public school

15

students constituting average daily membership for all school

16

districts in this Commonwealth for the same school year.

17

"Board."  The Education Operating Fund Board established

18

under section 1308.

19

"Consumer Price Index" or "CPR."  The lesser of:

20

(1)  the average annual percentage increase in the

21

Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the

22

Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland area for the preceding

23

calendar year, as reported by the United States Department of

24

Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics; or

25

(2)  the percentage increase in sales and use tax

26

collected under section 702 from the previous calendar year.

27

"Distressed district prevention and emergency disbursements."

28

Disbursements authorized from the Education Trust Reserve

29

Account under section 1305(b).

30

"Education Operating Fund" or "EOF."  The Education Operating

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1

Fund established under section 1302.

2

"Education Trust Reserve Account" or "ETR account."  The

3

Education Trust Reserve Account established under section 1305.

4

"Equity disbursements."  Disbursements authorized from the

5

School Equity Account under section 1306(c).

6

"Nonqualified operating expenses."  The total dollar amount

7

of the following from the preceding fiscal year:

8

(1)  any one-time, nonrecurring expense;

9

(2)  disbursements from operating-type reserve

10

accumulations which were a source of funding from Federal,

11

State or local sources;

12

(3)  school district-specific programs initiated and paid

13

for from school district sources of nontax funds;

14

(4)  school district costs, including, but not limited

15

to, health care benefit costs that are assumed by the

16

Commonwealth, including the Education Operating Fund, after

17

the effective date of this section;

18

(5)  direct school property tax administration and

19

collection costs; and

20

(6)  debt service payments that the school district would

21

have made for the applicable fiscal year if the Commonwealth

22

had not assumed the school district's debt obligation

23

pursuant to Chapter 12.

24

"Qualifying line items."  The following line items or

25

substantially identical line items in any general appropriations

26

act that authorize payments or reimbursements to a school

27

district:

28

(1)  Payment of basic education funding to school

29

districts.

30

(2)  Payments on account of special education of

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1

exceptional children.

2

(3)  Payments on account of pupil transportation.

3

(4)  Payments on account of annual rental or sinking fund

4

charges on school buildings, including charter schools.

5

(5)  Payments for early intervention services.

6

(6)  Reimbursements to school districts for their charter

7

school payments.

8

(7)  Special education-approved private schools.

9

(8)  Payments on account of nonpublic and charter school

10

pupil transportation.

11

(9)  Payment for tuition to school districts providing

12

education to nonresident orphaned children placed in private

13

homes by the court and nonresident inmates of children's

14

institutions.

15

(10)  Grants to school districts to assist in meeting

16

Federal matching requirements for grants received under the

17

Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-642, 42 U.S.C. §

18

1771 et seq.) and to aid in providing a food program for

19

needy children.

20

(11)  Programs of education and training at youth

21

development centers and the monitoring of programs of

22

education and training provided to incarcerated juveniles.

23

(12)  Payment on account of homebound instruction.

24

(13)  Payments of annual fixed charges to school

25

districts in lieu of taxes for land acquired by the

26

Commonwealth for water conservation or flood prevention.

27

(14)  Education of indigent children at charitable

28

hospitals.

29

"School District Equity Account."  The School District Equity

30

Account established under section 1306(a).

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1

"School Equity Capital Construction Fund" or "SECCF."  The

2

School Equity Capital Construction Fund established under

3

section 1311.

4

"Standard disbursements."  Disbursements made on a quarterly

5

basis from the Education Operating Fund as authorized under

6

section 1304.

7

"Student enrollment adjustment."  A dollar amount determined

8

from the preceding fiscal year based on the net increase or

9

decrease in the total average daily membership of students

10

enrolled in that school district between the opening and the

11

closing of the school term that occurs within that preceding

12

fiscal year converted to a dollar amount as determined by the

13

Education Operating Fund Board. The transfer of a public school

14

student to a cyber school, charter school, facility for

15

receiving special education or other alternative school shall

16

not be deemed to decrease the number of students enrolled in a

17

school district for purposes of reducing the standard

18

distribution to a school district for any fiscal year in which

19

the school district pays at least $2,000 toward the education of

20

any such student.

21

Section 1302.  Education Operating Fund.

22

(a)  Establishment.--The Education Operating Fund is

23

established in the State Treasury.

24

(b)  Contents.--

25

(1)  The fund shall consist of:

26

(i)  All moneys collected by the department under

27

section 321, Chapter 7 and section 1307.

28

(ii)  Any other moneys required by this act or other

29

law to be deposited into the fund.

30

(2)  (i)  On or before July 1, 2011, each school district

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1

shall transfer a sum of money equal to its ending

2

unreserved, undesignated fund balance as of July 1, 2010,

3

to the Education Operating Fund.

4

(ii)  As used in this paragraph, "ending unreserved,

5

undesignated fund balance" means that portion of the

6

school district's general fund balance which is

7

appropriable for expenditure or not legally or otherwise

8

segregated for a specific or tentative future use, at the

9

close of the fiscal year for which a school district's

10

budget was adopted and held in the general fund accounts

11

of the school district.

12

(3)  (i)  Notwithstanding the provisions of the act of

13

December 15, 1955 (P.L.865, No.256) entitled "An act

14

requiring rents and royalties from oil and gas leases of

15

Commonwealth land to be placed in a special fund to be

16

used for conservation, recreation, dams, and flood

17

control; authorizing the Secretary of Forests and Waters

18

to determine the need for and location of such projects

19

and to acquire the necessary land," or other law to the

20

contrary, an amount equal to 70% of any rents and

21

royalties, in excess of the base year rents and

22

royalties, received from oil and gas leases of any land

23

owned by the Commonwealth, except rents and royalties

24

received from game and fish lands, which amount is hereby

25

authorized to be deposited quarterly into the Education

26

Operating Fund.

27

(ii)  As used in this paragraph, "base year rents and

28

royalties" means the total amount of rents and royalties

29

from oil and gas leases attributed to any parcel of land

30

owned by the Commonwealth in the fiscal year beginning

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1

July 1, 2008, except rents and royalties from game and

2

fish lands, which amount shall be adjusted annually by an

3

amount that corresponds in proportion to the annual

4

change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban

5

Consumers (CPI-U) for the United States city average for

6

all items as published by the United States Department of

7

Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Secretary of

8

Revenue shall publish the annual adjustments as a notice

9

in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

10

(c)  Separate fund.--The fund and all accounts of the fund

11

shall be separate from all other funds of the Commonwealth and

12

shall not be subject to borrowing by or transfer to the General

13

Fund or any other fund in the State Treasury.

14

(d)  Continuing appropriation.--All money placed in the fund

15

and in the ETR Account and the School District Equity Account

16

and the interest they accrue are hereby appropriated to the

17

board on a continuing basis and may be expended by the board

18

only for the purposes authorized under this act.

19

Section 1303.  Cash flow funding forecasts.

20

(a)  Scope and purpose.--

21

(1)  This section imposes a duty on school districts to

22

provide the board with certain cash flow funding forecasts.

23

(2)  The purpose of the cash flow funding forecasts is to

24

assist the board to make distressed district prevention and

25

emergency disbursements to school districts under section

26

1306 and to improve the ability of school districts to

27

monitor and plan their expenditures in a more fiscally

28

effective manner.

