§ 60.16. Local Sales, Use and Hotel Occupancy Tax.
(a) General provisions.
(1) General. This section is promulgated to administer the provisions of sections 501—509 of the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority Act for Cities of the First Class (53 P. S. § § 12720.501—12720.509) and sections 3150-B—3157-B of the Second Class County Code (16 P. S. § § 6150-B—6157-B).
(2) Registration. A person making a sale, rental or lease subject to tax under this section shall apply for a license on a form prescribed by the Department.
(3) Returns. The taxes collected under this section shall be reported on a return prescribed by the Department and filed under sections 217—220 of the TRC (72 P. S. § § 7217—7220) and § 34.3 (relating to tax returns).
(4) Payment. Payment shall be made under sections 221—224 of the TRC (72 P. S. § § 7221—7224).
(5) Imposition of tax. Unless otherwise specifically noted, Article II of the TRC (72 P. S. § § 7201—7281.1) and regulations thereunder apply to the taxes imposed under this section.
(6) Exemption certificates. A claim for exemption from taxes imposed under this section shall be supported by a valid Pennsylvania exemption certificate.
(7) Direct payment permit. A purchaser may use a direct payment permit issued under § 34.4 (relating to direct payment permit) in conjunction with the sales tax imposed under this section. A purchaser may not use a direct payment permit in connection with the purchase of vehicles, food and beverages or hotel occupancies.
(8) Local tax. The term local tax means sales, use or hotel occupancy tax imposed by a county of this Commonwealth or the city of Philadelphia and administered by the Department.
(9) State tax. The term State tax means sales, use or hotel occupancy tax imposed by Article II of the TRC.
(10) Local sales and use tax. For purposes of this section, the local sales tax is the tax which is collected by the vendor and the local use tax is the tax payable if the vendor is not required or fails to collect the proper amount of local sales tax.
(11) Point of sale. Local sales tax is imposed at the point of sale. A sale of property or a service delivered to a location within this Commonwealth is deemed to occur at the place of business of the retailer. A sale of property or a service delivered by the retailer or its agent to an out-of-State destination is subject to neither the State nor the local tax. The local tax is in addition to the State tax if a sale is deemed to have occurred in a taxable county. There are no transactions which are only subject to the local tax.
(12) Tax bracket schedule. The 1% local sales and use tax is computed in accordance with the following bracket schedule:
(i) Purchase price…Tax
50¢ or less…0
51¢ but less than $1.51…1¢
$1.51 but less than $2.51…2¢
$2.51 but less than $3.51…3¢
$3.51 but less than $4.51…4¢
$4.51 but less than $5.51…5¢
$5.51 but less than $6.51…6¢
$6.51 but less than $7.51…7¢
$7.51 but less than $8.51…8¢
$8.51 but less than $9.51…9¢
$9.51 but less than $10.01…10¢
(ii) The tax on purchases in excess of $10 is 1% of each $10 of the purchase price plus the bracket charge on a fractional part of a $10 increment under subparagraph (i).
(13) Taxable county. A county or the city of Philadelphia which has adopted the local tax.
(14) Nontaxable county. A county which has not adopted the local tax.
(15) Effective date of local tax.
(i) The effective dates of the local tax in counties that have adopted the local tax are as follows:
County Effective Date Rate Allegheny July 1, 1994 1% Philadelphia October 1, 1991 1% (ii) When a county adopts the local tax or changes the rate of the local tax, the Department will publish a notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and codify the change in subsection (a)(15)(i).
(b) Scope.
(1) The local tax shall be remitted to the Department. If the vendor fails to collect the applicable local sales tax from the purchaser, the purchaser shall pay the local use tax directly to the Department.
(2) Property and services subject to the State tax are subject to the local sales and use tax. If a purchase is exempt from the State sales and use tax, the exemption also applies to the local tax.
