[Adopted 5-21-1966 by Ord. No. 72-66 as Art. 339 of the 1966 Code]
Unless otherwise herein expressly stated, the following terms shall, for the purpose of this article, have the meanings set forth in this section:
CONSIDERATION
The amount paid for the interest or title transferred or conveyed, which includes the fair market value of the property or anything of value paid for the interest or title transferred; it also includes purchase money obligations assumed and the actual amount of all liens, mortgages or other encumbrances subject to which the sale or transfer is made.
PERSON
Any natural person, corporation, partnership, association or unincorporated enterprise; as applied to any association or partnership, "person" includes the partners or members thereof, and as applied to corporations, the officers thereof. The singular includes the plural, and the masculine includes the feminine and neuter.
PHYSICAL POSSESSION
Any exercise of dominion or ownership done on the land by the grantor or purchasers.
TRANSFER
Any transaction whereby all or part of the interest of any person in land, tenement, hereditaments or any real property situate within the boundary lines of the City passes to or is conveyed to another person by deed or other instrument, except that a transfer within the meaning of this article does not include:
A. 
A lease, agreement of sale, mortgage or testamentary writing.
B. 
A straw transaction whereby title passes to a third person temporarily and for no valuable consideration.
C. 
Where the interest passes to a corporation, association or organization limited to religious, charitable or educational purposes only.
D. 
Where the interest passing is taxed by Pennsylvania under the Transfer Inheritance Tax Law.
E. 
Where transfers are between husband and wife, parent and child or spouse of such a child.
[Amended 12-12-1994 by Ord. No. 526]
Under provisions of 53 P.S. § 6901 et seq., there is hereby levied, assessed and imposed a tax to provide revenue for general purposes on the transfer of titles of real estate and the taking possession thereof situate in the City at the rate of 1% of the amount of consideration or sale price or market value involved in the transaction. The grantee or purchaser of the interest in such land shall be liable to the City for the payment of such tax.
If any land, tenements, hereditaments or interest which are transferred are situated partly within and partly outside the boundaries of the City, the tax shall be computed only on the consideration paid or value attributed to that portion that lies within the boundaries of the City.
The payment of the tax imposed by this article shall be evidenced on the deed or instrument of conveyance by stamp or stamps to be affixed to every deed or instrument of conveyance and canceled with ink. The tax shall be due and payable by the grantee or grantees or purchasers in the instrument at the time of the transfer. The City Treasurer or his agents are hereby charged with the collection of this tax and the enforcement of its provisions. The Director of Accounts and Finance is authorized and directed to have the necessary transfer stamps manufactured and placed in the hands of the City Treasurer or his agents from whom such stamps may be purchased by persons required to pay the tax. The Treasurer and the Director of Accounts and Finance are authorized to make the necessary rules and regulations for the collection of the tax.
All taxes imposed by this article which are not paid when due shall bear interest thereon at the rate of one-half of one percent (1/2 of 1%) per month until paid. This tax, when due and unpaid, shall become a lien on the lands, tenements, hereditaments or any interest therein which are described in a deed, transfer or conveyance upon which this tax is due and shall be collected as other taxes are collected.
[Amended 12-12-1994 by Ord. No. 526]
Any person violating any of the provisions of this article shall be fined not more than $600 and, in default of payment of fine and costs, be imprisoned not more than 90 days.