29

(b)  Annual submission of funding forecasts.--On or before

30

July 1, 2009, and continuing annually thereafter, each school

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1

district shall submit to the board a preliminary annual cash

2

flow funding forecast relating to school district operations

3

that need to be funded from the fund for the following fiscal

4

year for the calendar quarters ending September 30, December 31,

5

March 31 and June 30.

6

(c)  Contents.--The cash flow funding forecast shall be

7

referenced to the fiscal year then ending and may only include

8

operating expenditure categories included in the school

9

district's budget for that fiscal year. The budget contained in

10

the forecast:

11

(1)  May not exceed actual operating expenditures for the

12

2010-2011 fiscal year plus estimated debt service on all debt

13

as of December 31, 2010, and, in succeeding years, may not

14

exceed actual operating expenditures for the prior fiscal

15

year as modified by the student enrollment adjustment. Any

16

tax revenue collections for the period July 1, 2010, through

17

June 30, 2013, shall be itemized and deducted in the

18

forecasting funding requirements. Fund increases shall be

19

factored into these forecasts.

20

(2)  May not include expenditures based on the one-time

21

use of reserves set up in prior years.

22

(3)  Shall report all estimated requirements net of any

23

available school district operating reserves and all other

24

receipts and sources of tax revenue collections of any kind

25

through the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2014, and each

26

fiscal year thereafter, except as authorized by local

27

referendum after July 1, 2014.

28

(4)  Shall apply all noncapital expenditure reserves

29

against the forecasted net funding requirements.

30

(5)  Shall treat debt service for capital expenditures as

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1

separate line items and exclude debt service approved by

2

referendum.

3

(d)  Quarterly updates.--On or before July 1, 2011, and

4

continuing quarterly thereafter on the last day of each quarter,

5

each school district shall submit to the board a cash flow

6

funding forecast quarterly update relating to school district

7

operations that need to be funded from the fund for the current

8

year.

9

Section 1304.  Standard disbursements to school districts from

10

Education Operating Fund.

11

(a)  Standard draw requests by school districts.--For the

12

fiscal year beginning July 1, 2011, and continuing each fiscal

13

year thereafter, each school district shall submit on a

14

quarterly basis to the board a draw request for a standard

15

disbursement, which draw request shall be filed no later than 30

16

days prior to the beginning of the next quarter. The board shall

17

prescribe the form and content of the draw request for a

18

standard disbursement.

19

(b)  Standard disbursement formula.--After receipt and review

20

of the quarterly draw requests submitted by school districts

21

under subsection (a), the board shall make standard

22

disbursements from the fund to each school district, other than

23

a school district of the first class, on or before the last day

24

of each quarter as follows:

25

(1)  For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2011, the

26

amount of each quarterly standard disbursement for each

27

school district, as adjusted by subtracting nonqualified

28

operating expenses, in accordance with paragraph (6), shall

29

be equal to 25% of the following:

30

(i)  a dollar amount which shall be equal to all

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1

payments and reimbursements received by the school

2

district for the 2010-2011 fiscal year from qualifying

3

line items in a general appropriations act that

4

authorizes payments and reimbursements to the school

5

district for that fiscal year as adjusted by the

6

percentage increase in the CPI for calendar year 2010 and

7

by the student enrollment adjustment;

8

(ii)  the dollar amount equal to the 25% reduction in

9

real property tax revenues resulting from the application

10

of section 1102(a)(2) for that fiscal year;

11

(iii)  fifty percent of the dollar amount collected

12

from school per capita tax during calendar year 2011; and

13

(iv)  fifty percent of the dollar amount collected

14

from the Local Tax Enabling Act during calendar year

15

2011.

16

(2)  For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012, the

17

amount of each quarterly standard disbursement to the school

18

district, as adjusted by subtracting nonqualified operating

19

expenses, in accordance with paragraph (6), shall be equal to

20

25% of the following:

21

(i)  a dollar amount equal to the sum calculated

22

pursuant to paragraph (1)(i) as adjusted by the

23

percentage increase in the CPI for calendar year 2011 in

24

accordance with paragraph (6);

25

(ii)  the dollar amount equal to the 50% reduction in

26

real property tax revenues resulting from the application

27

of section 1102(a)(3) for that fiscal year as adjusted by

28

the percentage increase in the CPI for calendar year 2011

29

and by the student enrollment adjustment;

30

(iii)  the dollar amount collected from the school

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1

per capita tax and the Local Tax Enabling Act during

2

calendar year 2011; and

3

(iv)  a dollar amount equal to the equity

4

disbursement received by the school district for the

5

2011-2012 fiscal year pursuant to section 1306(c)(2).

6

(3)  For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2013, the

7

amount of each quarterly standard disbursement to a school

8

district as adjusted by subtracting nonqualified operating

9

expenses, in accordance with paragraph (6), shall be equal to

10

25% of the following:

11

(i)  a dollar amount equal to the sum calculated

12

pursuant to paragraph (2)(i) and (iv) as adjusted by the

13

percentage increase in the CPI for calendar year 2012 and

14

by the student enrollment adjustment;

15

(ii)  the dollar amount equal to the 75% reduction in

16

real property tax revenues resulting from the application

17

of section 1102(a)(4) as adjusted by the percentage

18

increase in the CPI for 2012 and by the student

19

enrollment adjustment;

20

(iii)  the dollar amount calculated pursuant to

21

paragraph (2)(iii) as adjusted by the percentage increase

22

in the CPI for 2012; and

23

(iv)  a dollar amount equal to the equity

24

disbursement received by the school district for the

25

2012-2013 fiscal year pursuant to section 1306(c)(3).

26

(4)  For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2014, the

27

amount of each quarterly standard disbursement to a school

28

district as adjusted by subtracting nonqualified operating

29

expenses, in accordance with paragraph (6), shall be equal to

30

25% of the following:

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1

(i)  a dollar amount equal to the sum calculated

2

pursuant to paragraph (3)(i) and (iv) as adjusted by the

3

percentage increase in the CPI for calendar year 2013 and

4

by the student enrollment adjustment;

5

(ii)  a dollar amount equal to loss of revenues

6

resulting from the complete elimination of the real

7

property tax on residential property as adjusted by the

8

percentage increase in the CPI for 2013;

9

(iii)  the dollar amount calculated pursuant to

10

paragraph (3)(iii) as adjusted by the percentage increase

11

in the CPI for 2013; and

12

(iv)  a dollar amount equal to the equity

13

disbursement received by the school district for the

14

2013-2014 fiscal year pursuant to section 1306(c)(3).

15

(5)  For the fiscal year beginning 2015 and for each

16

fiscal year thereafter, the amount of each quarterly

17

disbursement shall be equal to 25% of the standard

18

disbursement made in the preceding fiscal year, which shall

19

include the equity disbursement made pursuant to section

20

1306(c)(3), as adjusted by the percentage increase in the CPI

21

for the preceding calendar year and the student enrollment

22

adjustment and by subtracting nonqualified operating expenses

23

in accordance with paragraph (6).

24

(6)  Any subtraction from the standard disbursement for

25

nonqualified operating expenses shall only modify the

26

standard disbursement for the applicable fiscal year and such

27

subtractions shall not be factored into the standard

28

disbursements for any subsequent fiscal year.

