OCCUPATION TAX???!???!!!!!

[Punkinhead]

The occupation tax has risen from $10 to $52 per year. Holy shit, this is insanity!!!!! I can see a small raise but, holy hell, that's a 500% increase. Is there anyone I can write about this? Does anyone know, seriously? I'm filing a complaint with someone somewhere, whether it works or not.

[tonefight]

Yeah, its a privledge to make a living. That Tax probably wouldn't piss me off so much if they gave it another name .

[Ron]

Yeah, its a privledge to make a living. That Tax probably wouldn't piss me off so much if they gave it another name .

Tony, your wish came true. It is now the "Emergency and Municipal Services Tax".

This is a state sponsored option of every local municipality to raise and/or collect this tax. Here are some of the local municipalities that raised it to $52 (the maximum allowed), and their office phone numbers.

Blair
- Greenfield Township - 814 239-5527

Cambria
- Johnstown City - 814 533-2001
- Westmont Boro - 814 255-3865

Centre
- Ferguson Township - 814 278-4709
- State College Boro - 814 234-7120
- Patton Township - 814 278-4709

Clearfield
- Dubois City - 412 221-1701

Huntingdon
- Petersburg Boro - 814 669-4088

If the PA county you live in isn't on the list, you can get the info at:
http://ctcoas01.state.pa.us/dced/MSS.RP ... ECTOR.show

If you make lass than $12,000 per year and pay the $52, you can get a $42 refund next year after they've collected the next round of taxes. (So you give them $104 and they give you back $42). They will have $42 of your money at all times. You also have to prove to the local municipality that you made less than $12,000 in order to get the refund.

Also, if you didn't pay the $52 tax this year, chances are that you will pay it next year. The state just gave them the right to collect it, they probably all will eventually.

Also, this IS NOT the occupation tax that you pay on your local taxes, it is withheld in addition. If you work in the Altoona School District, this means that $10 will be withheld from your pay for the EMST, then you will pay an additional occupation tax of $10 when you fill out your local tax form.

FLAT RATE OCCUPATION TAX: The Flat Rate Occupation Tax is paid directly by individuals who are residents of the Altoona School District an have earned and/or made a net profit of $1200.00 or more for the calendar year (January to December). This is in addition to the Occupational Privilege Tax that is withheld through payroll deduction and paid by your employer to the borough, township or city where you work.

This sucks.

[Brian of the Clan Plush]

the state did away with the occupational assessment tax, which was (in theory) on a sliding scale based on what kind of job you had. The occupational assessment tax was in addition the occupational priviledge tax of $10 that everybody paid. Local municipalities lost alot of money when they lost the occupational assessment tax, so the General Assembly passed a law allowing municipalities to increase the occupational priviledge tax to a maximum of $52. About 90% of them went straight to the maximum amount allowed. It sucks, but for most people its just trading one tax for another. Still, I think a Boston Tea Party is in order. Or maybe just a party....

[Mo Lester]

Damn, Special Ron is a resourceful mugga fugga
and Damn, Brian I like yer mental altitude
wow, you guys is fun

[Punkinhead]

Yeah, its a privledge to make a living. That Tax probably wouldn't piss me off so much if they gave it another name .

Tony, your wish came true. It is now the "Emergency and Municipal Services Tax".

This is a state sponsored option of every local municipality to raise and/or collect this tax. Here are some of the local municipalities that raised it to $52 (the maximum allowed), and their office phone numbers.

Blair
- Greenfield Township - 814 239-5527

Cambria
- Johnstown City - 814 533-2001
- Westmont Boro - 814 255-3865

Centre
- Ferguson Township - 814 278-4709
- State College Boro - 814 234-7120
- Patton Township - 814 278-4709

Clearfield
- Dubois City - 412 221-1701

Huntingdon
- Petersburg Boro - 814 669-4088

If the PA county you live in isn't on the list, you can get the info at:
http://ctcoas01.state.pa.us/dced/MSS.RP ... ECTOR.show

If you make lass than $12,000 per year and pay the $52, you can get a $42 refund next year after they've collected the next round of taxes. (So you give them $104 and they give you back $42). They will have $42 of your money at all times. You also have to prove to the local municipality that you made less than $12,000 in order to get the refund.