(3) If the sale occurred before the effective date of the local tax, the sale is not subject to the local tax. If the sale occurs on or after the effective date of the local tax, the sale is subject to the local tax. The date of sale is the date of an invoice or other similar document. Lease payments due on or after the effective date of the local tax are subject to the local tax.
(4) The following are examples of sales which are subject to the local tax:
(i) Jeff signed a contract for the lease of a television set from an appliance store located in a taxable county prior to the effective date of the local tax. Lease payments are due on a monthly basis. The lease payments due on or after the effective date of the local tax are subject to the local sales tax.
(ii) John orders a television set from an appliance store located in a taxable county. John signs a contract of sale and receives an invoice from the vendor for the total purchase price prior to the effective date of the local tax. The television set is delivered after the effective date of the local tax. The purchase is subject to the local tax because delivery was subsequent to the effective date of the local tax.
(c) Sales of, and services to, tangible personal property and other taxable services. The sales of, and services to, tangible personal property and other taxable services subject to the State sales and use tax are also subject to the local tax if the sale originates in a taxable county. Other taxable services include: building maintenance and building cleaning, collections and adjustment, computer, credit reporting, disinfecting and pest control, employment agency, help supply, lawn care, lobbying, premium cable, secretarial and editing and self-storage.
(1) The following are examples of sales or services subject to the local tax:
(i) Mary Ellen purchases a television set from an appliance store located in a taxable county. Regardless of whether Mary Ellen takes the television set home in her car or the store delivers it to Mary Ellen’s Pennsylvania residence, the store shall collect the local tax because the sale occurred in a taxable county.
(ii) Mara, a resident of a taxable county, purchases a television set from an appliance store located in a nontaxable county. Regardless of whether Mara takes the television set home in her car or the store delivers it to Mara’s residence, the purchase is subject to the local use tax rather than the local sales tax. Mara shall pay the local use tax directly to the Department. The appliance store in the nontaxable county is not required to collect the local tax.
(iii) ABC, a corporation located in a taxable county, purchases fuel oil from a dealer in New Jersey which delivers the oil to ABC’s location. The purchase is subject to the local use tax rather than the local sales tax. ABC shall pay the local use tax directly to the Department. The oil dealer in New Jersey is not required to collect the local tax.
(iv) Bruce, a resident of a nontaxable county, subscribes to premium cable television from a cable company located in a taxable county. The cable company shall collect the local tax because the sale occurred in a taxable county.
(2) The following are examples of sales or services not subject to the local tax:
(i) Tim, a New Jersey resident, purchases a television set from an appliance store located in a taxable county. The store delivers the television set to Tim at his New Jersey home. Because the television is delivered to an out-of-State location, it is not subject to the local tax.
(ii) XYZ, a manufacturing company located in a taxable county, with offices in both the taxable county and a nontaxable county, purchases the services of a keypunch operator from a help supply vendor located in a nontaxable county. Because the keypunch operator reports for work at an office of XYZ located in a nontaxable county, the help supply services are not subject to the local tax.
(d) Utility services. The sale or use of utility services subject to the State sales and use tax, including steam, natural and manufactured gas and electricity, is subject to the local tax if the meter which registers the service is located in a taxable county. The sale or use of telephone service subject to the State sales and use tax is subject to the local tax if the telephone equipment to which the telephone number is assigned is located at an address within a taxable county. The sale or use of a telegraph service subject to the State sales and use tax which originates in a taxable county is subject to the local tax.
(1) The following are examples of sales subject to the local tax:
(i) A business located in a taxable county purchases electricity through a meter at its business location in a taxable county. Because the meter that registers the service is located in a taxable county, the service is subject to the local tax.
(ii) A business headquartered in a nontaxable county purchases natural gas for its location in a taxable county. The gas is metered at the plant located in the taxable county but billed to the business headquarters. Because the meter that registers the service is located in a taxable county, the service is subject to the local tax.
(iii) A salesperson for a business located in a taxable county makes a collect telephone call from Chicago to its service address. Because the service address of the collect call is located in a taxable county, the service is subject to the local tax.