29

(c)  Standard disbursement formula for school districts of

30

the first class.--After receipt and review of the quarterly draw

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1

requests submitted by school districts under subsection (a), the

2

board shall make standard disbursements from the fund to each

3

school district of the first class on or before the last day of

4

each quarter as follows:

5

(1)  For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2011, the

6

amount of each quarterly standard disbursement for each

7

school district of the first class, as adjusted by

8

subtracting nonqualified operating expenses, in accordance

9

with paragraph (7), shall be equal to 25% of the following:

10

(i)  a sum which shall be equal to all payments and

11

reimbursements received by the school district for the

12

2010-2011 fiscal year from qualifying line items in a

13

general appropriations act that authorizes payments and

14

reimbursements to the school district for the fiscal year

15

as adjusted by the percentage increase in the CPI for

16

calendar year 2010 and by the student enrollment

17

adjustment; and

18

(ii)  the dollar amount equal to the 25% reduction in

19

real property tax and other tax revenues resulting from

20

the application of section 1102(b)(2) for that fiscal

21

year.

22

(2)  For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012, the

23

amount of each quarterly standard disbursement to a school

24

district of the first class, as adjusted by subtracting

25

nonqualified operating expenses, in accordance with paragraph

26

(7), shall be equal to 25% of the following:

27

(i)  a dollar amount equal to the sum calculated

28

pursuant to paragraph (1)(i) as adjusted by the

29

percentage increase in the CPI for calendar year 2011 and

30

by the student enrollment adjustment;

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1

(ii)  the dollar amount equal to the 50% reduction in

2

real property tax and other tax revenues resulting from

3

the application of section 1102(b)(3) for that fiscal

4

year as adjusted by the percentage increase in the CPI

5

for 2011; and

6

(iii)  a dollar amount equal to the equity

7

disbursement received by the school district for the

8

2011-2012 fiscal year pursuant to section 1306(c)(2).

9

(3)  For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2013, the

10

amount of each quarterly standard disbursement to a school

11

district of the first class as adjusted by subtracting

12

nonqualified operating expenses, in accordance with paragraph

13

(7), shall be equal to 25% of the following:

14

(i)  a dollar amount equal to the sum calculated

15

pursuant to paragraph (2)(i) and (iii) as adjusted by the

16

percentage increase in the CPI for calendar year 2012 and

17

by the student enrollment adjustment;

18

(ii)  the dollar amount equal to the 75% reduction in

19

real property tax and other tax revenue resulting from

20

the application of section 1102(b)(4) as adjusted by the

21

percentage increase in the CPI for 2012; and

22

(iii)  a dollar amount equal to the equity

23

disbursement received by the school district for the

24

2012-2013 fiscal year pursuant to section 1306(c)(3).

25

(4)  For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2014, the

26

amount of each quarterly standard disbursement to a school

27

district of the first class, as adjusted by subtracting

28

nonqualified operating expenses, in accordance with paragraph

29

(7), shall be equal to 25% of the following:

30

(i)  a dollar amount equal to the sum calculated

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1

pursuant to paragraph (3)(i) and (iii) as adjusted by the

2

percentage increase in the CPI for calendar year 2013 and

3

by the student enrollment adjustment;

4

(ii)  a dollar amount equal to loss of real property

5

and other tax revenues resulting from the complete

6

implementation of section 1102(b) as adjusted by the

7

percentage increase in the CPI for 2013; and

8

(iii)  a dollar amount equal to the equity

9

disbursement received by the school district for the

10

2013-2014 fiscal year pursuant to section 1306(c)(3).

11

(5)  For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2015, and for

12

each fiscal year thereafter, the amount of each quarterly

13

disbursement to each school district of the first class shall

14

be equal to 25% of the standard disbursement made in the

15

immediately preceding fiscal year, which shall include the

16

equity disbursement made pursuant to section 1306(c)(3), as

17

adjusted by the percentage increase in the CPI for the

18

preceding calendar year and the student enrollment adjustment

19

and by subtracting nonqualified operating expenses in

20

accordance with paragraph (7).

21

(6)  Any financial assistance provided by a city of the

22

first class to a school district of the first class for the

23

fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2011, and each succeeding

24

fiscal year, shall be deemed a nonqualified operating expense

25

for purposes of this section.

26

(7)  Any subtraction from the standard disbursement for

27

nonqualified operating expenses shall only modify the

28

standard disbursement for the applicable fiscal year and such

29

subtractions shall not be factored into the standard

30

disbursement for any subsequent fiscal year.

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1

(d)  Mandatory duty to pay.--The standard disbursements under

2

this section shall be paid from the EOF regardless of whether

3

the minimum balance has been attained in the ETR Account as set

4

forth under this chapter.

5

(e)  Construction.--Distressed school district and emergency

6

disbursements and Federal funds appropriated by the Commonwealth

7

shall not be incorporated into the standard disbursements

8

authorized by this section and shall not be deemed to be

9

nonqualified expenses.

10

(f)  Limitation on funding reduction for decline in student

11

enrollment.--Notwithstanding anything in this act to the

12

contrary, a reduction in the standard disbursement for a decline

13

in student enrollment shall only be made to the extent that a

14

decline in student enrollment reduces the student enrollment by

15

more than 10% from the student enrollment in that school

16

district at the beginning of the 2011-2012 fiscal year.

17

Section 1305.  Education Trust Reserve Account and distressed

18

district prevention and emergency disbursements.

19

(a)  Establishment of Education Trust Reserve Account.--The

20

Education Trust Reserve Account is hereby established as a

21

restricted account within the fund. The account shall be

22

administered by the board in accordance with this section.

23

(b)  Distressed district prevention and emergency

24

disbursements.--

25

(1)  (i)  As a precondition for making any distressed

26

district prevention and emergency disbursements during

27

the 2011-2012 fiscal year, the ETR Account must have a

28

balance, on June 30, 2011, which is not less than 15% of

29

the amount specified under section 1304(b)(1)(i) and (c)

30

(1)(i) for all school districts for the 2010-2011 fiscal

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1

year, as adjusted by the change in the consumer price

2

index and as adjusted by the collective student

3

enrollment adjustments and the nonqualified operating

4

expenses determined for all the school districts.

5

(ii)  As a precondition for making such disbursements

6

during the 2012-2013 fiscal year and each succeeding

7

fiscal year, the ETR Account must have a balance on June

8

30 immediately preceding the disbursement fiscal year

9

which is not less than 15% of the revenues allocated by

10

law for all school districts for the fiscal year

11

preceding the disbursement fiscal year, as adjusted by

12

the change in the consumer price index and as adjusted by

13

the student enrollment adjustments and the nonqualified

14

operating expenses determined for all school districts

15

for the immediately preceding 12-month period.

16

(iii)  The determination of the amount specified

17

under section 1304(b)(1)(i) and (c)(1)(i) revenues

18

allocated for all school districts for purposes of this

19

paragraph shall be calculated by aggregating the sum

20

determined for each school district pursuant to section

21

1304(b)(1)(i) and (c)(1)(i).

22

(2)  (i)  After disbursements are made pursuant to

23

sections 1304 and 1307 and after any necessary moneys are

24

expended to maintain the mandatory minimum 15% ETR

25

Account balance as provided in paragraph (1),

26

disbursements authorized by this subsection shall be made

27

as provided in this paragraph.

