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City Council Moves to Slash Taxes for Low-Income Residents in Phased Reduction Plan

Official:Amending Chapter 19-1500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Wage and Net Profits Tax," by decreasing in six stages the rates of the tax imposed upon certain low income persons, providing for refunds of excess taxes paid, and directing the Revenue Department to prepare forms for use by eligible taxpayers seeking such refunds; all under certain terms and conditions.

Sponsor: Councilmember Nutter

Introduced: May 27, 2004

: Committee of the Whole

finance poverty taxation

No one voted on this bill

This bill was introduced in the 2004–2007 Council term and when that term ran out. The public record shows no committee vote and no floor vote at any stage, so no member of Council ever went on record for or against it.

That is not unusual here. Of the 8,465 bills introduced between 2000 and 2025, 1,624 lapsed without a single recorded vote. Ninety percent of bills that became law carry a roll call. Three percent of lapsed bills do. How this works.

Plain-Language Summary

This bill reduces taxes on low-income Philadelphians in six stages, starting from 2009, and allows for refunds of excess taxes paid.

What This Bill Does

AI-written. Every figure is checked against the bill text.

Reduction of tax rates for low-income persons in six stages, starting from 2009.
Provision for refunds of excess taxes paid by eligible taxpayers.
Requirement for the Revenue Department to prepare forms for use by eligible taxpayers seeking refunds.
Eligibility for refunds and/or forgiveness of taxes is extended to low-income non-residents, as well as residents, who meet certain criteria.