(2) The following are examples of sales not subject to the local tax:
(i) A business headquartered in a taxable county purchases electricity for its location in a nontaxable county. The electricity is metered at the location in the nontaxable county but billed to the business headquarters. Because the meter that registers the service is not located in a taxable county, the service is not subject to the local tax.
(ii) A salesperson for a business located in a nontaxable county makes a cellular telephone call within a taxable county which is billed to the service address of the equipment located in the nontaxable county. Because the service address of the telephone call is located in a nontaxable county, the service is not subject to the local tax.
(e) Retailer with multiple locations.
(1) If a retailer has multiple business locations, the sale is deemed to occur at the place of business where the initial order for the property or service is placed, even though the order may be forwarded elsewhere for acceptance, approval of credit, shipment or billing.
(2) The following are examples of sales or services subject to the local tax:
(i) Eileen orders a television set from an appliance store in a taxable county. Regardless of whether the television set is delivered to Eileen from a location in a nontaxable county, or Eileen picks up the set at a location in a nontaxable county, the store shall collect and remit the local tax since the sale occurred in a taxable county.
(ii) Steve, a resident of a taxable county, orders a television set from an appliance store in a nontaxable county. Regardless of whether Steve picks up the set at a location in a taxable county or the set is delivered from a location in a taxable county, the purchase is subject to the local use tax rather than the local sales tax. Steve shall pay the local use tax directly to the Department.
(iii) Bob, a resident of a taxable county, purchases a professional drum from a music store in New York City. The drum is delivered to Bob from New York City. Bob does not pay the applicable State sales tax or applicable local tax to the seller. Bob is required to remit the State and local use taxes directly to the Department.
(iv) Merrill, who maintains a regular place of business in a taxable county, sells jewelry from a temporary location in a nontaxable county. Because Merrill maintains a place of business in a taxable county, Merrill shall collect the State and local sales taxes.
(f) Salesperson.
(1) Sales by salespersons who are employes of a vendor are deemed to occur at the employer’s business address from which the salesperson works. Sales by salespersons who are independent contractors who issue their own invoices are deemed to occur at the place of business of the independent contractor. If, however, the independent contractor merely solicits sales on behalf of a vendor, the sale is deemed to occur at the business location of the vendor.
(2) The following are examples of sales or services subject to the local tax:
(i) A salesperson working as an employe from an office in a nontaxable county sells encyclopedias door-to-door in a taxable county. Tim buys the encyclopedias when the salesperson visits Tim’s home in a taxable county. The purchase is subject to the local use tax rather than the local sales tax. Therefore, Tim shall pay the local use tax directly to the Department.
(ii) A salesperson working as an employe from an office in a taxable county sells encyclopedias door-to-door in a nontaxable county. Jeff buys the encyclopedias when the salesperson visits Jeff’s home in a nontaxable county. The purchase is subject to the local sales tax rather than the local use tax. Therefore, the salesperson shall collect the local sales tax and remit it to the Department.
(iii) Joe, an independent contractor, sells teddy bears by direct mail advertising. Anne purchases a teddy bear through the mail. Anne is billed by Joe on his letterhead indicating an address in a taxable county. The purchase is subject to the local sales tax. If Anne had received an invoice from a manufacturer located outside of this Commonwealth whom Joe represents, the purchase would not be subject to the local sales tax but would be subject to the local use tax if Anne is a resident of a taxable county. Anne would be required to pay the tax directly to the Department.
(g) Vehicles, motorboats and aircraft.
(1) The sale or use of vehicles, boats or aircraft required to be titled or licensed is subject to the local tax if the address of the purchaser is at a location in a taxable county. The local tax on vehicles is payable to the Department of Transportation. The local tax on aircraft is payable to the Department. The local tax on motorboats is payable to either the Department or the Fish and Boat Commission. The location of the seller or the location to which the property is delivered does not affect the taxability of the property. This subsection does not apply to the purchase or use of snowmobiles, ATVs or dirt bikes. Subsection (c) relates to the taxability of snowmobiles, ATVs and dirt bikes. See § § 31.41—31.50 and 58.8 (relating to vehicles; and commercial airport and aircraft operators) for the general rules regarding the taxability of vehicles or aircraft.
