PRINTER'S NO. 3504

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 2657 Session of 1992


        INTRODUCED BY NICKOL, MAY 6, 1992

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON FINANCE, MAY 6, 1992

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending the act of December 31, 1965 (P.L.1257, No.511),
     2     entitled "An act empowering cities of the second class,
     3     cities of the second class A, cities of the third class,
     4     boroughs, towns, townships of the first class, townships of
     5     the second class, school districts of the second class,
     6     school districts of the third class and school districts of
     7     the fourth class including independent school districts, to
     8     levy, assess, collect or to provide for the levying,
     9     assessment and collection of certain taxes subject to maximum
    10     limitations for general revenue purposes; authorizing the
    11     establishment of bureaus and the appointment and compensation
    12     of officers, agencies and employes to assess and collect such
    13     taxes; providing for joint collection of certain taxes,
    14     prescribing certain definitions and other provisions for
    15     taxes levied and assessed upon earned income, providing for
    16     annual audits and for collection of delinquent taxes, and
    17     permitting and requiring penalties to be imposed and
    18     enforced, including penalties for disclosure of confidential
    19     information, providing an appeal from the ordinance or
    20     resolution levying such taxes to the court of quarter
    21     sessions and to the Supreme Court and Superior Court,"
    22     further providing for the distribution of earned income
    23     taxes; and imposing a penalty against employers who fail to
    24     remit to taxing authorities taxes that have been withheld.

    25     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
    26  hereby enacts as follows:
    27     Section 1.  Divisions V and IX of section 13 of the act of
    28  December 31, 1965 (P.L.1257, No.511), known as The Local Tax


     1  Enabling Act, are amended by adding subsections to read:
     2     Section 13.  Earned Income Taxes.--On and after the effective
     3  date of this act the remaining provisions of this section shall
     4  be included in or construed to be a part of each tax levied and
     5  assessed upon earned income by any political subdivision levying
     6  and assessing such tax pursuant to this act. The definitions
     7  contained in this section shall be exclusive for any tax upon
     8  earned income and net profits levied and assessed pursuant to
     9  this act, and shall not be altered or changed by any political
    10  subdivision levying and assessing such tax.
    11                               * * *
    12                  V.  Powers and Duties of Officer
    13     * * *
    14     (i)  The officer shall not charge any fee or commission for
    15  the distribution of earned income taxes.
    16                               * * *
    17               IX.  Fines and Penalties for Violation
    18                    of Ordinances or Resolutions
    19     * * *
    20     (e)  Every employer who deducts and withholds earned income
    21  tax from employes pursuant to this act shall be a fiduciary
    22  charged with responsibility for the full amount of the tax
    23  deducted until paid over to the taxing authority. Any employer,
    24  his representative and any other person with responsibility over
    25  taxes withheld by the employer commits a misdemeanor of the
    26  second degree if he fails to pay over to the taxing authority
    27  taxes entrusted to him as a fiduciary.
    28     Section 2.  Section 20 of the act is amended to read:
    29     Section 20.  Collection of Delinquent Per Capita, Occupation,
    30  Occupational Privilege and Earned Income Taxes from the
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     1  Commonwealth.--[Upon presentation of a written notice and demand
     2  under oath or affirmation, to the State Treasurer or any other
     3  fiscal officer of the State, or its boards, authorities,
     4  agencies or commissions, it shall be the duty of the treasurer
     5  or officer to deduct from the wages then owing, or that shall
     6  within sixty days thereafter become due to any employe, a sum
     7  sufficient to pay the respective amount of the delinquent per
     8  capita, occupation, occupational privilege and earned income
     9  taxes and costs shown on the written notice. The same shall be
    10  paid to the tax collector of the taxing district in which said
    11  delinquent tax was levied within sixty days after such notice
    12  shall have been given.] Upon written notice, the State Treasurer
    13  or other fiscal officer of the Commonwealth shall deduct from
    14  the compensation then owing or that shall, within sixty days
    15  thereafter, become due to any employe a sum sufficient to pay
    16  the delinquent per capita, occupation, occupational privilege
    17  and earned income taxes, interest, penalty and costs: Provided,
    18  however, That no more than ten percent of the compensation of
    19  the delinquent taxpayer may be deducted at any one time. Payment
    20  of the funds shall be made within sixty days to the tax officer
    21  of the taxing district in which the tax was levied.
    22     Section 3.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.






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