28

(ii)  An amount equal to not more than 1 1/4% of the

29

remaining moneys in the EOF and the School District

30

Equity Account or up to $125,000,000, whichever is

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1

greater, may be disbursed by the board each quarter

2

during the 2011-2012, 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 fiscal

3

years for distressed district prevention and emergency

4

disbursements.

5

(iii)  An amount which shall not exceed .75% of the

6

remaining moneys in the EOF and the School District

7

Equity Account may be disbursed by the board for each

8

quarter during the 2014-2015 fiscal year and each

9

succeeding fiscal year for each quarter for the sole

10

purpose of assisting school districts that are facing

11

major and unanticipated fiscal emergencies.

12

(c)  Scope of distressed district prevention and emergency

13

disbursements.--Distressed district prevention and emergency

14

disbursements may only be expended for the purpose of preventing

15

school districts that are experiencing severe financial

16

difficulties from beginning distressed school districts pursuant

17

to Article VI of the Public School Code of 1949 and for the

18

purpose of assisting school districts that are facing major and

19

unanticipated fiscal emergencies.

20

(d)  Transfers to Education Trust Reserve Account.--Except

21

for the moneys necessary to make the disbursements required by

22

sections 1304 and 1307, the board shall immediately transfer all

23

moneys deposited in the EOF and the School District Equity

24

Account, between the effective date of this section and June 30,

25

2011, into the ETR Account until the ETR Account attains a

26

balance of $3,000,000,000 and after June 30, 2011, the board

27

shall continue to transfer sufficient moneys from the EOF and

28

the School District Equity Account into the ETR Account to

29

assure the account achieves and maintains a balance of

30

$3,000,000,000 or the mandatory minimum 15% balance mandated

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1

under subsection (b), whichever is greater. The balance in the

2

ETR Account shall not exceed 25% of the revenues allocated in

3

accordance with subsection (b)(1).

4

(e)  Applicability.--This section shall not apply to moneys

5

received by the board pursuant to section 1306(b).

6

(f)  Definition.--As used in this section, the term

7

"normalized calculated balance" shall have the meaning given to

8

it by the board.

9

Section 1306.  Equity disbursements to school districts from

10

School District Equity Account.

11

(a)  Establishment of School District Equity Account.--The

12

School District Equity Account is hereby established as a

13

restricted account within the fund. The account shall be

14

administered by the board in accordance with this section.

15

(b)  Funding.--The account shall be funded by quarterly

16

transfers of all moneys deposited into the Property Tax Relief

17

Fund established under 4 Pa.C.S. § 1409 (relating to property

18

tax relief fund) which quarterly transfers are hereby

19

authorized.

20

(c)  Equity disbursements.--

21

(1)  In addition to any standard disbursement or

22

distressed district prevention and emergency disbursement

23

made by the board under this chapter, the board, for the

24

2011-2012 fiscal year and for each fiscal year thereafter,

25

shall make equity disbursements to qualified school districts

26

on a quarterly basis in accordance with this section and

27

section 1304.

28

(2)  The board shall distribute 100% of the moneys

29

transferred into the School District Equity Account pursuant

30

to subsection (b) during the 2011-2012 fiscal year in equal

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1

quarterly amounts, to all school districts as equity

2

disbursements for the 2011-2012 fiscal year in accordance

3

with the formula prescribed in subsection (e). All equity

4

disbursements distributed pursuant to this paragraph shall be

5

incorporated into each school district's standard

6

disbursement for the 2012-2013 fiscal year.

7

(3)  The board shall distribute 50% of the moneys

8

transferred into the School District Equity Account pursuant

9

to subsection (b) in each succeeding fiscal year in equal

10

quarterly amounts to all school districts for the applicable

11

fiscal year in accordance with the formula prescribed in

12

subsection (e). Fifty percent of all equity disbursements

13

distributed pursuant to this paragraph shall be incorporated

14

into each school district's standard disbursement in the

15

fiscal year immediately following the fiscal year for which

16

the school district receives such equity disbursement

17

pursuant to this paragraph. The remaining 50% of the moneys

18

that are not distributed in accordance with this paragraph

19

shall be utilized in accordance with subsection (f).

20

(4)  (i)  Before any equity disbursements may be made for

21

any quarter pursuant to this section, the moneys in the

22

School District Equity Account shall first be expended to

23

make the standard disbursements to the extent that there

24

are insufficient funds in the EOF to pay such standard

25

disbursements and then to assure that the mandatory 15%

26

minimum balance required under section 1305(b) is

27

maintained.

28

(ii)  All moneys remaining in he account shall be

29

disbursed to qualified school districts as equity

30

disbursements and distressed district prevention and

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1

emergency disbursements to the extent permitted under

2

this section and section 1305.

3

(d)  Mandated per pupil expenditure levied through equity

4

disbursements.--The board shall continue making equity

5

disbursements pursuant to subsection (c)(2) and (3) until the

6

average per pupil expenditure for each public school student in

7

this Commonwealth equals $10,000 or such higher average per

8

pupil expenditure for each public school student in this

9

Commonwealth as may be established pursuant to a subsequently

10

enacted law that prescribes a higher average per pupil

11

expenditure for each public school student in this Commonwealth.

12

(e)  Distribution formula.--The board shall make the equity

13

disbursements provided for under subsection (d) in the following

14

manner:

15

(1)  The board shall first distribute equity

16

disbursements in a manner that assures that the average per

17

pupil expenditure for each school district equals the average

18

per pupil expenditure for each public school student in this

19

Commonwealth for the preceding fiscal year.

20

(2)  Any remaining funds available for distribution as

21

equity disbursements in the applicable fiscal year shall be

22

distributed in a manner that increases the average per pupil

23

expenditure for each school district by the same percentage

24

until the per pupil expenditure prescribed in subsection (d)

25

is attained in each school district with an average per pupil

26

expenditure below the average per pupil expenditure

27

prescribed in subsection (d).

28

(f)  Remaining funds.--Fifty-percent of the moneys provided

29

for in subsection (b) that are not expended in accordance with

30

subsection (c)(2) and (3) shall be utilized in the following

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1

order of priority:

2

(1)  For standard disbursements in accordance with

3

section 1304, to the extent there are insufficient available

4

funds in the EOF to make a full standard disbursement in any

5

fiscal year.

6

(2)  For transfers to the ETR Account, insofar as such

7

transfer may be necessary to maintain the reserves in that

8

account required under this chapter.

9

Section 1307.  Other disbursements from Education Operating

10

Fund.

11

(a)  Retirement and pension payments.--For the fiscal year

12

beginning July 1, 2011, and for each fiscal year thereafter, the

13

amount of each quarterly disbursement to school districts shall

14

occur only after the State Treasurer has made payment from the

15

EOF on requisition from the board of the annual amount due for

16

payment of the Commonwealth's share of Federal Social Security

17

taxes for public school employees and for payment of the

18

required retirement contribution for public school employees.

19

(b)  Debt payments.--For the fiscal year beginning July 1,

20

2011, and for each fiscal year thereafter, the amount of each

21

quarterly payment to school districts shall occur only after the

22

State Treasurer has made payment from the EOF on requisition

23

from the board of the annual amount due for school district debt

24

assumed by the Commonwealth pursuant to law.