(2) A lease or rental payment, including a down payment, made in connection with the lease or rental of a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, mobile home, motor boat, aircraft or other similar tangible personal property required under Federal or State laws to be registered or licensed, is taxable based upon the location of the lessor or retailer, if the lease or rental agreement was entered into during the period of October 1, 1991, through June 30, 1994. If the lease is resold to another lessor in a taxable county, the new lessor is responsible for collecting the local sales tax on the remaining lease payments. If the lease is resold to a new lessor whose business location is in a nontaxable county, the lessor is not required to collect the local sales tax. If the lessee is a resident of a taxable county, the lessee shall pay the local use tax. On or after July 1, 1994, the lease of property referred to in this paragraph required to be registered or licensed under either Federal or state laws, shall be deemed to have been completed or used at the address of the lessee. The lessee shall pay local tax to the lessor upon the down payment and each lease payment relating to the lease. The lessor shall collect the local tax from the lessee. A rental payment made upon the property referred in this paragraph on or after July 1, 1994, is taxable based upon the location of the retailer. For the purpose of this subsection, a lease means a contract for 30 days or more and rental means a contract for a period of less than 30 days.
(i) The following are examples of sales subject to the local tax:
(A) John, a resident of a taxable county, purchases an automobile from an automobile dealer located in a taxable county. Because the sale occurred in a taxable county, the dealer shall collect and remit the local tax.
(B) A New Jersey resident purchases an automobile in New Jersey and subsequently establishes a residence in a taxable county. If the date of establishing the residence in the taxable county is less than 6 months after the date of purchase of the automobile, the tax is based on the original purchase price. If the date of establishing the residence is beyond 6 months of the date of purchase, neither state nor local tax is due.
(C) Mary Ellen, a resident of a taxable county, leases an automobile from a lessor located in a nontaxable county on July 15, 1994. The lessor is required to collect the 1% local tax.
(D) Sherry ordered a new automobile prior to the effective date of the local tax in the county in which she resides. The automobile is delivered to Sherry by the dealer after the effective date of the local tax. Sherry is required to pay the 1% local tax at the time she registers the vehicle with the Department of Transportation.
(ii) The following are examples of sales not subject to the local tax:
(A) Steve, a resident of a nontaxable county, purchases a boat from a boat dealer located in a taxable county. Because the address of the purchaser is not in a taxable county, the sale is not subject to the local tax.
(B) An aircraft dealer located in a taxable county sells an aircraft to a resident located in a nontaxable county. Because the address of the purchaser is not in a taxable county, the sale is not subject to the local tax.
(h) Vending machines.
(1) An operator of a vending machine located in a taxable county, from which food or beverages, excluding candy, gum and frozen milk-based or frozen water-based products are sold, is required to collect and remit the local tax at the rate of 1% upon the sales of food and beverages. Taxable sales from vending machines located in a nontaxable county are not subject to the local tax. Sales of 50¢ or less are not taxable. On sales in excess of 50¢, the tax shall be computed using the following formula:(Gross receipts ÷ 1.07) x .01 = local tax due (Gross receipts ÷ 1.07) x .06 = State tax due
(2) An operator of a vending machine selling taxable property, other than food or beverages, is required to collect and remit the local sales tax upon each individual sale of taxable property in accordance with the local tax bracket system.
(i) Hotel occupancy tax.
(1) The occupancy of hotel rooms located in a taxable county is subject to the 6% State hotel occupancy tax and the 1% local hotel occupancy tax. The occupancy of hotel rooms which is exempt from the 6% State hotel occupancy tax is also exempt from the 1% local hotel occupancy tax.
