[Adopted 12-19-2012 by Ord. No. 17-2012[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance superseded former Art. VII,
Earned Income Tax, adopted 12-16-2009 by Ord. No. 17-2009, as amended.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
The tax officer authorized by the City of Nanticoke to collect
income taxes levied prior to January 1, 2012.
An enterprise, activity, profession or any other undertaking
of an unincorporated nature conducted for profit or ordinarily conducted
for profit whether by a person, partnership, association or any other
entity.
A sole proprietorship, corporation, joint-stock association
or company, partnership, limited partnership, limited-liability company,
association, business trust, syndicate or other commercial or professional
activity organized under the laws of this commonwealth or any other
jurisdiction.
A certified public accountant, public accountant or firm,
as provided for in the Act of May 26, 1947 (P.L. 318, No. 140), known
as the "CPA Law."
A written demand for payment made by a tax officer or tax
collection district for income taxes collected by another tax officer
or tax collection district.
A corporation or joint-stock association organized under
the laws of the United States, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or
any other state, territory, foreign country or dependency. The term
shall include an entity which is classified as a corporation for federal
income tax purposes.
The calendar year for which the tax is levied.
The Department of Community and Economic Development of the
commonwealth.
The place where a person lives and has a permanent home and
to which the person has the intention of returning whenever absent.
Actual residence is not necessarily the domicile, for domicile is
the fixed place of abode which, in the intention of the taxpayer,
is permanent rather than transitory. Domicile is the voluntarily fixed
place of habitation of a person, not for a mere special or limited
purpose but with the present intention of making a permanent home,
until some event occurs to induce the person to adopt some other permanent
home. In the case of a business, domicile is that place considered
as the center of business affairs and the place where its functions
are discharged.
The compensation as required to be reported to or as determined by the Department of Revenue under Section 303 of the Act of March 4, 1971 (P.L. 6, No. 2), known as the "Tax Reform Code of 1971," and rules and regulations promulgated under that section. Employee business expenses as reported to or determined by the Department of Revenue under Article III of the Tax Reform Code of 1971 shall constitute allowable deductions in determining earned income. The term does not include offsets for business losses. The amount of any housing allowance provided to a member of the clergy shall not be taxable as earned income.
The tax levied by the City of Nanticoke on earned income
and net profits.
The actual local services tax rate levied by the City of
Nanticoke on taxpayers based on the total of all local services taxes
imposed under this article and all other acts, adjusted under Section
311 of the LTEA.
The actual tax rate levied by the City of Nanticoke on a
taxpayer based on the total of all income taxes imposed under this
article and all other acts, adjusted under Section 311 of the LTEA.
A person, business entity or other entity employing one or
more persons for a salary, wage, commission or other compensation.
The term includes the commonwealth, a political subdivision and an
instrumentality or public authority of either. For purposes of penalties
under this article, the term includes a corporate officer.
Except as set forth in Section 511(b) of the LTEA, an earned
income and net profits tax, personal income tax or other tax that
is assessed on the income of a taxpayer levied by the City of Nanticoke
under the authority of this article or any other act.
An entity formed by two or more Tax Collection Committees
for the purpose of income tax collection in more than one tax collection
district.
The Pennsylvania Local Tax Enabling Act, P.L. 1257, 1965,
as amended.[1]
The net income from the operation of a business, other than
a corporation, as required to be reported to or as determined by the
Department of Revenue under Section 303 of the Act of March 4, 1971
(P.L. 6, No. 2), known as the "Tax Reform Code of 1971," and rules
and regulations promulgated under that section. The term does not
include income under any of the following:
A person or business domiciled outside the City of Nanticoke
levying the tax.
An income tax levied by the City of Nanticoke on nonresidents.
The part of the tax register that includes withholding tax
rates as provided in Section 511(a)(3) of the LTEA.
A natural person.
The calendar year before the current year.
A business entity or person appointed as a tax officer by
a Tax Collection Committee.
Any and all public bodies, authorities, agencies, instrumentalities,
political subdivisions, intermediate units, councils, boards, commissions
or similar governmental entities.
A person or business domiciled in the City of Nanticoke levying
the tax.
An income tax levied by the City of Nanticoke.
The tax officer administering and collecting income taxes
for the tax collection district in which a taxpayer is domiciled.
