[Adopted 12-19-1967 by Ord. No. 814; amended in its entirety 7-14-1987 by Ord. No. 1161]
This ordinance shall be known as the "Realty
Transfer Tax Ordinance of the Township of Springfield."
[Amended 8-8-2006 by Ord. No. 1452]
Springfield Township adopts the provisions of
Article XI-D of the Tax Reform Code of 1971 and imposes a realty transfer
tax as authorized under that article, subject to the rate limitations
therein. The tax imposed under this section shall be at the rate of
1% of the value of the real estate.
As used in this ordinance, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
A partnership, limited partnership or any other forms of
unincorporated enterprise owned or conducted by two or more persons
other than a private trust or decedent's estate.
A corporation, joint-stock association, business trust or
banking institution which is organized under the laws of this commonwealth,
the United States or any other state, territory, foreign country or
dependency.
Any deed, instrument or writing which conveys, transfers, demises, vests, confirms or evidences any transfer or demise of title to real estate, but does not include wills, mortgages, deeds of trust or other instruments of like character given as security for a debt and deeds of release thereof to the debtor, land contracts whereby the legal title does not pass to the grantee until the total consideration specified in the contract has been paid or any cancellation thereof, unless the consideration is payable over a period of time exceeding 30 years, or instruments which solely grant, vest or confirm a public utility easement. "Document" shall also include a declaration of acquisition required to be presented for recording under § 129-2 of this ordinance.
A corporation of which at least 75% of its assets are devoted
to the business of agriculture and at least 75% of each class of stock
of the corporation is continuously owned by members of the same family.
The business or agriculture shall not be deemed to include:
Recreational activities such as but not limited
to, hunting, fishing, camping, skiing, show competition or racing:
The raising, breeding or training of game animals
or game birds, fish, cats, dogs or pets or animals intended for use
in sporting or recreational activities;
Fur farming;
Stockyard and slaughterhouse operations; or
Manufacturing or processing operations of any
kind.
Any individual, such individual's brothers and sisters, the
brothers and sisters of such individual's parents and grandparents,
the ancestors and lineal descendents of any of the foregoing, a spouse
of any of the foregoing and the estate of any of the foregoing. Individuals
related by half-blood or legal adoption shall be treated as if they
were related by whole-blood.
Every natural person, association or corporation. Whenever
used in any clause prescribing and imposing a fine or imprisonment,
or both, the term "person," as applied to associations, shall include
the responsible members or general partners thereof, and, as applied
to corporations, the officers thereof.
All lands, tenements or hereditaments within
Springfield School District, including without limitation buildings,
structures, fixtures, mines, minerals, oil, gas, quarries, spaces
with or without upper or lower boundaries, trees and other improvements,
immovables or interests which, by custom, usage or law, pass with
a conveyance or land, but excluding permanently attached machinery
and equipment in an industrial plant.
A condominium unit.
A tenant-stockholder's interest in a cooperative
housing corporation, trust or association under a proprietary lease
or occupancy agreement.
A corporation or association which is primarily engaged in
the business of holding, selling or leasing real estate, 90% or more
of the ownership interest in which is held by 35 or fewer persons
and which:
Derives 60% or more of its annual gross receipts
from the ownership or disposition of real estate; or
Holds real estate, the value of which comprises
90% or more of the value of its entire tangible asset holdings exclusive
of tangible assets which are freely transferable and actively traded
on an established market.
Any interest in real estate which endures for
a period of time, the termination of which is not fixed or ascertained
by a specific number of years, including without limitation an estate
in fee simple, life estate or perpetual leasehold; or
Any interest in real estate enduring for a fixed
period of years but which, either by reason of the length of the term
or the grant of a right to extend the term by renewal or otherwise,
consists of a group of rights approximately those of an estate in
fee simple, life estate or perpetual leasehold, including without
limitation a leasehold interest or possessory interest under a lease
or occupancy agreement for a term of 30 years or more or a leasehold
interest or possessory interest in real estate in which the lessee
has equity.
The making, executing, delivering, accepting or presenting
for recording of a document.
In the case of any bona fide sale of real estate
at arm's length for actual monetary worth, the amount of the actual
consideration therefor, paid or to be paid, including liens or other
encumbrances thereon existing before the transfer and not removed
thereby, whether or not the underlying indebtedness is assumed, and
ground rents, or a commensurate part thereof where such liens or other
encumbrances and ground rents also encumber or are charged against
other real estate, provided that, where such documents shall set forth
a nominal consideration, the "value" thereof shall be determined from
the price set forth in or actual consideration for the contract of
sale;
In the case of a gift, sale by execution upon
a judgment or upon the foreclosure of a mortgage by a judicial officer,
transactions without consideration or for consideration less than
the actual monetary worth of the real estate, a taxable lease, an
occupancy agreement, a leasehold or possessory interest, any exchange
of properties, or the real estate of an acquired company, the actual
monetary worth of the real estate determined by adjusting the assessed
value of the real estate for local real estate tax purposes for the
common level ratio factor developed by the Pennsylvania Department
of Revenue for Pennsylvania realty transfer tax base calculations;
The actual consideration for or actual monetary
worth of any executory agreement for the construction of buildings,
structures or other permanent improvements to real estate between
the grantor and other persons existing before the transfer and not
removed thereby or between the grantor, the agent or principle of
the grantor of a related corporation, association or partnership and
the grantee existing before or effective with the transfer.
