PRINTER'S NO. 316

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 283 Session of 1983


        INTRODUCED BY LASHINGER, J. L. WRIGHT, REBER, MADIGAN, PRATT AND
           CAWLEY, FEBRUARY 16, 1983

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON FINANCE, FEBRUARY 16, 1983

                                     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     repealing occupation taxes based on a percentage, millage or
    23     flat rate basis; repealing per capita taxes; further
    24     providing for credits to and deductions from taxes owed to
    25     political subdivisions other than the political subdivision
    26     of residence; and making editorial changes and repeals.

    27     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
    28  hereby enacts as follows:
    29     Section 1.  The introductory paragraph and clauses (4), (9)


     1  and (10) of section 2 of the act of December 31, 1965 (P.L.1257,
     2  No.511), known as The Local Tax Enabling Act, the introductory
     3  paragraph amended November 26, 1982 (P.L.763, No.217), are
     4  amended and clauses are added to read:
     5     Section 2.  Delegation of Taxing Powers and Restrictions
     6  Thereon.--The duly constituted authorities of the following
     7  political subdivisions, cities of the second class, cities of
     8  the second class A, cities of the third class, boroughs, towns,
     9  townships of the first class, townships of the second class,
    10  school districts of the second class, school districts of the
    11  third class, and school districts of the fourth class, in all
    12  cases including independent school districts, may, in their
    13  discretion, by ordinance or resolution, for general revenue
    14  purposes, levy, assess and collect or provide for the levying,
    15  assessment and collection of such taxes as they shall determine
    16  on persons, transactions, [occupations,] privileges, subjects
    17  and personal property within the limits of such political
    18  subdivisions, and upon the transfer of real property, or of any
    19  interest in real property, situate within the political
    20  subdivision levying and assessing the tax, regardless of where
    21  the instruments making the transfers are made, executed or
    22  delivered or where the actual settlements on such transfer take
    23  place. The taxing authority may provide that the transferee
    24  shall remain liable for any unpaid realty transfer taxes imposed
    25  by virtue of this act. Each local taxing authority may, by
    26  ordinance or resolution, exempt any person whose total income
    27  from all sources is less than five thousand dollars ($5,000) per
    28  annum from the [per capita or similar head tax, occupation tax
    29  and occupational privilege] municipal services tax, or earned
    30  income tax, or any portion thereof, and may adopt regulations
    19830H0283B0316                  - 2 -

     1  for the processing of claims for exemptions. Such local
     2  authorities shall not have authority by virtue of this act:
     3     * * *
     4     (4)  To levy, assess and collect a tax on goods and articles
     5  manufactured in such political subdivision or on the by-products
     6  of manufacture, or on minerals, timber, natural resources and
     7  farm products produced in such political subdivision or on the
     8  preparation or processing thereof for use or market, or on any
     9  privilege, act or transaction related to the business of
    10  manufacturing, the production, preparation or processing of
    11  minerals, timber and natural resources, or farm products, by
    12  manufacturers, by producers and by farmers with respect to the
    13  goods, articles and products of their own manufacture,
    14  production or growth, or on any privilege, act or transaction
    15  relating to the business of processing by-products of
    16  manufacture, or on the transportation, loading, unloading or
    17  dumping or storage of such goods, articles, products or by-
    18  products; except that local authorities may levy, assess and
    19  collect taxes on the [occupation, occupational privilege, per
    20  capita and] earned income or net profits or for municipal
    21  services of natural persons engaged in the above activities
    22  whether doing business as individual proprietorship or as
    23  members of partnerships or other associations;
    24     * * *
    25     (9)  To levy, assess or collect any tax on individuals for
    26  the privilege of engaging in an occupation [(occupational
    27  privilege tax)] except that [such] a municipal services tax may
    28  be levied, assessed and collected but only by the [political
    29  subdivision] city, borough, town or township of the taxpayer's
    30  place of employment.
    19830H0283B0316                  - 3 -