(2) The maximum State and local hotel occupancy tax is 7% plus additional local tax which a taxable county imposes and administers.
(j) Use tax.
(1) Persons who purchase taxable property or services which are subject to the local tax and do not pay the applicable local sales tax are required to remit the local tax directly to the Department. The purchaser shall report the tax as use tax on the purchaser’s tax return.
(2) The rules for imposing State use tax upon property purchased outside of this Commonwealth or purchased exempt from tax and subsequently put to a taxable use in this Commonwealth apply to local tax. These rules apply to the establishment of a residence in a taxable county, the temporary use of property within a taxable county by a nonresident of a taxable county, the use of property by a tourist or vacationer in a taxable county, or the use of property which was purchased by a resident within 6 months of its first taxable use in a taxable county. See § 31.7 (relating to use tax).
(3) The following are examples of transactions that are subject to local tax:
(i) Anne, a resident of a nontaxable county, purchases a television set without paying local sales tax. Anne immediately takes the set to her business located in a taxable county, where it remains for more than 7 days. Anne’s use of the television is subject to the local use tax after 7 days and Anne shall remit the use tax directly to the Department.
(ii) Tim purchases a television set at an appliance store located outside this Commonwealth. The set is delivered to Tim at his residence in a taxable county. Tim is required to pay the applicable State and local use taxes directly to the Department.
(iii) Mike orders an English grammar book from a vendor located in a taxable county. The book is delivered to Mike’s residence in a nontaxable county. The vendor did not charge Mike the local tax. Mike is required to remit the local use tax to the Department.
(iv) Gregg, a resident of a nontaxable county, establishes a new residence in a taxable county. Gregg need not pay local use tax on property purchased 6 months or more prior to establishing his residence in the taxable county. However, Gregg shall pay local tax upon the purchase price of property purchased within 6 months of establishing his residence in the taxable county. Gregg is entitled to a credit for local tax paid upon the property at the time of purchase.
(k) Construction contracts and special resale exemption.
(1) Payment of tax. Persons who perform construction contracts within taxable counties are required to pay local tax upon the purchase of property or services, on or after the effective date of the local tax, which are used or installed under the performance of a construction contract. If the property or service is purchased within a taxable county, the contractor is required to pay the local sales tax. If the property is purchased prior to the effective date of the local tax, it is not subject to the local tax imposed by the county in which the contract is being performed.
(2) Special exemption on fixed-price contracts in Allegheny County. The sale to or use of materials by a contractor is exempt from tax if the materials are incorporated into and made part of real estate under a contract for the construction, reconstruction, remodeling, repairing, maintenance or sale of real estate within Allegheny County on the basis of a fixed-price contract which is not subject to change or modification, or entered into under the obligation of a formal written bid which cannot be altered or withdrawn provided the contract or bid was signed prior to July 1, 1994. This exemption also applies to purchases made by subcontractors who perform contracts pursuant to exempt fixed-price contracts, even though the subcontracts are entered into on or after July 1, 1994. This exemption does not apply to change orders entered into on or after July 1, 1994, relating to the original fixed-price contract which was entered into prior to July 1, 1994.
(3) Special resale exemption. A special resale exemption applies to the transfer of ownership of tangible personal property purchased solely for the purpose of being processed, fabricated or manufactured into, attached to or incorporated into tangible personal property within the taxable county and thereafter transported outside the taxable county for use exclusively outside the taxable county.
(4) Examples. The following are examples of transactions which are subject to local tax:
(i) ABC Company, a construction contractor, entered into a cost-plus contract on May 1, 1994, for the construction of a building in Allegheny County. ABC purchased all materials in Allegheny County. ABC purchased bricks in January of 1994 and installed the bricks on July 15, 1994. ABC also purchased and installed concrete on July 25, 1994. The bricks purchased in January of 1994 are not subject to the Allegheny County local tax because they were purchased prior to the effective date of the Allegheny County local tax. The concrete purchased and installed on July 25, 1994, is subject to the Allegheny County local tax because the concrete was neither purchased and used prior to the effective date nor purchased and used pursuant to a fixed-price contract within Allegheny County.