[Amended 8-8-2006 by Ord. No. 1452]
A.
The tax imposed under § 129-2 and all applicable interest and penalties shall be administered, collected and enforced under the Act of December 31, 1965 (P.L. 1257, No. 511, as amended, known as "The Local Tax Enabling Act," provided that, if the correct amount of the tax is not paid by the last date prescribed for timely payment, Springfield Township, pursuant to Section 1102-D of the Tax Reform Code of 1971 (72 P.S. § 8102-D), authorizes and directs the Department of Revenue of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to determine, collect and enforce the tax, interest and penalties.
B.
Any tax imposed under § 129-2 that is not paid by the date the tax is due shall bear interest as prescribed for interest on delinquent municipal claims under the Act of May 16, 1923 (P.L. 207, No. 153) (53 P.S. § 7191 et seq.), as amended, known as "The Municipal Claims and Tax Liens Act." The interest rate shall be the lesser of the interest rate imposed upon delinquent commonwealth taxes as provided in Section 806 of the Act of April 9, 1929 (P.L. 343, No. 176) (72 P.S. § 806), as amended, known as "The Fiscal Code," or the maximum interest rate permitted under the Municipal Claims and Tax Liens Act for tax claims.
The United States, the commonwealth or any of
their instrumentalities, agencies or political subdivisions shall
be exempt from payment or the tax imposed by this section. The exemption
of such governmental bodies shall not, however, relieve any other
party to a transaction from liability for the tax.
A.
The tax imposed by § 129-4 shall not be imposed upon:
(1)
A transfer to the commonwealth or to any of its instrumentalities,
agencies or political subdivisions, by gift, dedication or deed in
lieu of condemnation or deed of confirmation in connection with condemnation
proceedings, or a reconveyance by the condemning body of the property
condemned to the owner of record at the time of condemnation, which
reconveyance may include property line adjustments, provided that
said reconveyance is made within one year from the date of condemnation.
(2)
A document which the Township of Springfield is prohibited
from taxing under the Constitution or statutes of the United States.
(3)
A conveyance to a municipality, Township, school district
or county pursuant to acquisition by the municipality, Township, school
district or county of a tax delinquent property at a sheriff's sale
or Tax Claim Bureau sale.
(4)
A transfer for no or nominal actual consideration
which corrects or confirms a transfer previously recorded, but which
does not extend or limit existing record legal title or interest.
(5)
A transfer of division in kind for no or nominal actual
consideration of property passed by testate or intestate succession
and held by cotenants; however, if any of the parties take shares
greater in value than their undivided interest, tax is due on the
excess.
(6)
A transfer between husband and wife, between persons
who were previously husband and wife who have since been divorced,
provided that the property or interest therein subject to such transfer
was acquired by the husband and wife or husband or wife prior to the
granting of the final decree in divorce, between parent and child
or the spouse of such child, between brother or sister or spouse of
a brother or sister and brother or sister or the spouse of a brother
or sister, and between a grandparent and grandchild or the spouse
of such grandchild, except that a subsequent transfer by the grantee
within one year shall be subject to tax as if the grantor were making
such transfer.
(7)
A transfer for no or nominal actual consideration
of property passing by testate or intestate succession from a personal
representative of a decedent to the decedent's devisee or heir.
(8)
A transfer for no or nominal actual consideration
to a trustee of an ordinary trust where the transfer of the same property
would be exempt if the transfer was made directly from the grantor
to all of the possible beneficiaries, whether or not such beneficiaries
are contingent or specifically named. No such exemption shall be granted
unless the Recorder of Deeds is presented with a copy of the trust
instrument that clearly identifies the grantor and all possible beneficiaries.
(9)
A transfer for no or nominal actual consideration
from a trustee to a beneficiary of an ordinary trust.
(10)
A transfer for no or nominal actual consideration
from trustee to successor trustee.
(11)
A transfer for no or nominal actual consideration
between principal and agent or straw party; or from or to an agent
or straw party where, if the agent or straw party were his principal,
no tax would be imposed under this section. Where the document by
which title is acquired by a grantee or statement of value fails to
set forth that the property was acquired by the grantee from, or for
the benefit of, his principal, there is a rebuttable presumption that
the property is the property of the grantee in his individual capacity
if the grantee claims an exemption from taxation under this clause.