25

Section 1307.1.  School District Grant and Incentive Programs

26

Fund.

27

(a)  Establishment.--The School District Grant and Incentive

28

Programs Fund is established in the State Treasury and shall be

29

administered by the board.

30

(b)  Transfers.--

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1

(1)  For each quarter that the board approves payments

2

under sections 1304 and 1307, the board shall determine the

3

balance in the EOF after making such payments and shall

4

transfer the amount of the balance to the School District

5

Grant and Incentive Programs Fund.

6

(2)  This subsection shall not apply to any moneys

7

received by the board pursuant to section 1306(b).

8

(c)  Appropriations.--The General Assembly may appropriate

9

money from the School District Grant and Incentive Payment

10

Programs Fund to the Department of Education for the

11

administration of programs that offer grants or incentives to

12

school districts in order to achieve academic and other

13

education-related goals and standards.

14

(d)  Proportionate reductions in disbursements.--In the event

15

that moneys in the School District Grant and Incentive Payment

16

Programs Fund are insufficient to fund the appropriations from

17

this fund, the Department of Education shall reduce

18

disbursements from this fund each appropriation by the same

19

percentage.

20

Section 1307.2.  Other appropriations.

21

Nothing in this act shall preclude the General Assembly from

22

making appropriations out of the General Fund and other

23

Commonwealth funds for the maintenance and support of public

24

education.

25

Section 1308.  Education Operating Fund Board.

26

(a)  Establishment.--The Education Operating Fund Board is

27

hereby established. The board shall consist of the following

28

members:

29

(1)  The Secretary of Education, while serving in this

30

capacity.

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1

(2)  The Secretary of Revenue, while serving in this

2

capacity.

3

(3)  The executive director of the School Financing

4

Authority, while serving in this capacity.

5

(4)  Four legislative appointees.

6

(i)  Appointments are as follows:

7

(A)  One individual appointed by the President

8

pro tempore of the Senate.

9

(B)  One individual appointed by the Minority

10

Leader of the Senate.

11

(C)  One individual appointed by the Majority

12

Leader of the House of Representatives.

13

(D)  One individual appointed by the Minority

14

Leader of the House of Representatives.

15

(ii)  A legislative appointee shall be removed from

16

office by the appointing authority:

17

(A)  for misconduct in office, willful neglect of

18

duty or conduct evidencing unfitness for office or

19

incompetence; or

20

(B)  upon conviction of an offense graded as a

21

felony, an infamous crime or an equivalent offense

22

under Federal law or the law of another jurisdiction.

23

(iii)  An individual appointed to the board pursuant

24

to subparagraph (i) may not be a member of the General

25

Assembly or staff of a member of the General Assembly.

26

(b)  Chairperson to be selected.--The members shall select a

27

member of the board to serve as chairperson and shall select

28

from among themselves such officers as they shall determine.

29

(c)  Meetings.--The board shall meet at least six times a

30

year at such times and places as it shall determine. Special

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1

meetings may be called by the chairman or at the request of a

2

majority of the members of the board.

3

(d)  Quorum.--Five members of the board shall constitute a

4

quorum.

5

(e)  Reimbursement of expenses.--The members of the board

6

shall be entitled to no compensation for their services as

7

members of the board but shall be entitled to reimbursement for

8

all necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in connection

9

with the performance of their duties as members of the board.

10

(f)  Fiduciary status.--The members of the board and the

11

professional personnel of the board shall stand in a fiduciary

12

relationship with the Commonwealth and the authority as to the

13

moneys in the accounts of the authority and investments of the

14

authority.

15

(g)  Standard of care.--The members of the board in

16

performance of their duties under this section shall exercise

17

the standard of care required by 20 Pa.C.S. Ch. 73 (relating to

18

municipalities investments).

19

(h)  Appointments.--Appointing authorities shall appoint

20

initial members to the board within 30 days of the effective

21

date of this section. Whenever a vacancy occurs on the board,

22

the appointing authority shall appoint a successor member within

23

30 days of the vacancy.

24

(i)  Powers.--The board shall:

25

(1)  approve standard disbursements from the fund,

26

distressed district prevention and emergency distributions

27

and equity distributions;

28

(2)  have perpetual existence as a corporation;

29

(3)  sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, complain

30

and defend, in all courts;

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1

(4)  adopt, use and alter at will a corporate seal;

2

(5)  make bylaws for the management and regulation of its

3

affairs;

4

(6)  appoint officers, agents, employees and servants,

5

prescribe their duties and fix their compensation;

6

(7)  make contracts of every name and nature, and execute

7

all instruments necessary or convenient for the carrying-on

8

of its business, including, but not limited to, the

9

Commonwealth school districts;

10

(8)  without limitation of the foregoing, borrow money

11

and accept grants from and enter into contracts, leases or

12

other transaction with any Federal agency, for carrying out

13

the purposes of the board; and

14

(9)  do all acts and things necessary or convenient to

15

carry out the powers granted to it by this act or any other

16

acts.

17

Section 1309.  School Financing Authority.

18

(a)  Establishment.--The School Financing Authority is hereby

19

established.

20

(b)  Membership.--The authority shall consist of the

21

following members:

22

(1)  The Secretary of Education, while serving in this

23

capacity.

24

(2)  The State Treasurer, while serving in this capacity.

25

(3)  The executive director of the Education Operating

26

Fund Board, while serving in this capacity.

27

(4)  Four persons, one of whom shall be appointed by the

28

President pro tempore, one appointed by the Minority Leader

29

of the Senate, one appointed by the Majority Leader of the

30

House of Representatives and one appointed by the Minority

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1

Leader of the House of Representatives. None of these

2

appointees may be a member of the General Assembly or a staff

3

member of the General Assembly. A legislative appointee shall

4

be removed from office by the appointing authority:

5

(i)  for misconduct in office, willful neglect of

6

duty or conduct evidencing unfitness for office or

7

incompetence; or

8

(ii)  upon conviction of an offense graded as a

9

felony, an infamous crime, an offense under this act or

10

an equivalent offense under Federal law or the law of

11

another jurisdiction.

12

(c)  Powers and duties.--

13

(1)  The authority shall manage and administer all public

14

school district debt, including, but not limited to,

15

consolidating, securitizing, financing, refinancing or

16

recalling debt for public school facilities for use as a part

17

of the public school system of the Commonwealth. The

18

authority shall be responsible for the management and

19

administration of all school district debt and such other

20

related debt as may be assumed by the Commonwealth.

21

(2)  Subject to the provisions in paragraph (3), the

22

authority is hereby granted and shall have and may exercise

23

all the powers necessary or convenient for the carrying out

24

of the purposes identified in paragraph (1), including, but

25

not limited to, the following:

26

(i)  To have perpetual existence as a corporation.

27

(ii)  To sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded,

28

complain and defend in all courts.

29

(iii)  To adopt, use and alter at will a corporate

30

seal.

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1

(iv)  To acquire, purchase, hold, lease as lessee and

2

use any property real, personal or mixed, tangible or

3

intangible, or any interest therein, necessary or

4

desirable, for carrying out the purposes of the authority

5

and to sell, lease as lessor, transfer and dispose of any

6

property or any interest therein at any time acquired by

7

it.