     1     Payment of any [occupational privilege] municipal services
     2  tax to any [political subdivision] city, borough, town or
     3  township by any person pursuant to an ordinance or resolution
     4  passed or adopted under the authority of this act shall be
     5  limited to [ten dollars ($10)] twenty-five dollars ($25) on each
     6  person for each calendar year.
     7     The situs of [such] the municipal services tax shall be the
     8  place of employment, but, in the event a person is engaged in
     9  more than one occupation, or an occupation which requires his
    10  working in more than one political subdivision during the
    11  calendar year, the priority of claim to collect such
    12  [occupational privilege] municipal services tax shall be in the
    13  following order: first, the [political subdivision] city,
    14  borough, town or township in which a person maintains his
    15  principal office or is principally employed; second, the
    16  [political subdivision] city, borough, town or township in which
    17  the person resides and works, if such a tax is levied by that
    18  [political subdivision] city, borough, town or township; third,
    19  the [political subdivision] city, borough, town or township in
    20  which a person is employed and which imposes the tax nearest in
    21  miles to the person's home. The place of employment shall be
    22  determined as of the day the taxpayer first becomes subject to
    23  the tax during the calendar year.
    24     It is the intent of this provision that no person shall pay
    25  more than [ten dollars ($10)] twenty-five dollars ($25) in any
    26  calendar year as [an occupational privilege] a municipal
    27  services tax irrespective of the number of [political
    28  subdivisions] cities, boroughs, towns or townships within which
    29  such person may be employed within any given calendar year.
    30     In case of dispute, a tax receipt of the taxing authority for
    19830H0283B0316                  - 4 -

     1  that calendar year declaring that the taxpayer has made prior
     2  payment which constitutes prima facie certification of payment
     3  to all other [political subdivisions] cities, boroughs, towns or
     4  townships.
     5     [(10)  To levy, assess or collect a tax on admissions to
     6  motion picture theatres: Provided, That this limitation (10)
     7  shall not apply to cities of the second class.]
     8     * * *
     9     (12)  To levy, assess or collect any tax on occupations using
    10  a millage or percentage of any value, a flat rate or any
    11  arbitrary value placed on various occupations as a basis for
    12  such tax.
    13     (13)  To levy, assess or collect any per capita or similar
    14  head tax.
    15     Section 2.  Section 8 of the act, amended December 27, 1967
    16  (P.L.984, No.404), is amended to read:
    17     Section 8.  Limitations on Rates of Specific Taxes.--No taxes
    18  levied under the provisions of this act shall be levied by any
    19  political subdivision on the following subjects exceeding the
    20  rates specified in this section:
    21     [(1)  Per capita, poll or other similar head taxes, ten
    22  dollars ($10).]
    23     (2)  On each dollar of the whole volume of business
    24  transacted by wholesale dealers in goods, wares and merchandise,
    25  one mill, by retail dealers in goods, wares and merchandise and
    26  by proprietors of restaurants or other places where food, drink
    27  and refreshments are served, one and one-half mills; except in
    28  cities of the second class, where rates shall not exceed one
    29  mill on wholesale dealers and two mills on retail dealers and
    30  proprietors. No such tax shall be levied on the dollar volume of
    19830H0283B0316                  - 5 -

     1  business transacted by wholesale and retail dealers derived from
     2  the resale of goods, wares and merchandise, taken by any dealer
     3  as a trade-in or as part payment for other goods, wares and
     4  merchandise, except to the extent that the resale price exceeds
     5  the trade-in allowance.
     6     (3)  On wages, salaries, commissions and other earned income
     7  of individuals, one percent for cities, boroughs, towns and
     8  townships, and two percent for school districts of the second
     9  class, school districts of the third class and school districts
    10  of the fourth class including independent school districts,
    11  notwithstanding the general provisions of this section relative
    12  to rate sharing between political subdivisions.
    13     (4)  On retail sales involving the transfer of title or
    14  possession of tangible personal property, two percent.
    15     (5)  On the transfer of real property, one percent.
    16     (6)  On admissions to places of amusement, athletic events
    17  and the like, and on motion picture theatres [in cities of the
    18  second class], ten percent.
    19     [(7)  Flat rate occupation taxes not using a millage or
    20  percentage as a basis, ten dollars ($10).]
    21     (8)  [Occupational privilege taxes, ten dollars ($10).]
    22  Municipal services tax, twenty-five dollars ($25).
    23     Except as otherwise provided in this act, at any time two
    24  political subdivisions shall impose any one of the above taxes
    25  on the same person, subject, business, transaction or privilege,
    26  located within both such political subdivisions, during the same
    27  year or part of the same year, under the authority of this act
    28  then the tax levied by a political subdivision under the
    29  authority of this act shall, during the time such duplication of
    30  the tax exists, except as hereinafter otherwise provided, be
    19830H0283B0316                  - 6 -