(12)
A transfer made pursuant to the statutory merger or
consolidation of a corporation or statutory division of a nonprofit
corporation, except where the school district reasonably determines
that the primary intent for such merger, consolidation or division
is avoidance of the tax imposed by this section.
(13)
A transfer from a corporation or association of real
estate held of record in the name of the corporation or association
where the grantee owns stock of the corporation or an interest in
the association in the same proportion as his interest in or ownership
of the real estate being conveyed and where the stock of the corporation
or the interest in the association has been held by the grantee for
more than two years.
(14)
A transfer from a nonprofit industrial development
agency or authority to a grantee of property conveyed by the grantee
to that agency or authority as security for a debt of the grantee
or a transfer to a nonprofit industrial development agency or authority.
(15)
A transfer from a nonprofit industrial development
agency or authority to a grantee purchasing directly from it, but
only if:
(a)
The grantee shall directly use such real estate
for the primary purpose of manufacturing, fabricating, compounding,
processing, publishing, research and development, transportation,
energy conversion, energy production, pollution control, warehousing
or agriculture; and
(b)
The agency or authority has the full ownership
interest in the real estate transferred.
(16)
A transfer by a mortgagor to the holder of a bona
fide mortgage in default in lieu of a foreclosure or a transfer pursuant
to a judicial sale in which the successful bidder is the bona fide
holder of a mortgage, unless the holder assigns the bid to another
person.
(17)
A transfer between religious organizations or other
bodies or persons holding title for a religious organization if such
real estate is not being or has not been used by such transferor for
commercial purposes.
(18)
A transfer to a conservancy which possesses a tax-exempt
status pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1954 [68A Stat. 3, 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3)] and which has
as its primary purpose preservation of land for historic, recreational,
scenic, agricultural or open space opportunities.
(19)
A transfer of real estate devoted to the business
of agriculture to a family farm corporation by a member of the same
family which directly owns at least 75% of each class of the stock
thereof.
(20)
A transfer between members of the same family of an
ownership interest in a real estate company or family farm corporation.
(21)
A transaction wherein the tax due is $1 or less.
(22)
Leases for the production or extraction of coal, oil,
natural gas or mineral and assignments thereof.
B.
In order to exercise any exclusion provided in this
section, the true, full and complete value of the transfer shall be
shown on the statement of value. A copy of the Pennsylvania realty
transfer tax statement of value may be submitted for this purpose.
For leases of coal, oil, natural gas or minerals, the statement of
value may be limited to an explanation of the reason such document
is not subject to tax under this resolution.
Except as otherwise provided in § 129-6, documents which make, confirm or evidence any transfer or demise of title to real estate between associations or corporations and the members, partners, shareholders or stockholders thereof are fully taxable. For the purposes of this section, corporations and associations are entities separate from their members, partners, stockholders or shareholders.
A.
A real estate company is an acquired company upon
a change in the ownership interest in the company, however effected,
if the change does not affect the continuity of the company; and of
itself, or together with prior changes, has the effect of transferring,
directly or indirectly, 90% or more of the total ownership interest
in the company within a period of three years.
B.
With respect to real estate acquired after February
16, 1986, a family farm corporation is an acquired company when, because
of voluntary or involuntary dissolution, it ceases to be a family
farm corporation or when, because of issuance or transfer of stock
or because of acquisition or transfer of assets that are devoted to
the business of agriculture, it fails to meet the minimum requirements
of a family farm corporation under this ordinance.
C.
Within 30 days after becoming an acquired company,
the company shall present a declaration of acquisition with the Recorder
of each county in which it holds real estate for the affixation of
documentary stamps and recording. Such declaration shall set forth
the value of real estate holdings of the acquired company in such
county. A copy of the Pennsylvania realty transfer tax declaration
of acquisition may be submitted for this purpose.
A.
Where there is a transfer of a residential property
by a licensed real estate broker which property was transferred to
him within the preceding year as consideration for the purchase of
other residential property, a credit for the amount of the tax paid
at the time of the transfer to him shall be given to him toward the
amount of the tax due upon the transfer.
B.
Where there is a transfer by a builder of residential
property which was transferred to the builder within the preceding
year as consideration for the purchase of new, previously unoccupied
residential property. a credit for the amount of the tax paid at the
time of the transfer to the builder shall be given to the builder
toward the amount of the tax due upon the transfer.
C.
Where there is a transfer of real estate which is
leased by the grantor, a credit for the amount of tax paid at the
time of the lease shall be given the grantor toward the tax due upon
the transfer.
D.
Where there is a conveyance by deed of real estate
which was previously sold under a land contract by the grantor, a
credit for the amount of tax paid at the time of the sale shall be
given the grantor toward the tax due upon the deed.
E.