The calendar year following the current year.
A public nonprofit entity established for the administration
and collection of taxes.
The Committee established to govern each tax collection district
for the purpose of income tax collection. The term shall include a
Joint Tax Collection Committee.
A tax collection district established under Section 504 of
the LTEA, encompassing political subdivisions in Luzerne County, including
the City of Nanticoke.
A political subdivision, public employee, tax bureau, county,
except a county of the first class, or private agency which administers
and collects income taxes for one or more tax collection districts.
Unless otherwise specifically provided, for purposes of the obligations
of an employer the term shall mean the tax officer for the tax collection
district within which the employer is located or, if an employer maintains
workplaces in more than one district, the tax officer for each such
district with respect to employees principally employed therein.
Tax returns, supporting schedules, correspondence with auditors
or taxpayers, account books and other documents, including electronic
records, obtained or created by the tax officer to administer or collect
a tax under this article. The term includes documents requited by
Section 509(e) of the LTEA. The term "electronic records" includes
data and information inscribed on a tangible medium or stored in an
electronic or other medium and which is retrievable in perceivable
font.
A database of all county, municipal and school tax rates
available on the Internet as provided in Section 511(a)(1) of the
LTEA.
Includes:
In the case of an earned income and net profits tax, earned
income and net profits.
In the case of a personal income tax, income enumerated in Section
303 of the Act of March 4, 1971 (P.L. 6, No. 2), known as the "Tax
Reform Code of 1971," as reported to and determined by the Department
of Revenue, subject to correction for fraud, evasion or error, as
finally determined by the Commonwealth.
A person or business required under this article to file
a return of an income tax or to pay an income tax.
An income tax levied by a political subdivision under the
authority of this article or any other ordinance, or any other tax
levied by a municipality or school district for which employer withholding
may be required under this article.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 6901 et seq.
A.
The tax levied under this article shall be applicable to earned income
received and to net profits earned in the period beginning January
1 of the current year and ending December 31 of the current year or
for taxpayer fiscal years beginning in the current year, except that
taxes imposed for the first time shall become effective from the date
specified in the ordinance or resolution, and the tax shall continue
in force on a calendar year or taxpayer fiscal year basis, without
annual reenactment, unless the rate of the tax is subsequently changed.
Changes in rate shall become effective on the date specified in the
ordinance.
B.
A tax for general revenue purposes of 2.25%[1] on residents and 1% on nonresidents is hereby imposed
as follows:
[Amended 11-20-2019 by Ord. No. 6-2019]
(1)
Earned income, as defined by this article, received by residents
of the City of Nanticoke of Luzerne County on or after January 1,
2013;
(2)
Earned income, as defined by this article, received by nonresidents
of the City of Nanticoke of Luzerne County for work done or services
performed or rendered in the City of Nanticoke of Luzerne County on
or after January 1, 2013;
(3)
Net profits earned on or after January 1, 2013, of businesses, professions,
and other activities conducted by residents in the City of Nanticoke
of Luzerne County; and
(4)
Net profits earned on or after January 1, 2013, of businesses, professions,
and other activities conducted in the City of Nanticoke of Luzerne
County by nonresidents.
[1]
Editor's Note: This rate became effective for calendar year
2020 and thereafter.
C.
The tax levied under Subsection B(1) and (2) herein shall relate to and be imposed upon salaries, wages, commissions, and other compensation paid by an employer or on his behalf to any person who is employed by or renders services to him. The tax levied under Subsection B(3) and (4) herein shall relate to and be imposed on the net profits of any business, profession, or enterprise carried on by any person as owner or as proprietor, either individually or in association with some other person or persons.
A.
Applicability.
(1)
Income taxes shall be applicable to taxable income earned or received
based on the method of accounting used by the taxpayer in the period
beginning January 1 of the current year and ending December 31 of
the current year, except that taxes imposed for the first time and
changes to existing tax rates shall become effective on January 1
or July 1, as specified in the ordinance or resolution, and the tax
shall continue in force on a calendar year or taxpayer fiscal year
basis, without annual reenactment, unless the rate of the tax is subsequently
changed.
