CHAPTER 96
MOTOR CARRIERS ROAD TAX
Sec.
9601. Short title of chapter.
9602. Definitions.
9603. Imposition of tax.
9604. Credit for motor fuel tax payment.
9605. Tax due date.
9606. Tax revenue to Motor License Fund.
9607. Calculation of amount of fuel used in Commonwealth.
9608. Report requirements.
9609. Average consumption.
9610. Records.
9611. Surety bond for payment of taxes.
9612. Arbitrary assessment to prevent tax avoidance.
9613. Penalty and interest for failure to report or pay tax.
9614. Time for payment of taxes, penalties and interest.
9615. Manner of payment and recovery of taxes, penalties and interest.
9615.1. Examination of records.
9616. Determination, redetermination and review.
9617. Timely mailing treated as timely filing and payment.
9618. Availability of records of other agencies.
9619. Highway Bridge Improvement Restricted Account.
9620. Appropriation and allocation of proceeds.
9621. Regulations.
9622. Reciprocal agreements.
Enactment. Chapter 96 was added July 13, 1987, P.L.303, No.56, effective immediately and retroactive to July 1, 1987.
Special Provisions in Appendix. See sections 4, 5, 7 and 8 of Act 56 of 1987 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to display of identification markers, continuation of prior tax, applicability and retroactivity.
Cross References. Chapter 96 is referred to in sections 2101, 2101.1, 2102, 2103, 2104, 2105, 6117 of this title.
§ 9601. Short title of chapter.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Motor Carriers Road Tax Act.
§ 9602. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter and in Chapter 21 (relating to motor carriers road tax identification markers) shall have the meanings given to them in this section and in section 2101.1 (relating to definitions) unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Department." The Department of Revenue of the Commonwealth.
"Highway." The Pennsylvania Turnpike and every way or place, of whatever nature, open to the use of the public as a matter of right for purposes of vehicular travel. The term does not include a roadway or driveway upon grounds owned by private persons, colleges, universities or other institutions.
"Motor carrier." Every person who operates or causes to be operated any qualified motor vehicle on any highway in this Commonwealth.
"Motor fuel." Includes "fuels," "liquid fuels" and "alternative fuels" as defined in section 9002 (relating to definitions).
"Operations." Operations of all qualified motor vehicles, whether loaded or empty, whether operated singly or in combination with trailers or semitrailers, whether for compensation or not for compensation, and whether owned by or leased to the motor carrier who operates them or causes them to be operated.
"Qualified motor vehicle." As defined in section 2101.1 (relating to definitions).
"Recreational vehicle." Vehicles such as motor homes, pickup trucks with attached campers and buses when used exclusively for personal pleasure by individuals. In order to qualify as a recreational vehicle, the vehicle shall not be used in connection with any business endeavor.
"Secretary." The Secretary of Revenue of the Commonwealth.
(Dec. 20, 1995, P.L.669, No.75, eff. Jan. 1, 1996; Apr. 17, 1997, P.L.6, No.3, eff. Oct. 1, 1997)
1997 Amendment. Act 3 amended the def. of "motor fuel."
1995 Amendment. Act 75 amended the intro. par. and the defs. of "motor carrier" and "operations," added the defs. of "qualified motor vehicle" and "recreational vehicle" and deleted the def. of "motor vehicle."
Cross References. Section 9602 is referred to in section 9802 of this title.
§ 9603. Imposition of tax.
(a) General rule.--Every motor carrier shall pay a road tax equivalent to the rate per gallon currently in effect on Pennsylvania liquid fuels, fuels or other alternative fuels as provided in section 9004(a), (b), (c) and (d) (relating to imposition of tax, exemptions and deductions), calculated on the amount of motor fuel used in its operations on highways within this Commonwealth.
(b) Other taxes unaffected.--The taxes imposed on motor carriers by this chapter are in addition to any taxes of whatever character imposed on such carriers by any other statute.
(Apr. 17, 1997, P.L.6, No.3, eff. Oct. 1, 1997)
§ 9604. Credit for motor fuel tax payment.