     1  one-half of the rate, as above limited, and such one-half rate
     2  shall become effective by virtue of the requirements of this act
     3  from the day such duplication becomes effective without any
     4  action on the part of the political subdivision imposing the tax
     5  under the authority of this act. When any one of the above taxes
     6  has been levied under the provisions of this act by one
     7  political subdivision and a subsequent levy is made either for
     8  the first time or is revived after a lapse of time by another
     9  political subdivision on the same person, subject, business,
    10  transaction or privilege at a rate that would make the combined
    11  levies exceed the limit allowed by this subdivision, the tax of
    12  the second political subdivision shall not become effective
    13  until the end of the fiscal year for which the prior tax was
    14  levied, unless:
    15     (1)  Notice indicating its intention to make such levy is
    16  given to the first taxing body by the second taxing body as
    17  follows: (i) when the notice is given to a school district it
    18  shall be given at least forty-five days prior to the last day
    19  fixed by law for the levy of its school taxes; (ii) when given
    20  to any other political subdivision it shall be prior to the
    21  first day of January immediately preceding, or if a last day for
    22  the adoption of the budget is fixed by law, at least forty-five
    23  days prior to such last day; or
    24     (2)  Unless the first taxing body shall indicate by
    25  appropriate resolution its desire to waive notice requirements
    26  in which case the levy of the second taxing body shall become
    27  effective on such date as may be agreed upon by the two taxing
    28  bodies.
    29     It is the intent and purpose of this provision to limit rates
    30  of taxes referred to in this section so that the entire burden
    19830H0283B0316                  - 7 -

     1  of one tax on a person, subject, business, transaction or
     2  privilege shall not exceed the limitations prescribed in this
     3  section: Provided, however, That any two political subdivisions
     4  which impose any one of the above taxes, on the same person,
     5  subject, business, transaction or privilege during the same year
     6  or part of the same year may agree among themselves that,
     7  instead of limiting their respective rates to one-half of the
     8  maximum rate herein provided, they will impose respectively
     9  different rates, the total of which shall not exceed the maximum
    10  rate as above permitted.
    11     [Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, any city of
    12  the second class A may enact a tax upon wages, salaries,
    13  commissions and other earned income of individuals resident
    14  therein, not exceeding one percent, even though a school
    15  district levies a similar tax on the same person provided that
    16  the aggregate of both taxes does not exceed two percent.]
    17     Section 3.  Section 9 of the act, amended December 12, 1968
    18  (P.L.1203, No.377), is amended to read:
    19     Section 9.  Register for Earned Income and [Occupational
    20  Privilege] Municipal Services Taxes.--It shall be the duty of
    21  the Department of Community Affairs to have available an
    22  official continuing register supplemented annually of all earned
    23  income and [occupational privilege] municipal services taxes
    24  levied under authority of this act. The register and its
    25  supplements, hereinafter referred to as the register, shall list
    26  such jurisdictions levying earned income and/or [occupational
    27  privilege] municipal services taxes, the rate of the tax as
    28  stated in the tax levying ordinance or resolution, and the
    29  effective rate on resident and nonresident taxpayers, if
    30  different from the stated rate because of a coterminous levy,
    19830H0283B0316                  - 8 -