(2)
For a taxpayer whose fiscal year is not a calendar year, the tax
officer shall establish deadlines for filing, reporting and payment
of taxes which provide time periods equivalent to those provided for
a calendar year taxpayer.
(3)
Partial domicile. The taxable income subject to tax of a taxpayer
who is domiciled in City of Nanticoke for only a portion of the tax
year shall be an amount equal to the taxpayer's taxable income multiplied
by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of calendar months
during the tax year that the individual is domiciled in City of Nanticoke,
and the denominator of which is 12. A taxpayer shall include in the
numerator any calendar month during which the taxpayer is domiciled
for more than half the calendar month. A day that a taxpayer's domicile
changes shall be included as a day the individual is in the new domicile
and not the old domicile. If the number of days in the calendar month
in which the individual lived in the old and new domiciles are equal,
the calendar month shall be included in calculating the number of
months in the new domicile.
B.
Declaration and payment. Except as provided in Subsection A(2), taxpayers shall declare and pay income taxes as follows:
(1)
Every taxpayer shall, on or before April 15 of the succeeding year,
make and file with the resident tax officer, a final return showing
the amount of taxable income received during the period beginning
January 1 of the current year and ending December 31 of the current
year, the total amount of tax due on the taxable income, the amount
of tax paid, the amount of tax that has been withheld under Section
512 of the LTEA and the balance of tax due. All amounts reported shall
be rounded to the nearest whole dollar. At the time of filing the
final return, the taxpayer shall pay the resident tax officer the
balance of the tax due or shall make demand for refund or credit in
the case of overpayment.
(2)
Every taxpayer making net profits shall, by April 15 of the current
year, make and file with the resident tax officer a declaration of
the taxpayer's estimated net profits during the period beginning January
1 and ending December 31 of the current year, and shall pay to the
resident tax officer, in four equal quarterly installments, the tax
due on the estimated net profits. The first installment shall be paid
at the time of filing the declaration, and the other installments
shall be paid on or before June 15 of the current year, September
15 of the current year and January 15 of the succeeding year, respectively.
(3)
Any taxpayer who first anticipates any net profit after April 15
of the current year shall make and file the declaration required on
or before June 15 of the current year, September 15 of the current
year or December 31 of the current year, whichever date next follows
the date on which the taxpayer first anticipates such net profit,
and shall pay to the resident tax officer, in equal installments,
the tax due on or before the quarterly payment dates that remain after
the filing of the declaration.
(4)
Every taxpayer shall, on or before April 15 of the succeeding year,
make and file with the resident tax officer a final return showing
the amount of net profits earned or received based on the method of
accounting used by the taxpayer during the period beginning January
1 of the current year, and ending December 31 of the current year,
the total amount of tax due on the net profits and the total amount
of tax paid. At the time of filing the final return, the taxpayer
shall pay to the resident tax officer the balance of tax due or shall
make demand for refund or credit in the case of overpayment. Any taxpayer
may, in lieu of paying the fourth quarterly installment of the estimated
tax, elect to make and file with the resident tax officer, on or before
January 31 of the succeeding year, the final return.
(5)
The Department, in consultation with the Department of Revenue, shall
provide by regulation for the filing of adjusted declarations of estimated
net profits and for the payments of the estimated tax in cases where
a taxpayer who has filed the declaration required under this subsection
anticipates additional net profits not previously declared or has
overestimated anticipated net profits.
(6)
Every taxpayer who discontinues business prior to December 31 of the current year shall, within 30 days after the discontinuance of business, file a final return as required under this Subsection B and pay the tax due.
(7)
Every taxpayer who receives any other taxable income not subject
to withholding under Section 512(3) of the LTEA shall make and file
with the resident tax officer a quarterly return on or before April
15 of the current year, June 15 of the current year, September 15
of the current year, and January 15 of the succeeding year, setting
forth the aggregate amount of taxable income not subject to withholding
by the taxpayer during the three-month periods ending March 31 of
the current year, June 30 of the current year, September 30 of the
current year, and December 31 of the current year, respectively, and
subject to income tax, together with such other information as the
Department may require. Every taxpayer filing a return shall, at the
time of filing the return, pay to the resident tax officer the amount
of income tax due. The Department shall establish criteria under which
the tax officer may waive the quarterly return and payment of the
income tax and permit a taxpayer to file the receipt of taxable income
on the taxpayer's annual return and pay the income tax due on or before
April 15 of the succeeding year.