8

(v)  To finance projects by making loans to any

9

eligible school district, which loans may be evidenced by

10

and secured as may be provided in loan agreements, which

11

may contain such provisions as the authority shall

12

determine necessary or desirable for the security or

13

protection of the authority or its bondholders. All such

14

provisions shall be a part of the contract with the

15

holders of the bonds of the authority issued with respect

16

to such project.

17

(vi)  To acquire by purchase, lease or otherwise, for

18

carrying out the purposes of the authority.

19

(vii)  To make bylaws for the management and

20

regulations of its affairs.

21

(viii)  To make contracts of every name and nature

22

and to execute all instruments necessary or convenient

23

for the carrying on of its business, including, but not

24

limited to, school districts.

25

(ix)  To enter into contracts with the board of

26

school directors of any school district, for the purpose

27

of acquiring, financing, refinancing, constructing,

28

improving, furnishing and equipping school district

29

facilities as a part of the public school system of this

30

Commonwealth under the provisions approved by a

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1

referendum vote by the district electorate on either the

2

newly proposed debt or specific terms and amounts of debt

3

previously approved by the authority.

4

(x)  Without limitation of the other provisions of

5

this subsection, to borrow money and accept grants from,

6

and to enter into contracts, leases or other transaction

7

with any Federal agency, for carrying out the purposes of

8

the authority.

9

(xi)  To petition the Commonwealth to obtain

10

additional public funding for debt service for school

11

districts unable to raise sufficient funds for essential

12

project debt service.

13

(xii)  To underwrite all long-term capital debt for

14

all public school districts after June 30, 2008.

15

(xiii)  To take all actions necessary and proper to

16

ensure that the payments made by the Education Operating

17

Fund for school district debt are made at the lowest

18

possible cost of capital funds providing the best return

19

for fund expenditures.

20

(xiv)  To pledge, hypothecate or otherwise encumber,

21

all or any of the revenues or receipts of the authority

22

as security for all, or any of, the obligations of the

23

authority.

24

(xv)  To do all acts and things necessary or

25

convenient to carry out the powers granted to it by this

26

section, this act or any other act.

27

(d)  Prohibition.--

28

(1)  The authority shall have no power, at any time or in

29

any manner, to pledge the credit or taxing power of the

30

Commonwealth or any of its school districts, nor shall any of

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1

its obligations or debts be deemed to be obligations of the

2

Commonwealth or any of its school districts, nor shall the

3

Commonwealth or any of its school districts be liable for the

4

payment of principal or interest on such obligations.

5

(2)  All school district debt service payments made by

6

the fund for consolidating, securitizing, financing,

7

refinancing or recalling school district debt shall be

8

obligations of the fund or the school districts and not of

9

the authority.

10

(3)  All contracts between the authority and school

11

districts shall be conditioned upon voter approval, in

12

accordance with standards and regulations prescribed by the

13

department. The Department of Education shall review and

14

approve each school district project referendum including all

15

terms, conditions and amount of debt to be voted upon prior

16

to such referendum to determine:

17

(i)  The extent to which they conform to general

18

State and county requirements.

19

(ii)  The amount of debt.

20

(iii)  The adequacy of the proposed project.

21

(iv)  The ability of the local school district or

22

districts to amortize the cost of the project and to

23

defray the cost of operation and maintenance.

24

(4)  No contract may be executed between the authority

25

and school districts without the specific written approval of

26

the board.

27

Section 1310.  Reduction of sales and use tax for education.

28

(a)  General rule.--The tax reduction provided for in this

29

section shall not occur until school equity disbursements for

30

all public school students in this Commonwealth attain the level

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1

prescribed in section 1306(d) and until the criteria set forth

2

in subsections (b) and (c), whichever subsection is applicable,

3

are met.

4

(b)  Initial reduction.--

5

(1)  When the board determines that the EOF, the ETR

6

Account and the School District Equity Account have

7

maintained a normalized calculated balance that collectively

8

exceeds the annual standard disbursement to all school

9

districts for the immediately preceding fiscal year by at

10

least 40% for a period of eight consecutive quarters, the

11

board, in consultation with the Department of Revenue, shall

12

publish this determination as a notice in the Pennsylvania

13

Bulletin. The notice shall specify:

14

(i)  the amount of money in the EOF and other

15

accounts in excess of 40% of the standard disbursement to

16

all school districts on the last day of the fiscal year

17

immediately preceding this determination; and

18

(ii)  the percentage by which the normalized

19

calculated balance exceeds such standardized disbursement

20

for the fiscal year preceding the board's determination.

21

(2)  Beginning with the first quarter occurring 30 days

22

after such publication, the Department of Revenue shall

23

reduce the rate of the tax imposed under Subchapter B of

24

Chapter 7 by the amount in excess of 40% of the standard

25

disbursement as published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin

26

pursuant to this subsection.

27

(c)  Subsequent tax reduction.--

28

(1)  Whenever the EOF, the ETR Account and the School

29

District Equity Account attain a normalized calculated

30

balance that collectively exceeds the standard disbursement

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1

to school districts in the immediately preceding fiscal year

2

by a percentage that exceeds the percentage last published

3

pursuant to subsection (b) or this subsection for a period of

4

eight consecutive quarters, the board, in consultation with

5

the Department of Revenue, shall publish this determination

6

as a notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. The notice shall

7

specify:

8

(i)  the collective amount of money in the EOF and

9

other accounts in excess of the standard disbursement to

10

all school districts on the last day of the fiscal year

11

immediately preceding this determination; and

12

(ii)  the percentage published in connection with the

13

last tax reduction effectuated under this section.

14

(2)  Following such publication, the Department of

15

Revenue shall further reduce the rate of such tax by the

16

amount that equals the difference between the amount of money

17

in the EOF and its accounts on the last day of the fiscal

18

year published in accordance with this subsection and the

19

amount published in connection with the immediately preceding

20

tax reduction effectuated pursuant to this section.

21

(d)  Restriction on tax increases.--Once the tax rate for a

22

tax imposed under Subchapter B of Chapter 7 is reduced pursuant

23

to this subsection, that rate of tax may only be increased by a

24

law enacted by the General Assembly.

25

(e)  Increments.--Any tax reduction implemented in accordance

26

with this section shall be made in increments of not less

27

than .10%.

28

(f)  Definition.--As used in this section, the term

29

"normalized calculated balance" shall mean the rolling 12-month

30

average of the collective balance in the EOF, the ETR Account

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1

and the School District Equity Account, as determined each

2

quarter by the board for the eight quarters immediately

3

preceding each quarter.

4

Section 1311.  School Equity Capital Construction Fund.

5

(a)  Establishment.--The School Equity Capital Construction

6

Fund is established in the State Treasury.

7

(b)  Contents.--

8

(1)  The School Equity Capital Construction Fund shall

9

consist of:

10

(i)  All moneys received pursuant to subsection (f).

11

(ii)  All payments received from school districts in

12

connection with any financing provided to such school

13

districts by the authority.

14

(iii)  All other moneys received pursuant to this act

15

or any other law or from any other source.

16

(c)  Separate fund.--The SECCF shall be separate from all

17

other funds of the Commonwealth and shall not be subject to

18

borrowing by or transfer to the General Fund or any other fund

19

in the State Treasury.