     1  the name and address of the officer responsible for
     2  administering the collection of the tax and from whom
     3  information, forms for reporting and copies of rules and
     4  regulations are available. With each jurisdiction listed, all
     5  jurisdictions making coterminous levies shall also be noted and
     6  their tax rates shown.
     7     Information for the register shall be furnished by the
     8  secretary of each taxing body to the Department of Community
     9  Affairs in such manner and on such forms as the Department of
    10  Community Affairs may prescribe. The information must be
    11  received by the Department of Community Affairs by certified
    12  mail not later than May 31 of each year to show new tax
    13  enactments, repeals and changes. Failure to comply with this
    14  date for filing may result in the omission of the levy from the
    15  register for that year. Failure of the Department of Community
    16  Affairs to receive information of taxes continued without change
    17  may be construed by the department to mean that the information
    18  contained in the previous register remains in force.
    19     The Department of Community Affairs shall have the register
    20  with such annual supplements as may be required by new tax
    21  enactments, repeals or changes available upon request not later
    22  than July 1 of each year. The effective period for each register
    23  shall be from July 1 of the year in which it is issued to June
    24  30 of the following year.
    25     Employers shall not be required by any local ordinance to
    26  withhold from the wages, salaries, commissions or other
    27  compensation of their employes any tax imposed under the
    28  provisions of this act, which is not listed in the register, or
    29  make reports of wages, salaries, commissions or other
    30  compensation in connection with taxes not so listed: Provided,
    19830H0283B0316                  - 9 -

     1  That if the register is not available by July 1, the register of
     2  the previous year shall continue temporarily in effect for an
     3  additional period not to exceed one year. The provisions of this
     4  section shall not affect the liability of any taxpayer for taxes
     5  lawfully imposed under this act.
     6     Ordinances or resolutions imposing earned income or
     7  [occupational privilege] municipal services taxes under
     8  authority of this act may contain provisions requiring employers
     9  doing business within the jurisdiction of the political
    10  subdivision imposing the tax to withhold the tax from the
    11  compensation of those of their employes who are subject to the
    12  tax: Provided, That no employer shall be held liable for failure
    13  to withhold earned income taxes or for the payment of such
    14  withheld tax money to a political subdivision other than the
    15  political subdivision entitled to receive such money if such
    16  failure to withhold or such incorrect transmittal of withheld
    17  taxes arises from incorrect information as to the employe's
    18  place of residence submitted by the employe: And provided
    19  further, That employers shall not be required by any local
    20  ordinance to withhold from compensation for any one of their
    21  employes for the [occupational privilege] municipal services tax
    22  more than one time in any fiscal period: And provided further,
    23  That the [occupational privilege] municipal services tax shall
    24  be applicable to employment in the period beginning January 1,
    25  of the current year and ending December 31 of the current year,
    26  except that taxes imposed for the first time shall become
    27  effective from the date specified in the ordinance or
    28  resolution, and the tax shall continue in force on a calendar
    29  year basis.
    30     Section 4.  Section 14 of the act, amended October 26, 1972
    19830H0283B0316                 - 10 -

     1  (P.L.1043, No.261), is amended to read:
     2     Section 14.  Payment of Tax to Other Political Subdivisions
     3  or States as Credit or Deduction; Withholding Tax.--[Payment of
     4  any tax to any political subdivision pursuant to an ordinance or
     5  resolution passed or adopted prior to the effective date of this
     6  act shall be credited to and allowed as a deduction from the
     7  liability of taxpayers for any like tax respectively on
     8  salaries, wages, commissions, other compensation or on net
     9  profits of businesses, professions or other activities and for
    10  any income tax imposed by any other political subdivision of
    11  this Commonwealth under the authority of this act.]
    12     Payment of any tax on salaries, wages, commissions, other
    13  compensation or on net profits of business, professions or other
    14  activities to a political subdivision by residents thereof
    15  pursuant to an ordinance or resolution passed or adopted under
    16  the authority of this act shall be credited to and allowed as a
    17  deduction from the liability of such persons for any other like
    18  tax respectively on salaries, wages, commissions, other
    19  compensation or on net profits of businesses, professions or
    20  other activities imposed by any other political subdivision of
    21  this Commonwealth under the authority of this act.
    22     [Payment] Fifty percent of any tax paid on income to any
    23  political subdivision by residents thereof pursuant to an
    24  ordinance or resolution passed or adopted under the authority of
    25  this act shall, to the extent that such income includes
    26  salaries, wages, commissions, other compensation or net profits
    27  of businesses, professions or other activities, but in such
    28  proportion as hereinafter set forth, be credited to and allowed
    29  as a deduction from the liability of such persons for any other
    30  tax on salaries, wages, commissions, other compensation or on
    19830H0283B0316                 - 11 -