(ii) Alex Corporation purchases unassembled bicycles from a nontaxable vendor. The bicycles are delivered to XYZ Corporation in Allegheny County for assembly. After the bicycles are assembled, they are delivered to Alex’s plant in a nontaxable county for employe use. Because Alex is entitled to claim the special resale exemption, there is no local tax due on the work performed in Allegheny County by XYZ Corporation.
(iii) The Brendan Company, located in a nontaxable county, entered into a fixed-price contract to purchase and install a concrete block wall for an office building in Philadelphia. The contract was signed and the materials were purchased prior to the effective date of the Philadelphia local tax. The work was done after the effective date of the Philadelphia local tax. The materials were purchased in a nontaxable county. The materials are subject to the local tax. The Philadelphia local sales tax law does not contain a provision which excludes from the local tax fixed-price contracts entered into prior to the effective date of the Philadelphia local tax.
(iv) Stephanie Company, a contractor, entered into a fixed-price contract in March of 1994 to construct a building in Allegheny County. On July 12, 1994, Stephanie Company signed a change order to the original contract for additional construction at an agreed price. Materials purchased by Stephanie Company which are used to fill the change order are subject to the Allegheny local tax.
(l) Credits against tax.
(1) Interstate credits. To the extent that State or local tax is due, a credit will be granted for State and local taxes which were legally due and paid to another jurisdiction if the other jurisdiction grants similar credit for State and local taxes paid to the Department. Credit for taxes paid will be applied to the State tax first and the remainder to the local tax.
(i) Kathy, a New Jersey resident, purchased an automobile on February 3, 1992, from a New Jersey dealer and paid the 6% New Jersey sales tax. On April 4, 1992, Kathy established her residence in a taxable county. Because Kathy established her residence in a taxable county less than 6 months after she purchased the automobile, the use of the automobile is subject to the 6% State use tax and the 1% local tax. Since Kathy paid the 6% New Jersey sales tax, Pennsylvania will grant her a credit equal to the 6% New Jersey tax and apply the credit to the State tax. Kathy will be required to pay the 1% local tax.
(ii) If Kathy had been a New York resident and had paid tax at the rate of 7%, Kathy would not owe State or local tax.
(2) Intrastate credits. To the extent that the local use tax is due upon the use of property or services in a taxable county, a credit will be granted for local sales or use tax legally due and paid upon the purchase or use of the property or services to another taxable county.
(i) Chris, a resident of a taxable county, purchases a television set in another taxable county. Chris pays the applicable local sales tax at the time of purchase and takes the television set home. Chris is permitted to take a credit for the amount of local sales tax paid at the time of purchase and can apply the credit to the amount of local use tax due in Chris’s county of residence.
(ii) Pat, a resident of a taxable county, purchases a computer in a nontaxable county. Pat takes the computer home and pays the applicable local use tax to that county. Three months later, Pat takes the computer to another taxable county to use while attending college for 4 years. Pat is permitted to take a credit for the amount of local use tax paid to Pat’s county of residence and can apply the credit to the amount of local tax due to the county in which the computer is used while attending college.
(3) Voluntary collection. A vendor who is not located in a taxable county may voluntarily collect the local tax even though not required to collect the local tax. A vendor who voluntarily collects the local tax is responsible for reporting and remitting the local tax collected.
Source The provisions of this § 60.16 adopted October 8, 1993, effective October 9, 1993, 23 Pa.B. 4795; amended June 17, 1994, effective June 18, 1994, 24 Pa.B. 3040; amended October 20, 1995, effective October 21, 1995, 25 Pa.B. 4536. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (190210) to (190218) and (197837).
Cross References This section cited in 61 Pa. Code § 60.20 (relating to telecommunications service).
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