For taxable years commencing on and after January 1, 2012, or
earlier taxable year if specified by a tax collection district, income
taxes shall be withheld, remitted and reported as follows:
A.
Every employer within the tax collection district of Luzerne County,
having an office, factory, workshop, branch, warehouse, or other place
of business within the taxing jurisdiction imposing a tax on earned
income or net profits within the taxing district who employs one or
more persons, other than domestic servants, for a salary, wage, commission
or other compensation, who has not previously registered, shall, within
15 days after becoming an employer, register with the tax officer
the name and address of the employer and such other information as
the officer may require.
B.
An employer shall require each new employee to complete a certificate
of residency form, which shall be an addendum to the Federal Employee's
Withholding Allowance Certificate (Form W-4). An employer shall also
require any employee who changes his/her address or domicile to complete
a certificate of residency form. Upon request, certificate of residency
forms shall be provided by the Department. The certificate of residency
form shall provide information to help identify the political subdivision
where an employee lives and works.
C.
Every employer having an office, factory, workshop, branch, warehouse
or other place of business within a tax collection district that employs
one or more persons, other than domestic servants, for a salary, wage,
commission or other compensation shall, at the time of payment, deduct
from the compensation due each employee employed at such place of
business the greater of the employee's resident tax or the employee's
nonresident tax as released in the official register under Section
511 of the LTEA.
D.
Except as set forth in Subsection E, within 30 days following the end of each calendar quarter every employer shall file a quarterly return and pay the amount of income taxes deducted during the preceding calendar quarter to the tax officer for the place of employment of each employee. The form shall show the name, address and social security number of each employee, the compensation of the employee during the preceding three-month period, the income tax deducted from the employee, the political subdivision imposing the income tax upon the employee, the total compensation of all employees during the preceding calendar quarter, the total income tax deducted from the employees and paid with the return and any other information prescribed by the Department.
E.
Notwithstanding Subsection D, the provisions of this subsection shall apply if an employer has more than one place of employment in more than one tax collection district. Within 30 days following the last day of each month, the employer may file the return required by Subsection D and pay the total amount of income taxes deducted from employees in all work locations during the preceding month to the tax officer for either the tax collection district in which the employer's payroll operations are located or as determined by the Department. The return and income taxes deducted shall be filed and paid electronically. The employer must file a notice of intention to file combined returns and make combined payments with the tax officer for each place of employment at least one month before filing its first combined return or making its first combined payment. This subsection shall not be construed to change the location of an employee's place of employment for purposes of nonresident tax liability.
F.
Any employer who, for two of the preceding four quarterly periods, has failed to deduct the proper income tax, or any part of the income tax, or has failed to pay over the proper amount of income tax as required by Subsection C to the tax collection district, may be required by the tax officer to file returns and pay the income tax monthly. In such cases, payments of income tax shall be made to the tax officer on or before the last day of the month succeeding the month for which the income tax was withheld.
G.
On or before February 28 of the succeeding year, every employer shall file with the tax officer where income taxes have been deducted and remitted pursuant to Subsection C:
(1)
An annual return showing, for the period beginning January 1 of the
current year and ending December 31 of the current year, the total
amount of compensation paid, the total amount of income tax deducted,
the total amount of income tax paid to the tax officer and any other
information prescribed by the Department.
(2)
An individual withholding statement, which may be integrated with the Federal Wage and Tax Statement (Form W-2), for each employee employed during all or any part of the period beginning January 1 of the current year and ending December 31 of the current year, setting forth the address and social security number, the amount of compensation paid to the employee during the period, the amount of income tax deducted, the amount of income tax paid to the tax officer, the numerical code prescribed by the Department representing the tax collection district where the payments required by Subsections D and E were remitted and any other information required by the Department. Every employer shall furnish one copy of the individual withholding statement to the employee for whom it is filed.
H.
Any employer who discontinues business prior to December 31 of the
current year shall, within 30 days after the discontinuance of business,
file returns and withholding statements required under this section
and pay the income tax due.
