Localmedium impact · 5/10substantive120652

Council sought to boost penalties on Philly property owners with tax debts over $20,000

Official:Amending Title 19 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Finance, Taxes and Collections," to increase the penalties due on certain delinquent taxes; all under certain terms and conditions.

Sponsor: Council President Clarke

Introduced: September 13, 2012

: Committee on Finance

civil service finance taxation

No one voted on this bill

This bill was introduced in the 2012–2015 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 increases penalties for delinquent taxes in Philadelphia, affecting property owners who owe more than $20,000.

What This Bill Does

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

Increases penalties for delinquent taxes in Philadelphia for property owners who owe more than $20,000.
Doubles the rate of penalties for tax delinquencies exceeding $20,000 in principal amount, as set forth in subsection (2)(b) of §19-509.
Imposes an additional penalty of 1% on the first day of each month from February through August during the first year in which such tax is registered as delinquent for real estate taxes exceeding $20,000.
Exempts real estate and personal property taxes subject to Sections 19-1302 and 19-1101 from the provisions of subsections (2)(b) and (c) of §19-509.

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