     1  net profits of businesses, professions, or other activities
     2  imposed by any other political subdivision of this Commonwealth
     3  under the authority of [this act.] the act of August 5, 1932
     4  (Sp.Sess., P.L.45, No.45), entitled, as amended, "An act
     5  empowering cities of the first class to levy, assess and
     6  collect, or to provide for the levying, assessment and
     7  collection of, certain additional taxes for general revenue
     8  purposes; authorizing the establishment of bureaus, and the
     9  appointment and compensation of officers and employes to assess
    10  and collect such taxes; and permitting penalties to be imposed
    11  and enforced."
    12     Payment of any tax on income to any state or to any political
    13  subdivision thereof by residents thereof, pursuant to any State
    14  or local law, may, at the discretion of the Pennsylvania
    15  political subdivision imposing such tax, to the extent that such
    16  income includes salaries, wages, commissions, or other
    17  compensation or net profits of businesses, professions or other
    18  activities but in such proportions as hereinafter set forth, be
    19  credited to and allowed as a deduction from the liability of
    20  such person for any other tax on salaries, wages, commissions,
    21  other compensation or net profits of businesses, professions or
    22  other activities imposed by any political subdivision of this
    23  Commonwealth under the authority of this act, if residents of
    24  the political subdivision in Pennsylvania receive credits and
    25  deductions of a similar kind to a like degree from the tax on
    26  income imposed by the other state or political subdivision
    27  thereof.
    28     Payment of any tax on income to any State other than
    29  Pennsylvania or to any political subdivision located outside the
    30  boundaries of this Commonwealth, by residents of a political
    19830H0283B0316                 - 12 -

     1  subdivision located in Pennsylvania shall, to the extent that
     2  such income includes salaries, wages, commissions, or other
     3  compensation or net profits of businesses, professions or other
     4  activities but in such proportions as hereinafter set forth, be
     5  credited to and allowed as a deduction from the liability of
     6  such person for any other tax on salaries, wages, commissions,
     7  other compensation or net profits of businesses, professions or
     8  other activities imposed by any political subdivision of this
     9  Commonwealth under the authority of this act.
    10     Where a credit or a deduction is allowable in any of the
    11  several cases hereinabove provided, it shall be allowed in
    12  proportion to the concurrent periods for which taxes are imposed
    13  by the other state or respective political subdivisions, but not
    14  in excess of the amount previously paid for a concurrent period.
    15     No credit or deduction shall be allowed against any tax on
    16  earned income imposed under authority of this act to the extent
    17  of the amount of credit or deduction taken for the same period
    18  by the taxpayer against any income tax imposed by the
    19  Commonwealth of Pennsylvania under section 314 of the act of
    20  March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2) known as the "Tax Reform Code of
    21  1971," on account of taxes imposed on income by other states or
    22  by their political subdivisions.
    23     In the case of tax paid on income to any state other than
    24  Pennsylvania or to any political subdivision located outside the
    25  boundaries of the Commonwealth by residents of a political
    26  subdivision located in Pennsylvania, the credit provided in this
    27  section shall not exceed the proportion of the income tax
    28  otherwise due that the amount of the taxpayer's income subject
    29  to tax by the other jurisdiction bears to his entire taxable
    30  income.
    19830H0283B0316                 - 13 -