I.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 511 of the LTEA, an employer
who willfully or negligently fails or omits to make the deductions
required by this section shall be liable for payment of income taxes
which the employer was required to withhold to the extent that the
income taxes have not been recovered from the employee. The failure
or omission of any employer to make the deductions required by this
section shall not relieve any employee from the payment of the income
tax or from complying with the requirements for filing of declaration
and returns.
A.
Tax collection. In addition to any other power and duty conferred
upon a tax officer in this article, it shall be the duty of the tax
officer:
(1)
To collect, reconcile, administer and enforce income taxes imposed
on residents and nonresidents in the City of Nanticoke included in
the tax collection district.
(2)
To receive and distribute income taxes and to enforce withholding
by employers located in the tax collection district.
(3)
To receive income taxes distributed by tax officers for other tax
collection districts.
(4)
To distribute income taxes to the City of Nanticoke as required by
Section 513 of the LTEA.
(5)
To comply with all regulations adopted by the City of Nanticoke under
this article and all resolutions, policies and procedures adopted
by the Tax Collection Committee.
(6)
To invest all income taxes in the custody of the tax officer in authorized
investments, subject to the approval of the Tax Collection Committee.
The tax officer shall observe the standard of care that would be observed
by a prudent person dealing with property of another. For the purposes
of this subsection, the term "authorized investment" shall include
all of the following:
(a)
Short-term obligations of the United States Government or its
agencies or instrumentalities which are backed by the full faith and
credit of the United States or are rated in the highest category by
a nationally recognized statistical rating organization.
(b)
Deposits in savings accounts, time deposits, share accounts
or certificates of deposit of institutions, insured by the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation or the National Credit Union Share Insurance
Fund, or their successor agencies, to the extent that the accounts
are insured and, for the amount above the insured maximum, that collateral,
free from other liens, for the amount is pledged by the depository
institution.
(c)
Deposits in investment pools established by the State Treasurer
or established by local governments pursuant to 53 Pa.C.S.A. Ch. 23,
Subchapter A (relating to intergovernmental cooperation), and related
statutes, provided that the investment pools are rated in the highest
category by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization.
(d)
Repurchase agreements which are fully collateralized by obligations
of the United States Government or its agencies or instrumentalities,
which are free from other liens and backed by the full faith and credit
of the United States or are rated in the highest category by a nationally
recognized statistical rating organization.
B.
Monthly reports. The tax officer shall, within 20 days after the end of each month, provide a written report, on forms prescribed by the Department, to the Secretary of the Tax Collection Committee and to the Secretary of the City of Nanticoke for which taxes were collected during the previous month. The report shall include a breakdown of all income taxes, income generated from investments under Subsection A(6), penalties, costs and other money received, collected, expended and distributed for each political subdivision served by the tax officer and of all money distributed to tax officers for other tax collection districts.
C.
Overpayments. A tax officer shall refund, under 53 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 8425
(relating to refunds of overpayments) and 8426 (relating to interest
on overpayment), on petition of and proof by the taxpayer, income
taxes paid in excess of income taxes rightfully due.
D.
Bonds. Prior to initiating any official duties, each tax officer
shall give and acknowledge a bond to the appointing Tax Collection
Committee as follows:
(1)
The Tax Collection Committee shall fix the amount of the bond in
an amount equal to the maximum amount of taxes that may be in the
possession of the tax officer at any given time or an amount sufficient,
in combination collection district, to secure the financial responsibility
of the tax officer in accordance with guidelines adopted by the Department.
The amount of the bond shall be revised annually by the Tax Collection
Committee based upon the annual examination required under Section
505(h) of the LTEA.
(2)
Each bond shall be joint and several, with one or more corporate
sureties, which shall be surety companies authorized to do business
in this commonwealth and licensed by the Insurance Department.
(3)
Each bond shall be conditioned upon the completion of all of the
following by the tax officer's employees and appointees:
(a)
The faithful execution of all duties required of the tax officer.
(b)
The just and faithful accounting or payment over of all moneys
and balances paid to, received or held by the tax officer by virtue
of the office in accordance with law.
(c)
The delivery of all tax records or other official items held
in right as the tax officer to the tax officer's successor in office.
(4)
Each bond shall be taken in the name of the tax collection district
and shall be for the use of the tax collection district appointing
the tax officer, and for the use of any other political subdivision
or tax collection district for which income taxes shall be collected
or distributed in case of a breach of any conditions of the bond by
the acts or neglect of the principal on the bond.
