[Adopted 12-28-1982 by Ord. No. 1027, approved 12-28-1982[2]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This article, formerly "Emergency and Municipal Services Tax," became "Local Services Tax" 12-11-2007 by Ord. No. 1284, approved 12-11-2007. The provisions of this article are annually reenacted by the Borough Council. The full text of the most recent reenactment is on file in the office of the Borough Secretary.
[2]
Editor's Note: This ordinance superseded former Art. IV, Occupational Privilege Tax, adopted 12-29-1981 by Ord. No. 1017, approved 12-29-1981.
The following words and phrases when used in this article shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except when the context or language clearly indicates or requires a different meaning:
BOROUGH COLLECTOR
The Secretary of the Borough of Prospect Park or other designated individual under whose direction this tax shall be enforced.
BOROUGH OF PROSPECT PARK
The area within the corporate limits of the Borough of Prospect Park.
EMPLOYER
An individual, partnership, association, corporation, government body, agency or other entity employing one or more persons on a salary, wage, commission or other compensation basis, including a self-employed person.
FISCAL YEAR
The twelve-month period beginning January 1 of every year and ending December 31 of the same year.
HE or HIS
Indicates the singular and plural number as well as male, female and neuter genders.
INDIVIDUAL
Any person, male or female, engaged in any occupation, trade or profession within the corporate limits of the Borough of Prospect Park.
OCCUPATION
Any trade, profession, business or undertaking of any type, kind or character, including services of the Borough of Prospect Park, for which compensation is charged or received, whether by means of salary, wages, commissions or fees, for services rendered.
TAX
The local services tax in the amount of $52 levied by this article.
[Amended 12-13-2005 by Ord. No. 1270, approved 12-13-2005]
[Amended 12-13-2005 by Ord. No. 1270, approved 12-13-2005]
The Borough of Prospect Park hereby levies and imposes on each occupation engaged in by individuals within its corporate limits during the fiscal year a local services tax. This tax is in addition to all other taxes of any kind or nature heretofore levied by the Borough of Prospect Park.
[Amended 12-13-2005 by Ord. No. 1270, approved 12-13-2005]
Beginning the first day of January 2006, individuals engaged in each occupation as hereinbefore defined earning over $12,000 per year shall be required to pay a local services tax of $52 per annum. Individuals earning $12,000 or less shall make application for a refund/or credit of the tax paid after the expiration of the fiscal year. Proof of actual income shall be required as part of making the application for the refund/or credit.
[Amended 12-13-2005 by Ord. No. 1270, approved 12-13-2005]
Each employer within the Borough of Prospect Park, as well as those employers situate outside the Borough of Prospect Park but who engage in business within the Borough of Prospect Park, is hereby charged with the duty of collecting from each of his employees engaged by him and performing for him within the Borough of Prospect Park said tax of $52 per annum and making a return payment thereof to the Borough Collector. Further, each employer is hereby authorized to deduct this tax from each employee in his employ, whether said employee is paid by salary, wages or commission or whether or not part or all of such services are performed within the Borough of Prospect Park.
Each employer shall prepare and file a return showing a computation of the tax on forms to be supplied to him by the Borough Secretary of the Borough of Prospect Park. Each employer, in filing this return and making payment of the tax withheld from its employees, shall be entitled to retain a commission calculated at the rate of 2% of the gross tax due and payable, provided that such tax is collected and paid over by the employer on or before the dates hereinafter set forth. It is further provided that, if the employer fails to file said return and pay said tax, whether or not he makes collection thereof from the salary, wages or commissions paid by him to said employee, the employer shall be responsible for the payment of the tax in full without deducting a commission and as though the tax had originally been levied against him.
Each employer shall use his employment records from the first day of January to the 15th day of May of each year for determining the number of employees from whom said tax shall be deducted and paid over to the Borough Collector, on or before June 15 of each year. Supplemental reports shall be made by each employer on August 15 and October 15 of each year of new employees as reflected on his employment records from May 15 to August 15 of each year and from August 15 to November 15 of each year. Payments on these supplemental reports shall be made on September 15 and November 15 of each year, respectively.
