[Adopted 11-22-2005 by Ord. No. 974 (Ch. 24, Part 3, of the 2006 Code of Ordinances)[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: Ordinance No. 1005, adopted 12-28-2008, provided for the imposition of a local services tax (formerly the emergency and municipal services tax) of $52 per year on individuals engaged in an occupation within the Borough of Folcroft earning over $12,000 per year, as if fully set forth herein. Complete copies of Ord. No. 1005, any subsequent reenactments, and the annual tax levy ordinances are on file in the Borough offices.
The following words and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context or language clearly indicted or requires a different meaning.
DULY APPOINTED TAX ADMINISTRATOR or APPOINTED TAX ADMINISTRATOR
The person, company, or business that is appointed by resolution by the Borough of Folcroft to collect the emergency and municipal services tax.
EMERGENCY AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES TAX
A tax of $52 per year levied on each engagement in any occupation as hereinbefore defined, within the Borough of Folcroft boundary limits.
EMPLOYER
An individual, partnership, association, corporation, governmental body, agency, or entity employing one or more persons on a salary, wage, commission or other compensation basis, including a self-employed person.
INDIVIDUAL
Any person, male or female engaged in any occupation, trade or profession within the Borough of Folcroft boundaries who attains or is over the age of 18 years on the first day of January of the current tax year.
OCCUPATION
Any trade, profession, business, or undertaking of type kind or character, including services, domestic or other, carried on or performed within the Borough of Folcroft boundary limits for which compensation is charged or received, whether by means of salary, wages, commissions or fees for services rendered.
The Borough of Folcroft hereby levies and imposes on each individual engaged in an occupation during the fiscal year within the Borough of Folcroft boundary limits an emergency and municipal services tax for the year beginning in 2006 and going forward. The tax is in addition to all other taxes of any kind or nature heretofore levied by the Borough of Folcroft. The emergency and municipal services tax revenue is restricted for the following uses: police and fire and emergency services; road construction and/or maintenance; reduction of property taxes. The tax as provided by this article shall be paid four times per fiscal year. The tax is to be paid by the end of each quarter (March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31) of each year in thirteen-dollar installments.
Beginning with the first day of January, in each fiscal year, every individual engaged in an occupation as hereinbefore defined within the Borough of Folcroft, and earning more than $12,000 between January 1 and December 31 of said year, shall be required to pay an emergency and municipal services tax in the amount of $52 per annum. Individuals earning $12,000 or less shall make application for a refund/or credit for 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.
Each employer within the Borough of Folcroft, as well as employers situate outside the Borough of Folcroft but who engage in business within the Borough of Folcroft, is hereby charged with the duty of collecting from each of his employees engaged by him and performing for him within the Borough of Folcroft said tax of $52 per annum and making a return and payment thereof to the appointed Tax Administrator. Each employer shall deduct this tax from employee in his employ, whether said employee is paid by salary, wages or commission, and whether or not part or all such services are performed within the Borough of Folcroft.
Each employer shall prepare and file a return showing a computation of the tax on forms to be supplied to him by the Borough of Folcroft. It is further provided that if the employer fails to file said return and pay said tax, the employer shall be responsible for the payment of the tax in full and as though the tax had original been levied against him.
Each employer shall use his employment records from the first day of January to the 31st day of December for determining the number of employees from whom said tax shall be deducted and paid over to the appointed Tax Administrator. In the event that new employees start after the of April 30, for payment, the payment for new employees shall be made at time of the beginning of their first pay as designated by the rules and/or regulations promulgated by the Borough or the appointed Tax Administrator.
Each individual who shall have more than one occupation within the Borough of Folcroft 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 evidence of deduction having been made and when presented to any other 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 services of any type or kind or engage in any type or kind or engage in any occupation within the Borough of Folcroft boundary limits shall be required to comply with this article and pay the tax to the appointed Tax Administrator on or before April 30 of each fiscal year or thereafter in accordance with the payment schedule specified in § 550-37 above in the event that said individual becomes subject to this article after March 31 of any fiscal year.
All employers and self-employed individuals residing or having their places of business outside of the Borough of Folcroft but who perform services of any type or kind, or engage in any occupation or profession within the Borough of Folcroft, do by virtue thereof agree to be bound by and subject to the provisions, penalties and regulations promulgated under this article with the same force and effect as though they were residents of the Borough of Folcroft. Any individual engaged in an occupation within the Borough of Folcroft and an employee of a nonresident employer shall, for the purpose of this article, be considered a self-employed person; in 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 duty of the appointed Tax Administrator 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 appointed Tax Administrator is hereby charged with the administration and enforcement of this article and is hereby charged and empowered to prescribe, adopt, promulgate rules and regulations relation to any 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; the examination and correction of any return made in compliance with this article and any payments alleged or found to be incorrect, or as to which overpayment is claimed or found to have occurred. Any aggrieved by any decision of the appointed Tax Administrator shall have the right to appeal to the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County as in other cases provided.
C. 
The appointed Tax Administrator 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 shall be required to give the appointed Tax Administrator 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 set forth, the appointed Tax Administrator shall have the authority to 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% on the amount of said tax and an additional penalty of 1/2 of 1% of the amount of the unpaid tax for each month or fraction thereof during which the tax remains unpaid, shall be added and collected. Where suit is brought for recovery of this tax, the individual liable therefor shall, in addition, be responsible and liable for the costs of collection and the interest and penalties imposed.
[Amended 11-21-2006 by Ord. No. 990]
Any person who fails, neglects, or refuses to make any declaration or return required by this article or resolution, any employer who fails, neglects or refuses to register or to pay the tax deducted from his employees any person who refuses to permit the appointed Tax Administrator or any agent designated by the administrator to examine his books, records and papers, any person who knowingly makes any incomplete false or fraudulent return or attempts to do anything whatsoever to avoid the full disclosure in order to avoid the payment of the whole or any part of the tax imposed by this article shall upon conviction thereof before any court of competent jurisdiction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $600 for each offense, and costs and attorneys fees and, in default of payment of said fine, fees and costs, to be imprisoned for a period not exceeding 30 days. The failure of any person to receive or procure forms for making the declaration or returns required by this article shall not excuse him from making such declarations or returns.
The Borough of Folcroft Council shall appoint the Tax Administrator with the responsibilities as provided herein in this article. The Council shall fill said position by resolution. Any and all rules and regulations that Council requires to administer and or enforce this article shall be provided by resolution. The appointed Tax Administrator will be the Elected Tax Collector of the Borough of Folcroft hereby authorized to collect this tax by resolution.