(5)
A Tax Collection Committee or any political subdivision may sue upon
the bond for the payment or distribution of income taxes.
(6)
Each bond shall contain the name of the surety company bound on the
bond.
(7)
The Tax Collection Committee may, upon cause shown and due notice
to the tax officer and the tax officer's sureties, require or allow
the substitution or the addition of a surety company acceptable to
the Tax Collection Committee for the purpose of making the bond sufficient
in amount, without releasing the sureties first approved from any
accrued liability or previous action on the bond.
(8)
The Tax Collection Committee shall designate the custodian of the
bond.
(9)
The tax officer shall file copies of all bonds in effect with the
City of Nanticoke.
(10)
A copy of all bonds in effect shall be made available upon request
and at no cost to the Department or to a tax collection district or
political subdivision seeking payment or distribution of income taxes
authorized by this article.
E.
Records. It shall be the duty of the tax officer to keep a record
showing the amount of income taxes received from each taxpayer or
other tax officer, the date of receipt, the amount and date of all
other moneys received or distributed and any other information required
by the Department. All tax records shall be the property of the City
of Nanticoke and the tax collection district in which the taxes were
collected. The tax collection district and tax officer shall retain
all tax records as directed by the Tax Collection Committee and, when
applicable, in accordance with retention and disposition schedules
established by the Local Government Records Committee of the Pennsylvania
Historical and Museum Commission under 53 Pa.C.S.A. Ch. 13, Subchapter
F (relating to records). Tax records under this subsection may be
retained electronically as permitted by law.
F.
Employer and taxpayer audits.
(1)
In order to verify the accuracy of any income tax declaration or
return or, if no declaration or return was filed, to ascertain the
income tax due, the tax officer and the tax officer's designated employees
may examine or audit the records pertaining to income taxes due of
any of the following:
(2)
The examination or audit conducted by the tax officer and the tax
officer's designated employees shall conform to the requirements set
forth in 53 Pa.C.S.A. Ch. 84, Subchapter C (relating to local taxpayers
bill of rights).
(3)
Every employer and taxpayer or other person whom the tax officer reasonably believes to be an employer or taxpayer shall provide to the tax officer and the tax officer's designated employees the means, facilities and opportunity for the examination and investigation authorized under Subsection F(1).
(4)
For purposes of this subsection, the term "records" shall include
any books, papers and relevant federal or state tax returns and accompanying
schedules or supporting documentation for any income taxable under
this article.
G.
Exchange of information.
(1)
The tax officer shall ensure that the tax collection district enters
into an agreement with the Department of Revenue for the exchange
of information as necessary for the collection of income taxes.
(2)
The Department of Revenue may enter into agreements with each tax
collection district and shall establish procedures under which tax
collection, filing and other taxpayer and locality information in
its custody will be made available to tax officers for purposes of
collection, reconciliation and enforcement no later than one year
after the deadline for filing returns for the tax year in question.
H.
Actions for collection of income taxes. The tax officer may file
an action in the name of the City of Nanticoke for the recovery of
income taxes due to the City of Nanticoke and unpaid. Nothing in this
subsection shall affect the authority of the City of Nanticoke to
file an action in its own name for collection of income taxes under
this article. This subsection shall not be construed to limit a tax
officer, a tax collection district or the City of Nanticoke from recovering
delinquent income taxes by any other means provided by this article.
Actions for collection of income taxes shall be subject to the following:
(1)
(2)
If there is substantial understatement of income tax liability of
25% or more and there is no fraud, an action must be commenced within
six years.
(3)
(4)
There is no limitation of action if any of the following apply:
(a)
A taxpayer fails to file a declaration or return required under
this article.
(b)
An examination of a declaration or return or of other evidence
in the possession of the tax officer relating to the declaration or
return reveals a fraudulent evasion of income taxes.
(c)
An employer has deducted income taxes under Section 512 of the
LTEA and has failed to pay the amount deducted to the tax officer.
(d)
An employer has intentionally failed to make deductions required
by this article.
A.