(a) General rule.--Every motor carrier subject to the tax imposed under this chapter shall be entitled to a credit on the tax, equivalent to the rate per gallon of the Pennsylvania tax which is currently in effect, on all gasoline or other motor fuel purchased by the carrier within this Commonwealth for use in its operation either within or without this Commonwealth and upon which gasoline or other motor fuel the tax imposed by the laws of this Commonwealth has been paid by such carrier. Evidence of the payment of the tax in such form as may be required by, or is satisfactory to, the department shall be furnished by each carrier claiming the credit. When the amount of the credit to which any motor carrier is entitled for any quarter exceeds the amount of the tax for which the carrier is liable for the same quarter, such excess shall, upon application and under regulations of the department, be allowed as a credit on the tax for which the carrier would be otherwise liable for any of the eight succeeding quarters; or, upon application to the department within the time that records are required to be maintained from the end of any quarter, duly verified and presented, in accordance with regulations promulgated by the department and supported by such evidence as may be satisfactory to the department, such excess shall be refunded if it shall appear that the applicant has paid to another state under a lawful requirement of such state a tax, similar in effect to the tax provided in this chapter, on the use or consumption in that state of gasoline or other motor fuel purchased in this Commonwealth.
(b) Refund procedure.--If the department shall refuse to allow a refund in the amount claimed by the applicant, the applicant may within 30 days of the mailing date of the notice of such refusal request a formal hearing on the application for a refund. The hearing shall be held after written notice to the applicant of not less than 20 days. Whenever any refund is ordered, it shall be paid out of the Motor License Fund. As much of the moneys received as payment of the tax, interest and penalties under this chapter as shall be necessary for the payment of the refunds provided for in this chapter is hereby appropriated for the payment of such refunds. No tax, interest, penalty or fee received or derived from any other tax imposed by the laws of this Commonwealth shall be used to pay any refund or credit due and payable under the provisions of this chapter.
(Dec. 20, 1995, P.L.669, No.75, eff. Jan. 1, 1996)
Cross References. Section 9604 is referred to in section 9611 of this title.
§ 9605. Tax due date.
The tax imposed under this chapter shall be paid by each motor carrier quarterly to the department on or before the last day of April, July, October and January of each year and calculated upon the amount of motor fuel used in its operations on highways within this Commonwealth by each carrier during the quarter ending with the last day of the preceding month.
§ 9606. Tax revenue to Motor License Fund.
All taxes, fees, penalties and interest paid under this chapter shall be credited to and are hereby appropriated to the Motor License Fund as provided for by section 11 of Article VIII of the Constitution of Pennsylvania.
(Apr. 17, 1997, P.L.6, No.3, eff. Oct. 1, 1997)
§ 9607. Calculation of amount of fuel used in Commonwealth.
The amount of gasoline or other motor fuel used in the operations of any motor carrier on highways within this Commonwealth shall be such proportion of the total amount of the gasoline or other motor fuel used in its entire operations within and without this Commonwealth as the total number of miles traveled on highways within this Commonwealth bears to the total number of miles traveled within and without this Commonwealth.
§ 9608. Report requirements.
Every motor carrier subject to the tax imposed by this chapter shall, on or before the last day of April, July, October and January of every year, make to the department such reports of its operations during the quarter ending the last day of the preceding month as the department may require and such other reports from time to time as the department may deem necessary. The department may by regulation permit motor carriers whose estimated annual liability under this chapter is $250 or less to file its report on an annual basis.
§ 9609. Average consumption.
In the absence of adequate records or other evidence satisfactory to the department showing the number of miles operated by a motor carrier's qualified motor vehicles per gallon of motor fuel, any such qualified motor vehicle shall be deemed to have consumed one gallon of motor fuel for each four miles operated.
(June 11, 1992, P.L.266, No.47, eff. 60 days; Dec. 20, 1995, P.L.669, No.75, eff. Jan. 1, 1996)
§ 9610. Records.
Every motor carrier shall keep such records, in such form as the department reasonably may prescribe, as will enable the carrier to report and enable the department to determine the total number of miles traveled by its entire fleet of qualified motor vehicles, the total number of miles traveled in this Commonwealth by the entire fleet, the total number of gallons of motor fuel used by the entire fleet and the total number of gallons of motor fuel purchased in this Commonwealth for the entire fleet. All such records shall be safely preserved for a period of four years in such manner as to insure their security and availability for inspection by the secretary or any authorized employee engaged in the administration of this chapter. Upon application in writing, stating the reasons therefor, the department may, in its discretion, consent to the destruction of any such records at any time within that period if the records pertain to a period which has been audited by the department. Every taxpayer shall retain records required by this chapter at a place within this Commonwealth, but a taxpayer who elects to retain records outside of this Commonwealth shall assume reasonable out-of-State audit expenses.
(Dec. 20, 1995, P.L.669, No.75, eff. Jan. 1, 1996)
§ 9611. Surety bond for payment of taxes.