Each individual who shall have more than one occupation within the Borough of Prospect Park shall be subject to the payment of this tax on his principal occupation, and his principal employer shall deduct this tax and deliver to him evidence of deductions on a form to be furnished to the employer by the Borough Collector, which form shall be evidence of a deduction having been made and, when presented to any employer, shall be authority for such employer to not deduct this tax from the employee's wages but to include such employee on his return by setting forth his name, address and the name and account number of the employer who deducted this tax.
All self-employed individuals who perform services of any type or kind or engage in any occupation or profession within the Borough of Prospect Park shall be required to comply with this article and to pay the tax to the Borough Collector of the Borough of Prospect Park on June 15 of each year or as soon thereafter as he engages in an occupation.
All employees of employers who are constitutionally or legally prohibited from complying with §§ 151-35 and 151-36 of this article shall be considered as self-employed individuals and shall be required to comply with this article in accordance with § 151-39 hereof.
All employers and self-employed individuals residing or having their place of business outside of the Borough of Prospect Park but who perform services of any type or kind or engage in any occupation or profession within the Borough of Prospect Park do by virtue thereof agree to be bound by and subject themselves to the provisions, penalties and regulations promulgated under this article with the same force and effect as though they were engaged in an occupation within the Borough of Prospect Park. Further, any individual engaged in an occupation within the Borough of Prospect Park and an employee of a nonresident employer may, for the purpose of this article be considered a self-employed person, and in the event this tax is not paid, the Borough shall have the option of proceeding against either the employer or employee for the collection of this tax as hereinafter provided.
A. 
It shall be the duty of the Borough Collector to accept and receive payments of this tax and to keep a record thereof showing the amount received by him from each employer or self-employed person, together with the date the tax was received.
B. 
The Borough Collector is hereby charged with the administration and enforcement of this article and is hereby charged and empowered to request the Borough of Prospect Park to prescribe, adopt, promulgate rules and regulations relating to any matter pertaining to the administration and enforcement of this article, including provisions for the examination of the payroll records of any employer subject to this article, and the examination and correction of any return made in compliance with this article and any payment alleged or found to be incorrect or as to which overpayment is claimed or found to have occurred. Any person aggrieved by any decision of the Borough Collector of the Borough of Prospect Park shall have the right of appeal to the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County, as in other cases provided.
C. 
The Borough Collector of the Borough of Prospect Park is hereby authorized to examine the books and payroll records of any employer in order to verify the accuracy of any return made by an employer or, if no return was made, to ascertain the tax due. Each employer is hereby directed and required to give the Borough Collector of the Borough of Prospect Park the means, facilities and opportunity for such examination.
A. 
In the event that any tax under this article remains due or unpaid 30 days after the due date above set forth, the Borough Collector for the Borough of Prospect Park may sue for the recovery of any such tax due or unpaid under this article, together with interest and penalty.
B. 
If for any reason the tax is not paid when due, interest at the rate of 6% of the amount of said tax shall be calculated beginning with the due date of said tax, and a penalty of 10% shall be added to the flat rate of said tax for nonpayment thereof. Where suit is brought for the recovery of this tax, the individual liable therefor shall, in addition, be responsible and liable for the costs of collection.
Whoever makes any false or untrue statement on any return required by this article or whoever refuses inspection of his books, records or accounts in his custody and control setting forth the number of employees subject to this tax who are in his employment or whoever fails or refuses to file any return required by this article shall, upon conviction before any Justice of the Peace or District Justice, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $300 and costs of such proceedings for each offense and, in default of payment of said fine, shall be imprisoned in the Delaware County Prison for a period not exceeding 30 days for each offense. The continuation of such violation for each successive day shall constitute a separate offense, and the person or persons allowing or permitting the continuation of the violation may be punished as provided above for each separate offense. It is further provided that the action to enforce the fine and penalty herein provided may be instituted against any person in charge of the business or any employer who has failed or refuses to file a return required by this article.
A. 
Nothing contained in this article shall be construed to empower the Borough of Prospect Park to levy and collect the tax hereby imposed on any occupation not within the taxing power of the Borough under the Constitution of the United States and the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
B. 
If the tax hereby imposed under the provision of this article shall be held by any court of competent jurisdiction to be in violation of the Constitution of the United States or any of the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as to any individual, the decision of the court shall not affect or impair the right to impose or collect said tax or the validity of the tax so imposed on other persons or individuals as hereby provided.