Except as provided in Subsection B, if the income tax is not paid when due, interest at the rate the taxpayer is required to pay to the commonwealth under Section 806 of the Act of April 9, 1929 (P.L. 343, No. 176), known as the "Fiscal Code," on the amount of the income tax, and an additional penalty of 1% of the amount of the unpaid income tax for each month or fraction of a month during which the income tax remains unpaid shall be added and collected, but the amount shall not exceed 15% in the aggregate. Where an action is brought for the recovery of the income tax, the taxpayer liable for the income tax shall, in addition, be liable for the costs of collection, interest and penalties.
B.
The department may establish conditions under which a tax officer,
with the concurrence of the Tax Collection Committee, may abate interest
or penalties that would otherwise be imposed for the nonreporting
or underreporting of income tax liabilities or for the nonpayment
of income taxes previously imposed and due if the taxpayer voluntarily
files delinquent returns and pays the income taxes in full.
C.
The provisions of Subsection B shall not affect or terminate any petitions, investigations, prosecutions or other proceedings pending under this article or prevent the commencement or further prosecution of any proceedings by the proper authorities for violations of this article. No proceedings shall, however, be commenced on the basis of delinquent returns filed pursuant to § 463-42H if the returns are determined to be substantially true and correct and the income taxes are paid in full within the prescribed time.
A.
Any taxpayer who fails, neglects or refuses to make any declaration
or return required by this article, any employer who fails, neglects
or refuses to register, keep or supply records or returns required
by Section 512 of the LTEA or to pay the income tax deducted from
employees, or fails, neglects or refuses to deduct or withhold the
income tax from employees, any taxpayer or employer who refuses to
permit the tax officer appointed by a Tax Collection Committee or
an employee or agent of the tax officer to examine books, records
and papers, and any taxpayer or employer who knowingly makes any incomplete,
false or fraudulent return, or attempts to do anything whatsoever
to avoid the full disclosure of the amount of income in order to avoid
the payment of income taxes shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced
to pay a fine of not more than $2,500 for each offense and reasonable
costs and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to imprisonment
for not more than six months.
B.
Any employer required under this article to collect, account for
and distribute income taxes who willfully fails to collect or truthfully
account for and distribute income taxes, commits a misdemeanor and
shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding $25,000
or to imprisonment not exceeding two years, or both.
C.
The penalties imposed under this section shall be in addition to
any other costs and penalties imposed by this article.
D.
The failure of any person to obtain forms required for making the
declaration or returns required by this article shall not excuse the
person from making the declaration or return.
In addition to the powers and duties enumerated in this article,
when designated by the Tax Collection Committee, a tax officer may
collect other taxes levied pursuant to this article, the Act of June
27, 2006 (1st Sp. Sess., P.L. 1873, No. 1), known as the "Taxpayer
Relief Act," or other statutory law.
A.
General rule. Any information gained by a tax officer or any employee
or agent of a tax officer or of the Tax Collection Committee as a
result of any declarations, returns, investigations, hearings or verifications
shall be confidential tax information.
B.
Prohibited conduct. It shall be unlawful, except for official purposes
or as provided by law, for the commonwealth, the City of Nanticoke,
a Tax Collection Committee member, tax officer or employee or agent
of a tax officer or Tax Collection Committee to do any of the following:
C.
Penalties against tax officers. A person who violates Subsection B commits a misdemeanor of the third degree and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $2,500 or to imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. If the offender is a member of the Tax Collection Committee, the member shall be removed from the Tax Collection Committee. If the offender is an employee of a Tax Collection Committee or the City of Nanticoke, the employee shall be discharged from employment. The offender shall pay the costs of prosecution.
The income tax officer shall receive such compensation for his
services and expenses as determined by the tax collection committee.
At the discretion of the Tax Collection Committee, the tax officer
may be permitted to withhold the amount of the tax officer's compensation
from income taxes collected if the monthly reports required by Section
509(b) of the LTEA submitted by the tax officer include an accounting
for all compensation withheld.
A.
The tax imposed by this article shall not apply:
(1)
To any person as to whom it is beyond the legal power of the
City of Nanticoke, Luzerne County, to impose the tax herein provided
under the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution and
laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(2)
To institutions or organizations operated for public, religious,
educational, or charitable purposes, to institutions or organizations
not organized or operated for private profit, or to trusts and foundations
established for any of the said purposes.