A motor carrier may give a surety company bond in an amount deemed necessary by the department to protect the revenues of the Commonwealth, payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and conditioned that the carrier will pay all taxes due and to become due under this chapter from the date of the bond to the date when either the carrier or the bonding company notifies the department that the bond has been canceled. The surety shall be a corporation authorized to write surety bonds in this Commonwealth. As long as the bond remains in force, the Board of Finance and Revenue may order refunds to the motor carrier in the amounts appearing to be due on applications duly filed by the motor carrier under section 9604 (relating to credit for motor fuel tax payment), without first auditing the records of the carrier. The bond shall cover taxes and interest due thereon even though the assessment is made after cancellation of the bond, but only for taxes due and payable while the bond was in force and penalties and interest on such taxes.
1994 Partial Repeal. Section 42(b) of Act 48 of 1994 provided that section 9611 is repealed insofar as it is inconsistent with the provisions of Act 48 for filing with the Board of Finance and Revenue of petitions for the refund of taxes and other moneys collected by the Department of Revenue.
§ 9612. Arbitrary assessment to prevent tax avoidance.
If the department ascertains that a person designs quickly to depart from this Commonwealth, or to remove therefrom his property or any property used by him in operations subject to this chapter, or to discontinue business, or to do any other act tending to prejudice or render wholly or partly ineffectual proceedings to assess or collect such tax, whereby it becomes important that such proceedings be brought without delay, the department may immediately make an arbitrary assessment of the amount of tax due, whether or not any report is then due by law, and may proceed under such arbitrary assessment to collect the tax, or compel security for the tax, and thereafter shall cause notice of such finding to be given to the motor carrier, together with a demand for an immediate report and immediate payment of the tax.
Cross References. Section 9612 is referred to in section 9614 of this title.
§ 9613. Penalty and interest for failure to report or pay tax.
When any motor carrier fails to file a report and pay the tax within the time prescribed by this chapter for the filing and payment thereof, he shall pay as a penalty for each failure to file or to pay on or before the prescribed date a sum equivalent to 10% of the tax or $50, whichever is greater. In addition to this penalty, any unpaid tax shall bear interest at the rate of 1% per month or fraction thereof until the tax is paid. The penalties and interest charges imposed shall be paid to the department in addition to the tax due.
(Dec. 20, 1995, P.L.669, No.75, eff. Jan. 1, 1996)
Cross References. Section 9613 is referred to in section 9614 of this title.
§ 9614. Time for payment of taxes, penalties and interest.
All taxes, penalties and interest assessed under this chapter, unless earlier payment is provided in this chapter, shall be paid within 15 days after notice and demand have been mailed to the motor carrier by the department. If the taxes, penalties and interest assessed pursuant to this section and sections 9612 (relating to arbitrary assessment to prevent tax avoidance) and 9613 (relating to penalty and interest for failure to report or pay tax) are not paid within 15 days, there shall be added to the amount of assessment, in addition to interest as already provided and any other penalties provided by law, a sum equivalent to 5% of the tax.
§ 9615. Manner of payment and recovery of taxes, penalties and interest.
(a) General rule.--All penalties and interest when imposed under this chapter shall be payable to and recoverable by the department in the same manner as if they were part of the tax imposed.
(b) Imposition of lien.--The taxes, fees, interest and penalties imposed under this chapter, from the time they are due, shall be a debt of a motor carrier who does not maintain premises for the transaction of business within this Commonwealth, recoverable in an action of assumpsit in the name of the Commonwealth. This debt, whether sued upon or not, shall be a lien on all the property of the debtor, except as against an innocent purchaser for value without notice thereof, and shall have priority both in lien and distribution of the assets of the motor carrier, whether in bankruptcy, insolvency or otherwise. The proceeds of any judgment or order obtained under this section shall be paid to the department.
(c) Recording of lien and execution.--Any tax determined to be due from any person who maintains premises for the conduct of business in this Commonwealth and remaining unpaid after demand for the tax, and all penalties and interest thereon, shall be a lien in favor of the Commonwealth upon the real and personal property of the person but only after the lien has been entered and docketed of record by the prothonotary of the county where the property is situated. The department may at any time transmit to the prothonotaries of the respective counties certified copies of all liens for such taxes, penalties and interest, and it shall be the duty of each prothonotary receiving the lien to enter and docket the lien of record in his office, which lien shall be indexed as judgments are now indexed. A writ of execution may directly issue upon such lien without the issuance and prosecution to judgment of a writ of scire facias. Not less than ten days before issuance of any execution on the lien, notice of the filing and the effect of the lien shall be sent by registered mail to the taxpayer at his last known post office address.