20

(d)  Continuing appropriations.--All moneys placed in the

21

SECCF and the interest it accrues are hereby appropriated to the

22

authority on a continuing basis and may be utilized by the

23

authority only for the purposes authorized under this act.

24

(e)  Loans to school district.--The authority may utilize

25

moneys in the SECCF to make loans, including interest-free

26

loans, to school districts for projects authorized under section

27

1204.

28

(f)  Distribution of funds to SECCF.--

29

(1)  Except as otherwise provided in subsection (g), the

30

board, in each fiscal year, may transfer from the Education

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1

Operating Fund to the SECCF a sum that shall not be less than

2

25% nor more than 100% of the incremental savings resulting

3

from the Commonwealth assumption of debt pursuant to section

4

1203 as applied to the applicable fiscal year.

5

(2)  As used in this section, the term "incremental

6

savings" means the difference between the Commonwealth's debt

7

assumption payments in the first full fiscal year in which

8

such payments are made and the Commonwealth debt assumption

9

payments scheduled for the applicable fiscal year for which

10

the board makes a transfer of funds to the SECCF pursuant to

11

this subsection.

12

(g)  Cap on transfers to SECCF.--No payments shall be made to

13

the SECCF pursuant to subsection (f) to the extent that such

14

payments will cause the total amount of money in the SECCF to

15

exceed $10,000,000,000.

16

(h)  Use of SECCF for equity remediation.--The authority may

17

only utilize moneys transferred to the SECCF pursuant to this

18

section to assist school districts that require equity

19

remediation assistance as determined by the authority for the

20

construction of projects authorized under this section and

21

section 1204 and which are approved by voter referendum pursuant

22

to section 1205.

23

(i)  Limitation.--No funds shall be transferred from the

24

Education Operating Fund to the SECCF for any fiscal year to the

25

extent that it is necessary to utilize such funds for the

26

purpose of making standard disbursements pursuant to section

27

1304 and for making payments required under section 1307.

28

Section 1312.  School Equity Distribution Task Force.

29

(a)  Establishment.--A School Equity Distribution Task Force

30

shall be constituted every ten years beginning in 2020 for the

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1

purpose of conducting a comprehensive study on the adequacy and

2

equity of existing funding for public education in this

3

Commonwealth or selecting and supervising the conduct of such a

4

study by a qualified person or entity. The task force shall

5

prepare a report, together with recommendations for the General

6

Assembly. Each report shall be completed by November 30 of the

7

immediately following calendar year and shall be a public

8

record.

9

(b)  Composition of task force and selection of chairman.--

10

The task force shall consist of five members. The Governor, the

11

President pro tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of

12

Representatives and the Minority Leader of the Senate and the

13

Minority Leader of the House of Representatives shall each

14

appoint one member to the task force. The task force shall

15

select a chairman from its membership.

16

(c)  Term of task force.--The task force shall hold its

17

organizing meeting on the date scheduled by the Governor in

18

April of the applicable year and shall complete its report by

19

November 30 of the immediately following calendar year.

20

(d)  Notice.--The Governor shall notify the President pro

21

tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of

22

Representatives, the Minority Leader of the Senate and the

23

Minority Leader of the House of Representatives of the

24

organizing meeting for the task force on the date specified in

25

subsection (c) of the applicable year and advise the leaders of

26

the need to make their respective appointments before that date.

27

CHAPTER 15

28

SCHOOL DISTRICT FISCAL EFFICIENCY TOOLS

29

Section 1501.  Purpose of chapter.

30

The purpose of this chapter is to provide school districts

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1

with the tools necessary to achieve maximum fiscal effectiveness

2

in the performance of their powers and duties and to provide a

3

thorough and efficient system of public education at the lowest

4

possible cost to the citizens of this Commonwealth.

5

Section 1502.  Data-driven decision-making technology

6

requirements.

7

(a)  General rule.--No later than July 1, 2013, each school

8

district shall enter into a contract with a data-driven

9

decision-making total systems vendor and submit a copy of the

10

contract to the Department of Education.

11

(b)  Required elements.--The contract shall include, but not

12

be limited to, the following elements as components of data-

13

driven decision making:

14

(1)  The use of large, integrated databases that connect

15

relevant information from other sources into a single

16

accessible format. The databases shall allow the school

17

district, intermediate unit and the Department of Education

18

to look at data from multiple operational systems across

19

multiple dimensions, including time. The system contracted

20

shall have the advantage of importing and analyzing data from

21

a variety of other systems that cannot otherwise communicate

22

with each other.

23

(2)  Assessment and diagnostic tools that determine

24

students' mastery levels of standards, powerful assessment

25

solutions, which provide instant feedback for diagnostic use

26

by teachers, and robust data warehousing and analysis

27

solutions which provide historical and longitudinal

28

capabilities for using and managing data effectively for

29

student performance improvement.

30

(3)  Curriculum management systems to integrate each

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1

teacher's curriculum planning, lesson plans and grade

2

reporting into a standards-based system.

3

(4)  Instruction and practice systems to align curriculum

4

and instructional resources to State and local standards.

5

(5)  Student information systems primarily concerned with

6

issues of day-to-day student administration.

7

(6)  Data analysis and reporting systems to allow

8

analysis and student performance over time and across

9

variables like district, school, program or classroom. The

10

systems shall include messaging and collaboration technology.

11

(7)  Definitive goals toward increasing the value and

12

return of data-driven decision-making technology investment,

13

project management integrated with State education goals and

14

time lines, requirements specification definitions, the

15

formation of both an implementation team and an evaluation

16

committee and planned verification meetings as a result of

17

contract implementation.

18

(8)  Quality instruction integrated with formative

19

assessment and supported by data-driven action research that

20

informs professional practice and instructional

21

effectiveness.

22

Section 1503.  Certified operations reports.

23

(a)  Duty of school districts to file.--During the fiscal

24

year beginning July 1, 2012, and each fiscal year thereafter,

25

each school district shall submit certified operations reports

26

to the Department of Education. The report shall consist of

27

independent third-party certification that contracts have been

28

or are being completed in school district operations.

29

(b)  Contents.--The certification reports shall state

30

whether:

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1

(1)  The data-driven decision-making systems installed

2

will provide a robust data architecture that are optimized

3

based on prescribed district data requirements.

4

(2)  The systems installed will provide a powerful and

5

easy to use "user reporting and analysis" interface.

6

(3)  The systems installed and implemented will

7

facilitate the school district's ability to improve student

8

achievement and organizational efficiency economy; impact the

9

quality of education; are designed with students in mind; and

10

discriminate as to what changes or decisions can be made to

11

have the best outcomes for students.

12

(4)  Compliance with State district integration

13

objectives is being satisfied to the extent that the district

14

superintendent has a basis for expecting to report the

15

evidence required in the July 1, 2014, report.

16

Section 1504.  Superintendent report.

17

(a)  Duty of superintendents to file.--During the fiscal year

18

beginning July 1, 2013, and each fiscal year thereafter, each

19

superintendent shall submit to the Department of Education a

20

comprehensive report for the district, indicating that the

21

intended purposes and goals, performance and accountability

22

technology are being realized in practice, whether data-driven

23

decisions are affecting the district allocations of its budget

24

and funding requests from the Education Operating Fund.