     1     Section 5.  Section 17 of the act is amended to read:
     2     Section 17.  Tax Limitations.--(a)  Over-all Limit of Tax
     3  Revenues.--The aggregate amount of all taxes imposed by any
     4  political subdivision under this section and in effect during
     5  any fiscal year shall not exceed an amount equal to the product
     6  obtained by multiplying the latest total market valuation of
     7  real estate in such political subdivision, as determined by the
     8  board for the assessment and revision of taxes or any similar
     9  board established by the assessment laws which determines market
    10  values of real estate within the political subdivision, by
    11  [twelve] eighteen mills. In school districts of the second
    12  class, third class and fourth class and in any political
    13  subdivision within a county where no market values of real
    14  estate have been determined by the board for the assessment and
    15  revision of taxes, or any similar board, the aggregate amount of
    16  all taxes imposed under this section and in effect during any
    17  fiscal year shall not exceed an amount equal to the product
    18  obtained by multiplying the latest total market valuation of
    19  real estate in such school district, or other political
    20  subdivision, as certified by the State Tax Equalization Board,
    21  by [twelve] eighteen mills. In school districts of the third and
    22  fourth class, taxes imposed on sales involving the transfer of
    23  real property shall not be included in computing the aggregate
    24  amount of taxes for any fiscal year in which one hundred or more
    25  new homes or other major improvements on real estate were
    26  constructed in the school district.
    27     The aggregate amount of all taxes imposed by any independent
    28  school district under this section during any fiscal year shall
    29  not exceed an amount equal to the product obtained by
    30  multiplying the latest total valuation of real estate in such
    19830H0283B0316                 - 14 -

     1  district by [fifteen] eighteen mills.
     2     (b)  Reduction of Rates Where Taxes Exceed Limitations; Use
     3  of Excess Moneys.--If, during any fiscal year, it shall appear
     4  that the aggregate revenues from taxes levied and collected
     5  under the authority of this act will materially exceed the
     6  limitations imposed by this act, the political subdivision shall
     7  forthwith reduce the rate or rates of such tax or taxes to stay
     8  within such limitations as nearly as may be. Any one or more
     9  persons liable for the payment of taxes levied and collected
    10  under the authority of this act shall have the right to complain
    11  to the court of common pleas of the county in an action of
    12  mandamus to compel compliance with the preceding provision of
    13  this subsection. Tax moneys levied and collected in any fiscal
    14  year in excess of the limitations imposed by this act shall not
    15  be expended during such year, but shall be deposited in a
    16  separate account in the treasury of the political subdivision
    17  for expenditure in the following fiscal year. The rates of taxes
    18  imposed under this act for the following fiscal year shall be so
    19  fixed that the revenues thereby produced, together with the
    20  excess tax moneys on deposit as aforesaid, shall not exceed the
    21  limitations imposed by this act.
    22     During the first and each subsequent calendar or fiscal year
    23  for which local earned income tax rates are increased, any
    24  political subdivision may raise the rate of its earned income
    25  tax provided that such political subdivision simultaneously
    26  reduces or eliminates another tax or taxes so that the total of
    27  all other taxes collected by the taxing district are reduced by
    28  at least ninety percent of the estimated increase in collection
    29  attributable to the increased earned income tax rate. Any time
    30  any tax rate is lowered pursuant to this paragraph such rate
    19830H0283B0316                 - 15 -

