Businesses on Pennsylvania's Tax Delinquent List Now Owe More Than $9.4 Million; 41 Firms Added to List

Tax Amnesty Coming April 26 to June 18 to Settle Delinquent Taxes

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With the addition of 41 new delinquent taxpayers to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue's tax delinquent list, a total of 275 businesses now owe the state more than $9.4 million, acting Revenue Secretary C. Daniel Hassell said today.

"These businesses — the names of which are listed in the 'Hot Topics' section at www.revenue.state.pa.us — collected taxes from their customers and employees but failed to send the money to the commonwealth," Hassell said.  "I encourage taxpayers to check the list for delinquent businesses in their area."

The 41 new delinquent taxpayers added to the list this month include: Clayton's Hunting and Fishing Inc., Horsham, Montgomery County ($124,378.54); Ronald F. Rokicki dba Rokickis Auto Service, Pittsburgh ($7,670.93); York Little People Day Care School Inc., York ($40,787.41); Arts Conservatory of Central PA, State College, Centre County ($10,983.83); Pines Village Market Inc., Pocono Lake, Monroe County ($8,506.72); and PSI Motorsports Inc., Walnutport, Northampton County ($59,688.94).

The list includes businesses that owe sales and/or employer withholding taxes. Since the list debuted in April 2006, 519 of the 794 businesses, or 65.4 percent, that appeared on the list have been removed because they paid taxes in full, committed to deferred payment plans or went out of business.  

Before being listed on the Web site, businesses and individuals are contacted by the department and given a final chance to make payment arrangements. The prospect of appearing on the list has encouraged delinquent taxpayers to pay $116.4 million and enter into deferred payment plans for an additional $12.1 million in previously unpaid taxes.

Many states have found that public identification of tax delinquents can be a successful tax collection incentive. At least 23 other states – including Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia – use Internet lists to help collect unpaid taxes.  

Information on the Web site is public as a result of liens filed by the Revenue Department. Each lien is recorded in the county prothonotary's office where the person lives or does business. The amounts listed on the Web site represent the original liens. The current amount of tax due may differ from the amount listed on the site because of partial payments and/or the accrual of additional interest since the tax lien was filed.

Any delinquent taxpayer appearing on the list should contact the Revenue Department at the phone number listed on the letter he/she received or call the nearest Revenue district office to make payment arrangements. The Web site is updated monthly, and delinquent taxpayers who resolve their tax liabilities are removed from the site each month.  

"Tax delinquents such as those on this list will have an opportunity to settle back taxes without penalty and half-off the interest during Pennsylvania's upcoming Tax Amnesty program," Hassell noted. "I encourage taxpayers with outstanding tax liabilities to explore the PA Tax Amnesty program beginning April 26."  

The 54-day Tax Amnesty program, created by Act 48 of 2009, is intended to generate $190 million to balance the current fiscal year budget. The program is generally available to all individuals, businesses and other entities with Pennsylvania tax delinquencies as of June 30, 2009.  

The PA Tax Amnesty program will waive 100 percent of penalties and half of the interest for anyone who pays his/her delinquent state taxes between April 26 and June 18.  As required by law, all delinquent taxpayers known to the Department of Revenue will receive notices by mail, in late April, informing them of tax delinquencies and the online application process for the PA Tax Amnesty program.  

The complete tax delinquent list and additional information on the PA Tax Amnesty program are available at www.revenue.state.pa.us, under the "Hot Topics" tab on the home page.    

Media contact: Stephanie Weyant, 717-787-6960

Editor's Note: The 275 businesses on the Tax Delinquent List are from the following 43 counties (15 are out of state): Adams (4), Allegheny (22), Beaver (2), Berks (2), Blair (5), Bucks (18), Cambria (1), Carbon (1), Centre (4), Chester (6), Clearfield (3), Clinton (1) Cumberland (7), Dauphin (7), Delaware (10), Erie (3), Franklin (2), Indiana (1), Lackawanna (11), Lancaster (6), Lawrence (1), Lebanon (1), Lehigh (9), Luzerne (27), McKean (2), Mercer (1), Mifflin (1), Monroe (6), Montgomery (17), Northampton (4), Northumberland (1), Perry (1), Philadelphia (44), Pike (1), Potter (1), Schuylkill (3), Susquehanna (1), Union (2), Venango (1), Washington (5), Westmoreland (3), Wyoming (1), and York (11).

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Revenue