25

(b)  Contents.--The superintendent's report shall include,

26

but not be limited to, an administrative and technology

27

assessment of the district's schools' ability to:

28

(1)  Generate reports on standards, curriculum,

29

instructional approaches and progress based on the analysis

30

of student and teacher population subgroups which lead to

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1

improved instruction approaches.

2

(2)  Create a variety of additional reports as needed to

3

analyze information deemed critical to students, teachers and

4

school administration that measure academic progress and meet

5

the requirements of the Department of Education.

6

(3)  Provide essential accountability results for

7

district schools and meet prescribed accountability reports

8

for the district as determined by the Department of

9

Education.

10

(4)  Evaluate technology progress to drive better

11

decision making for curriculum and other factors affecting

12

student and school achievement and other district goals.

13

(5)  Make fiscal budget decisions reallocating the use of

14

moneys from the Education Operating Fund to better prioritize

15

all aspects of each school's and district's educational

16

processes.

17

(6)  Analyze factors that impact learning and enable

18

action to help improve student achievement.

19

(7)  Document improvement and share information with

20

other schools, districts and State education agencies.

21

Section 1505.  Annual performance report.

22

(a)  Duty of school district to file.--During the fiscal year

23

beginning July 1, 2013, and each fiscal year thereafter, each

24

school district shall submit to the Department of Education a

25

comprehensive annual report, indicating how the intended

26

purposes and goals of performance and accountability technology

27

are being realized in the administration of the district, and

28

that includes clear case studies, white papers and other

29

documents which indicate that data-driven decisions are

30

affecting the district allocations of its budget and moneys from

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1

the Education Operating Fund to achieve acceptable levels of

2

performance as set by peer benchmark or other evaluations.

3

(b)  Contents.--The annual performance report shall include,

4

but not be limited to, the following:

5

(1)  A continuing report of the prior year's subjects

6

addressed by the superintendent report, amended with changes

7

deemed appropriate by the board of the school district.

8

(2)  A demonstration of ways in which the district's

9

data-driven analysis is beginning to enable the evaluation of

10

student progress, ways in which daily results are cycled

11

through a data warehouse to map curriculum for assignments

12

and test results.

13

(3)  Actions taken to improve learning by improving

14

instructional approaches with data-driven analysis,

15

integrating and building on existing technology, offering

16

access to learning resources and continuing improvement by

17

tracking performance.

18

(4)  A demonstration of the factors that are district-

19

causing trends, identify root causes of performance and

20

analyze the effectiveness of changes initiated in the

21

learning environment.

22

(5)  A demonstration of budget decisions directly

23

affected by changes in the districts' efforts to improve

24

student achievement and increase administrative efficiency by

25

focusing on student improvement in a new era of technology

26

application to education.

27

(6)  An assessment of the future direction to be taken

28

for continuing performance improvement and advances in data-

29

driven decision making to determine economic efficiencies and

30

financial discipline achievable in budget allocations and

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1

spending decisions.

2

CHAPTER 17

3

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

4

Section 1701.  Transitional provision.

5

(a)  Sales and use tax.--Notwithstanding the repeal of

6

Article II of the Tax Reform Code of 1971, under section 1704,

7

the department shall have the authority to enforce the

8

collection of taxes imposed for transactions that occur prior to

9

the effective date of this section under former Article II of

10

the Tax Reform Code of 1971. The taxes collected after January

11

1, 2011, regardless of the transaction date, shall be deposited

12

into the Education Operating Fund.

13

(b)  Other taxes.--Notwithstanding the repeal of any

14

provision of the Public School Code of 1949, the Local Tax

15

Enabling Act, as applied to school districts or of any other law

16

authorizing school districts to impose taxes, a governing body

17

shall have the authority to enforce, after the effective date of

18

the repeal, the collection of taxes levied and assessed under

19

those former provisions prior to the effective date of the

20

repeal under section 1704(2).

21

Section 1702.  Construction.

22

Any and all references in any other act to Article II or any

23

provision in Article II of the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6,

24

No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, shall be deemed a

25

reference to Chapter 7 or the corresponding provisions in

26

Chapter 7 of this act.

27

Section 1703.  Severability.

28

The provisions of this act are severable as follows:

29

(1)  If any provision of this act is held invalid, the

30

invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications

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1

of this act which can be given effect without the invalid

2

provision or application.

3

(2)  Under no circumstances shall the invalidity of any

4

provision or application of this act affect the validity of

5

any provision in this act that abolishes the power of the

6

governing body and any school district and city of the first

7

class or any other political subdivision to levy, assess or

8

collect a tax on any interest in real property for school

9

purposes.

10

Section 1704.  Repeals.

11

(a)  Intent.--The General Assembly declares that the repeals

12

under subsection (b) are necessary to effectuate this act.

13

(b)  Provisions.--The following acts and parts of acts are

14

repealed:

15

(1)  Section 631 of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30,

16

No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is repealed.

17

(2)  The school per capita tax, which tax is authorized

18

pursuant to section 679 of the Public School Code of 1949, is

19

repealed.

20

(3)  Article XXV of the Public School Code of 1949 is

21

repealed insofar as Article XXV authorized Commonwealth

22

payments and reimbursements to school districts that have

23

been incorporated into the standard disbursements formula as

24

provided in section 1304 of this act.

25

(4)  Any provision of the Public School Code of 1949 and

26

of any other law relating to the authority of any school

27

district to levy, assess and collect any tax on real property

28

and the power of any city of the first class to levy, assess

29

and collect any tax real property for school purposes is

30

repealed upon the expiration of the respective schedule

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1

prescribed in sections 1101 and 1102.

2

(5)  Any provision of the act of the Public School Code

3

of 1949 and any other law relating to debt is repealed to the

4

extent that it is inconsistent with this act.

5

(6)  Any provision of the Public School Code of 1949 and

6

any home rule charter adopted pursuant thereto is repealed

7

insofar as it is inconsistent with this act.

8

(7)  Any provision of the act of August 9, 1963 (P.L.643,

9

No.341), known as the First Class City Public Education Home

10

Rule Act, and any home rule school district charter adopted

11

pursuant thereto is repealed insofar as it is inconsistent

12

with this act.

13

(8)  The act of December 31, 1965 (P.L.1257, No.511),

14

known as The Local Tax Enabling Act, is repealed insofar as

15

it authorizes the levy, assessment and collection by school

16

districts of any tax, except a realty transfer tax, as of

17

midnight on December 31, 2011.

18

(9)  Article II of the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6,

19

No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, is repealed.

20

(10)  Chapter 13 of the act of June 27, 2006 (1st

21

Sp.Sess., P.L.1873, No.1), known as the Taxpayer Relief Act,

22

is repealed.

23

(11)  All acts and parts of acts that are inconsistent

24

with this act are repealed to the extent of such

25

inconsistency.

26

Section 1705.  Applicability.

27

This act shall apply as follows:

28

(1)  Section 1704(9) shall apply at midnight on December

29

31, 2010.

30

(2)  Chapter 7 shall apply January 1, 2011.

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1

Section 1706.  Effective date.

2

This act shall take effect as follows:

3

(1)  Section 1704(2) and (8) shall take effect at

4

midnight on December 31, 2011.

5

(2)  Chapters 3, 4 and 5 shall take effect January 1,

6

2012.

7

(3)  The remainder of this act shall take effect

8

immediately.

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