     1  shall not be thereafter raised for a period of two years and
     2  shall not again equal the former rate for a period of seven
     3  years unless the political subdivision shall have submitted such
     4  tax rate for the approval of the electorate in accordance with
     5  the procedures provided by law for the approval of the incurring
     6  of indebtedness by referendum.
     7     Section 6.  Section 19 of the act, amended October 4, 1978
     8  (P.L.930, No.177), is amended to read:
     9     Section 19.  Collection of Delinquent [Per Capita,
    10  Occupation, Occupational Privilege and] Earned Income and
    11  Municipal Services Taxes from Employers, etc.--The tax collector
    12  shall demand, receive and collect from all corporations,
    13  political subdivisions, associations, companies, firms or
    14  individuals, employing persons owing delinquent [per capita, or
    15  occupation, occupational privilege and] earned income and
    16  municipal services taxes, or whose spouse owes delinquent [per
    17  capita, occupation, occupational privilege and] earned income
    18  and municipal services taxes, or having in possession unpaid
    19  commissions or earnings belonging to any person or persons owing
    20  delinquent [per capita, occupation, occupational privilege and]
    21  earned income and municipal services taxes, or whose spouse owes
    22  delinquent [per capita, occupation, occupational privilege and]
    23  earned income and municipal services taxes, upon the
    24  presentation of a written notice and demand certifying that the
    25  information contained therein is true and correct and containing
    26  the name of the taxable or the spouse thereof and the amount of
    27  tax due. Upon the presentation of such written notice and
    28  demand, it shall be the duty of any such corporation, political
    29  subdivision, association, company, firm or individual to deduct
    30  from the wages, commissions or earnings of such individual
    19830H0283B0316                 - 16 -

     1  employes, then owing or that shall within sixty days thereafter
     2  become due, or from any unpaid commissions or earnings of any
     3  such taxable in its or his possession, or that shall within
     4  sixty days thereafter come into its or his possession, a sum
     5  sufficient to pay the respective amount of the delinquent [per
     6  capita, occupation, occupational privilege and] earned income
     7  and municipal services taxes and costs, shown upon the written
     8  notice or demand, and to pay the same to the tax collector of
     9  the taxing district in which such delinquent tax was levied
    10  within sixty days after such notice shall have been given. No
    11  more than ten percent of the wages, commissions or earnings of
    12  the delinquent taxpayer or spouse thereof may be deducted at any
    13  one time for delinquent [per capita, occupation, occupational
    14  privilege and] earned income and municipal services taxes and
    15  costs. Such corporation, political subdivision, association,
    16  firm or individual shall be entitled to deduct from the moneys
    17  collected from each employe the costs incurred from the extra
    18  bookkeeping necessary to record such transactions, not exceeding
    19  two percent of the amount of money so collected and paid over to
    20  the tax collector. Upon the failure of any such corporation,
    21  political subdivision, association, company, firm or individual
    22  to deduct the amount of such taxes or to pay the same over to
    23  the tax collector, less the cost of bookkeeping involved in such
    24  transaction, as herein provided, within the time hereby
    25  required, such corporation, political subdivision, association,
    26  company, firm or individual shall forfeit and pay the amount of
    27  such tax for each such taxable whose taxes are not withheld and
    28  paid over, or that are withheld and not paid over together with
    29  a penalty of ten percent added thereto, to be recovered by an
    30  action of assumpsit in a suit to be instituted by the tax
    19830H0283B0316                 - 17 -

     1  collector, or by the proper authorities of the taxing district,
     2  as debts of like amount are now by law recoverable, except that
     3  such person shall not have the benefit of any stay of execution
     4  or exemption law. The tax collector shall not proceed against a
     5  spouse or his employer until he has pursued collection remedies
     6  against the delinquent taxpayer and his employer under this
     7  section.
     8     Section 7.  Section 20 of the act is amended to read:
     9     Section 20.  Collection of Delinquent [Per Capita,
    10  Occupation, Occupational Privilege and] Earned Income and
    11  Municipal Services Taxes from the Commonwealth.--Upon
    12  presentation of a written notice and demand under oath or
    13  affirmation, to the State Treasurer or any other fiscal officer
    14  of the State, or its boards, authorities, agencies or
    15  commissions, it shall be the duty of the treasurer or officer to
    16  deduct from the wages then owing, or that shall within sixty
    17  days thereafter become due to any employe, a sum sufficient to
    18  pay the respective amount of the delinquent [per capita,
    19  occupation, occupational privilege and] earned income and
    20  municipal services taxes and costs shown on the written notice.
    21  The same shall be paid to the tax collector of the taxing
    22  district in which said delinquent tax was levied within sixty
    23  days after such notice shall have been given.
    24     Section 8.  During the first year after enactment of this
    25  act, the credit added by section 14 of the act shall be
    26  applicable only to residents of political subdivisions which
    27  previously levied the earned income tax.
    28     Section 9.  (a)  The following acts or parts of acts, their
    29  amendments and supplements, are repealed insofar as they relate
    30  to the levy, assessment and collection of per capita, residence
    19830H0283B0316                 - 18 -

