HARRISBURG – The 240 businesses listed on the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue’s Internet list of tax delinquents owe the state more than $8.5 million, said Secretary of Revenue Tom Wolf.
“These businesses collected millions of dollars in taxes from their customers and employees and failed to send the money to the state,” Wolf said. “I encourage taxpayers to visit the Revenue Department’s Web site to see the list of delinquent businesses.”
Forty-eight new delinquent taxpayers were added to the list this month, including: Carlisle Auto Body & Collision Inc., Carlisle ($88,939.96); SC&C Inc., dba Square Café & Coffee, Pittsburgh ($57,354.41); Bryn Mawr Flooring Inc., Conshohocken, Montgomery County ($35,249.23); Barry L. Burritt, dba Burritts Appliance, Kane, McKean County ($27,973.71); Lehigh Valley Technologies, Allentown ($21,667.98); Brigg’s Trucking, Tyrone, Blair County ($9,042.66); and Loftus Law Firm PC, Waverly, Lackawanna County ($29,717.678).
The list now includes 240 businesses that owe sales and/or employer withholding taxes. Since the list debuted two years ago, 343 of the 583 businesses, or 59 percent, that have appeared on the tax delinquent list have been removed from the site because they paid taxes in full, committed to deferred payment plans or went out of business.
Businesses and individuals listed on the Web site are contacted by the department and given one final chance to make payment arrangements before appearing on the list. The prospect of appearing on the list has helped convince delinquent taxpayers to pay $48 million and enter into deferred payment plans for an additional $20.3 million in previously unpaid taxes.
Other states have found that the threat of public exposure can be a successful tax collection incentive. At least 21 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 a lien filed by the Revenue Department. The liens are 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.
Delinquent taxpayers who appear on the list should contact the Revenue Department at the telephone number listed on the letter they 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.
The complete PA Tax Delinquent List is available on the Department of Revenue’s Web site.