If the tax due upon the transfer is greater than the
credit given under this section, the difference shall be paid. If
the credit allowed is greater than the amount or tax due, no refund
or carryover credit shall be allowed.
In determining the term of a lease, it shall
be presumed that a right or option to renew or extend a lease will
be exercised if the rental charge to the lessee is fixed or if a method
for calculating the rental charge is established.
The tax herein imposed shall be fully paid and
have priority out of the proceeds of any judicial sale of real estate
before any other obligation, claim, lien, judgment, estate or costs
of the sale and of the writ upon which the sale is made except the
state realty transfer tax, and the sheriff, or other officer, conducting
said sale, shall pay the tax herein imposed out of the first moneys
paid to him in connection therewith. If the proceeds of the sale are
insufficient to pay the entire tax herein imposed, the purchaser shall
be liable for the remaining tax.
A.
As provided in 16 P.S. § 11011-6, as amended
by Act of July 7, 1983 (P.L. 40, No. 21), the Recorder of Deeds shall
be the collection agent for the local realty transfer tax, including
any amount payable to Springfield School District based on a redetermination
of the amount of tax due by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania of the
Pennsylvania realty transfer tax, without compensation from the Township
of Springfield.
B.
In order to ascertain the amount of taxes due when
the property is located in more than one political subdivision, the
Recorder shall not accept for recording such a deed unless it is accompanied
by a statement of value showing what taxes are due each municipality.
C.
On or before the 10th of each month, the Recorder
shall pay over to the Township of Springfield all local realty transfer
taxes collected, less 2% for use of the county, together with a report
containing the information as is required by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
in reporting collections of the Pennsylvania realty transfer tax.
The twos percent commission shall be paid to the county.
D.
Upon a redetermination of the amount of realty transfer
tax due by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Recorder shall rerecord
the deed or record the additional realty transfer tax form only when
both the state and local amounts and a rerecording or recording fee
has been tendered.
Every document lodged with or presented to the
Recorder of Deeds for recording shall set forth therein and as a part
of such document the true, full and complete value thereof, or shall
be accompanied by a statement of value executed by a responsible person
connected with the transaction showing such connection and setting
forth the true, full and complete value thereof or the reason, if
any, why such document is not subject to tax under this section. A
copy of the Pennsylvania realty transfer tax statement of value may
be submitted for this purpose. The provisions of this section shall
not apply to any excludable real estate transfers which are exempt
from taxation based on family relationship. Other documents presented
for the affixation of stamps shall be accompanied by a certified copy
of the document and statement of value executed by a responsible person
connected with the transaction showing such connection and setting
forth the true, full and complete value thereof or the reason, if
any, why such document is not subject to tax under this ordinance.
A.
If any part of any underpayment of tax imposed by
this section is due to fraud, there shall be added to the tax an amount
equal to 50% of the underpayment.
B.
In the case of failure to record a declaration required
under this section on the date prescribed therefor, unless it is shown
that such failure is due to reasonable cause, there shall be added
to the tax 5% of the amount of such tax if the failure is for not
more than one month, with an additional 5% for each additional month
or fraction thereof during which such failure continues, not exceeding
50% in the aggregate.
The tax imposed by this ordinance shall become
a lien upon the lands, tenements or hereditaments, or any interest
therein, lying or being situated, wholly or in part, within the boundaries
of the Township of Springfield, which lands, tenements, hereditaments
or interest therein are described in or conveyed by or transferred
by the deed which is the subject of the tax imposed, assessed and
levied by this ordinance, said lien to begin at the time when the
tax under this ordinance is due and payable, and continue until discharge
by payment, or in accordance with the law, and the solicitor is authorized
to file a municipal or tax claim in the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware
County, in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Claims
and Liens Act of 1923, 53 P.S. § 7101 et seq., its supplements
and amendments.
[Amended 7-10-1990 by Ord. No. 1230]
All taxes imposed by this ordinance, together
with interest and penalties prescribed herein, shall be recoverable
as other debts of like character are recovered. Where suit is brought
for the recovery of any such tax, interest and penalties, the person
liable therefor shall, in addition, be liable for the legal costs
of collection and/or attorney's fees incurred by Springfield Township.
The Board of Commissioners of the Township of
Springfield are charged with the enforcement and collection of tax
and they are hereby empowered to promulgate and enforce reasonable
regulations for enforcement and collection of the tax. The regulations
which have been promulgated by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue
under 72 P.S. § 8101-C et seq. are incorporated into and
made a part of this ordinance.
Should any section, subsection, sentence, clause
or phrase of this ordinance be declared invalid by a court of competent
jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the ordinance
in its entirety or of any part thereof other than that declared to
be invalid.
[Amended 8-8-2006 by Ord. No. 1452]
The provisions of this article shall become
effective on and be applicable to any document made, executed, delivered,
accepted or presented for recording immediately from and after its
date of passage.