     1  or occupation taxes:
     2     Section 2531 of the act of June 23, 1931 (P.L.932, No.317),
     3  reenacted and amended June 28, 1951 (P.L.662, No.164), known as
     4  The Third Class City Code.
     5     Section 1709 of the act of June 24, 1931 (P.L.1206, No.331),
     6  reenacted and amended May 27, 1949 (P.L.1955, No.569), known as
     7  The First Class Township Code.
     8     Act of June 26, 1931 (P.L.1379, No.348), entitled, as
     9  amended, "An act creating in counties of the second A and third
    10  class a board for the assessment and revision of taxes;
    11  providing for the appointment of the members of such board by
    12  the county commissioners; providing for their salaries, payable
    13  by the county; abolishing existing boards; defining the powers
    14  and duties of such board; regulating the assessment of persons,
    15  property, and occupations for county, borough, town, township,
    16  school, and poor purposes; authorizing the appointment of
    17  subordinate assessors, a solicitor, engineers, and clerks;
    18  providing for their compensation, payable by such counties;
    19  abolishing the office of ward, borough, and township assessors,
    20  so far as the making of assessments and valuations for taxation
    21  is concerned; and providing for the acceptance of this act by
    22  cities."
    23     Section 905 of the act of May 1, 1933 (P.L.103, No.69),
    24  reenacted and amended July 10, 1947 (P.L.1481, No.567), known as
    25  The Second Class Township Code.
    26     Sections 201(b) and 202 and Articles IV and V of the act of
    27  May 22, 1933 (P.L.853, No.155), known as The General County
    28  Assessment Law.
    29     Act of June 21, 1939 (P.L.626, No.294), entitled "An act
    30  providing for and regulating the assessment and valuation of all
    19830H0283B0316                 - 19 -

     1  subjects of taxation in counties of the second class; creating
     2  and prescribing the powers and duties of a Board of Property
     3  Assessment, Appeals and Review; imposing duties on certain
     4  county and city officers; abolishing the board for the
     5  assessment and revision of taxes in such counties; and
     6  prescribing penalties."
     7     Sections 201(b) and 202(d) and Articles VI and VII of the act
     8  of May 21, 1943 (P.L.571, No.254), known as The Fourth to Eighth
     9  Class County Assessment Law.
    10     Sections 20, 20.1 and 21 of the act of May 25, 1945
    11  (P.L.1050, No.394), known as the Local Tax Collection Law.
    12     Sections 675, 676, 677, 679 and 680 of the act of March 10,
    13  1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949.
    14     Act of July 19, 1951 (P.L.1026, No.216), entitled, as
    15  amended, "An act authorizing political subdivisions, other than
    16  cities of the first and second classes and school districts of
    17  the first class and first class A, to appoint and pay the
    18  compensation of employes to make an assessment list of all
    19  inhabitants or residents thereof over eighteen years of age, for
    20  taxation purposes."
    21     Section 1970 of the act of July 28, 1953 (P.L.723, No.230),
    22  known as the Second Class County Code.
    23     Section 1770 of the act of August 9, 1955 (P.L.323, No.130),
    24  known as The County Code.
    25     Section 1302 of the act of February 1, 1966 (1965 P.L.1656,
    26  No.581), known as The Borough Code.
    27     (b)  All acts and parts of acts are repealed insofar as they
    28  are inconsistent with this act.
    29     Section 10.  This act shall take effect January 1, 1984 for
    30  political subdivisions operating on a calendar year basis, and
    19830H0283B0316                 - 20 -

     1  on the first day of the fiscal year beginning in the calendar
     2  year 1984 for political subdivisions operating on a fiscal year
     3  basis.


















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