(d) Priority of lien.--The lien imposed under this section shall have priority from the date of its recording and shall be fully paid and satisfied out of the proceeds of any judicial sale of property subject thereto, before any other obligation, judgment, claim, lien or estate to which the property may subsequently become subject, except costs of the sale and of the writ upon which the sale was made, and real estate taxes and municipal claims against the property, but shall be subordinate to mortgages and other liens existing and duly recorded or entered of record prior to the recording of the tax lien. In the case of a judicial sale of property subject to a lien imposed under this section upon a lien or claim over which the lien imposed under this section has priority, the sale shall discharge the lien imposed under this section to the extent only that the proceeds are applied to its payment, and the lien shall continue in full force and effect as to the balance remaining unpaid.
(e) Renewal of lien.--The lien imposed under this section shall continue for five years from the date of its entry of record and may be renewed and continued in the manner provided for the renewal of judgments.
§ 9615.1. Examination of records.
The department or any agent appointed by it, including the auditors of any member jurisdiction as provided in the IFTA, may examine books and records and make determinations of any tax due in accordance with the provisions of section 2915-A of the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971.
(Dec. 20, 1995, P.L.669, No.75, eff. Jan. 1, 1996)
1995 Amendment. Act 75 added section 9615.1.
References in Text. Section 2915-A of the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, was deleted by the act of October 9, 2009 (P.L.451, No.48).
§ 9616. Determination, redetermination and review.
(a) Failure to pay tax.--If any person fails to pay any tax imposed by this chapter for which he is liable, the department may make a determination of additional tax and interest due by such person based upon any information within its possession or that shall come into its possession. All determinations shall be made so that notice thereof shall reach the parties against whom made within five years after the due date of the tax. Any assessment may be made at any time during that period notwithstanding that the department may have made one or more previous assessments against the taxpayer for the year in question or for any part of that year. In any case, no credit shall be given for any penalty previously assessed or paid.
(b) Failure to file report.--Where no report is filed, the amount of the tax due may be assessed and collected at any time as to taxable transactions not reported.
(c) False or fraudulent report.--Where the taxpayer willfully files a false or fraudulent report with intent to evade the tax imposed by this chapter, the amount of tax due may be assessed and collected at any time.
(d) Extension of period for assessment.--Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this chapter, where, before the expiration of the period prescribed therein for the assessment of a tax, a taxpayer has consented in writing that the period be extended, the amount of tax due may be assessed at any time within the extended period. The period so extended may be extended further by subsequent consent in writing made before the expiration of the extended period.
(e) Petition for redetermination.--Promptly after the date of the determination, the department shall send, by first class mail, a copy thereof to the person against whom it was made. Within 90 days after the date upon which the copy of any such determination was mailed, such person may file with the department a petition for redetermination of the taxes. The petition for redetermination shall state specifically the reasons which the petitioner believes entitle him to the redetermination, and it shall be supported by affirmation that it is not made for the purpose of delay and that the facts set forth therein are true. It shall be the duty of the department, within six months after the date of any determination, to dispose of any petition for redetermination. Notice of the action taken upon any petition for redetermination shall be given to the petitioner promptly after the date of redetermination by the department.
(f) Review and appeal.--Any person shall have the right to review by the Board of Finance and Revenue and appeal in the same manner and within the same time as provided by law in the case of capital stock and franchise taxes imposed upon corporations.
§ 9617. Timely mailing treated as timely filing and payment.
With respect to all reports, claims, statements and other documents required to be filed and all payments required to be made under this chapter, any such report, claim, statement and other document or payment of tax withheld shall be considered as timely filed if the report, claim, statement or other document or payment which has been received by the department is postmarked by the United States Postal Service on or prior to the final day on which payment is to be received. For the purposes of this chapter, the presentation of a receipt indicating that the report, claim, statement or other document or payment was mailed by registered or certified mail on or before the due date shall be prima facie evidence of timely filing of the report, claim, statement or other document or payment.
§ 9618. Availability of records of other agencies.
The records of any other Commonwealth agency, to the extent that they may be pertinent to the administration and enforcement of this chapter and the determination of liability thereunder, shall be available to the department.
§ 9619. Highway Bridge Improvement Restricted Account.
The Highway Bridge Improvement Restricted Account within the Motor License Fund is hereby continued. It is the declared policy of the Commonwealth that the money raised by the taxes deposited into this account be used, to the greatest extent possible, to provide for the creation of jobs and the rehiring of the unemployed in this Commonwealth. In order to reach this goal, firms with Pennsylvania-based facilities shall be actively solicited to make bids on contracts to furnish products and materials, including, but not limited to, steel and steel products, to be used in the projects funded through the Highway Bridge Improvement Restricted Account.
§ 9620. Appropriation and allocation of proceeds.
The funds deposited in the Highway Bridge Improvement Restricted Account within the Motor License Fund are hereby annually appropriated out of the account upon authorization by the Governor, for expenditure on bridge rehabilitation, replacement and removal projects pursuant to the act of December 8, 1982 (P.L.848, No.235), known as the Highway-Railroad and Highway Bridge Capital Budget Act for 1982-1983, in accordance with the following priorities:
(1) The first priority is to the Treasury Department for deposit into the Capital Debt Fund for the payment of debt service on general obligation bonds of the Commonwealth which may be issued from time to time to fund any project described in the Highway-Railroad and Highway Bridge Capital Budget Act for 1982-1983.
(2) The second priority is to the Department of Transportation in the event excess funds are available after the annual debt service requirements have been satisfied for:
(i) The non-Federal share of bridge rehabilitation, replacement and removal projects on State-owned bridges and bridges of undetermined ownership on State highways.
(ii) Grants to counties or municipalities to fund up to 80% of the non-Federal share of bridge rehabilitation, replacement and removal projects on county-owned or municipal-owned bridges, and bridges of undetermined ownership on county or municipal highways. The balance of the costs for these bridge projects shall be funded by the respective county or municipality or by private funds.
§ 9621. Regulations.
The department shall from time to time promulgate such regulations as may be necessary for the effective enforcement of this chapter.
§ 9622. Reciprocal agreements.
(a) General rule.--The Secretary of Revenue may enter into, modify or terminate agreements with other states relating to the collection of motor carriers road taxes, such as the International Fuel Tax Agreement, Regional Fuel Tax Agreement or similar agreements.
(b) Provisions.--Such agreements may provide for the cooperation and assistance among member states in the administration, collection and enforcement of the motor carriers road tax and similar taxes of other states and may include, but not be limited to:
(1) Base-state jurisdiction over tax reporting, licensing and collections.
(2) Auditing of motor carriers on a joint or cooperative basis.
(3) Provisions for the transfer of funds collected to other jurisdictions as required by the agreement.
(4) Assessment and collection by the base state of tax, penalties and interest owed to other member jurisdictions.
(5) The exchange of information among member jurisdictions and with any repository of the agreement.
(6) Enforcement of sanctions against any carrier whose license has been revoked by any member jurisdiction.
(7) Filing of bonds to protect the interests of member jurisdictions.
(8) Suspension or revocation of the license of a motor carrier for failure to comply with all applicable provisions of the agreement.
(9) Issuance of refunds or credits.
(10) Such other provisions as will facilitate the administration of the agreement.
(c) Exchange of information.--Notwithstanding section 731 of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, any information relating to taxes collected pursuant to any agreement authorized by this section, including any information concerning motor fuel taxes relating to such taxes collected, may be exchanged or shared with any agency, department or instrumentality of any member jurisdiction with authority under the laws of that jurisdiction to administer or enforce motor vehicle or taxation laws or with any instrumentality or repository of any agreement.
(d) Uniform penalties and interest.--Such agreement may specify uniform provisions relating to penalties and interest for late reporting or payment, appeal periods and other matters relating to administration and procedure under the agreement, and the uniform provisions may be adopted notwithstanding any law to the contrary upon a finding by the secretary that adoption of these uniform provisions is necessary for compliance with any Federal mandates pertaining to the collection of road use taxes or reasonably necessary to facilitate uniformity; however, the rate of motor carriers road tax and the definition of a "qualified motor vehicle" subject to tax may not be affected by any such agreement or amendment thereto.
(e) Appropriation.--So much of the funds collected pursuant to any such agreement, including, but not limited to, any taxes, fees, penalties or interest imposed by this chapter, as shall be necessary for the payment of refunds under this chapter or any such agreement, including, but not limited to, any amounts required to be paid to other states pursuant to such agreement, are hereby appropriated to the Department of Revenue for such purposes.
(f) Foreign countries.--For purposes of this section, the words "state" and "jurisdiction" shall include a foreign country and any state, province or other similar subdivision thereof.
(June 11, 1992, P.L.266, No.47, eff. 60 days; Dec. 20, 1995, P.L.669, No.75, eff. imd.)