Also, if you didn't pay the $52 tax this year, chances are that you will pay it next year. The state just gave them the right to collect it, they probably all will eventually.

Also, this IS NOT the occupation tax that you pay on your local taxes, it is withheld in addition. If you work in the Altoona School District, this means that $10 will be withheld from your pay for the EMST, then you will pay an additional occupation tax of $10 when you fill out your local tax form.

FLAT RATE OCCUPATION TAX: The Flat Rate Occupation Tax is paid directly by individuals who are residents of the Altoona School District an have earned and/or made a net profit of $1200.00 or more for the calendar year (January to December). This is in addition to the Occupational Privilege Tax that is withheld through payroll deduction and paid by your employer to the borough, township or city where you work.

This sucks.

Burrell Township (Blairsville area) is in on it too but about 90% are, like was said before. It's quite the increase.

[Jerry C]

The way I understand it, this is their alternative to raising property tax. Some trade-off eh. Give me a break!!

[Ron]

Burrell Township (Blairsville area) is in on it too but about 90% are, like was said before. It's quite the increase.

Yeah Punkinhead, the chart at the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development is crap. The municipalities report their withholding to them, and some are as current as last fall, but most are 2 years old or older. On the chart Burrell Twp. isn't listed at $52, but the school district hasn't updated it's data to the PDCED since Spring 2003. It's interesting to see how the School District and Municipality split the new tax differently in different areas. Some areas are charging a $52 tax for "emergency and municipal services" and then funneling it all into the school district. I guess that you could look at the condition of a lot of local school districts and consider it an emergency.
Since raising taxes isn't good for any politicians, I think this tax hike snuck under a lot of radar prior to the election. I heard that they were doing away with the occupational assessment tax, but never heard that it was just being increased and renamed.

[lonewolf]

the state did away with the occupational assessment tax, which was (in theory) on a sliding scale based on what kind of job you had. The occupational assessment tax was in addition the occupational priviledge tax of $10 that everybody paid. Local municipalities lost alot of money when they lost the occupational assessment tax, so the General Assembly passed a law allowing municipalities to increase the occupational priviledge tax to a maximum of $52. About 90% of them went straight to the maximum amount allowed. It sucks, but for most people its just trading one tax for another. Still, I think a Boston Tea Party is in order. Or maybe just a party....

That occupational tax was a joke and was not cheap. When I lived in S.C. in the 80s, I told them I was a "drafter" (I'll not get into my real position, but it had some CAD, so "drafter" worked) my cohabitant girlfriend was a CPA accountant. I made twice as much money as her, but her OA tax was twice that of mine. I think I paid well over $100 and she paid well over $200.

This is all Rendell's clusterfoxtrot plan to reduce real estate taxes. Anybody see their real estate taxes cut yet? I haven't.

Never give a sucker an even break and never let a politician introduce "new" taxes.

[JayBird]

I have a good point - shouldn't we all just become bumbs and live off the gov't? Have about 10 kids so we keep getting raises. Hell, if we do this, then the f'ed up gov't will pay us for NOT working. Yet, if we WANT to work or try making a living on our own - we pay the gov't. How screwed up is this.

If you're a bumb, the government will pay you not to work.

If you want to work, then you have to pay the government.

Does anyone else see a problem with our "great" government!!?

[Punkinhead]

Burrell Township (Blairsville area) is in on it too but about 90% are, like was said before. It's quite the increase.

Yeah Punkinhead, the chart at the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development is crap. The municipalities report their withholding to them, and some are as current as last fall, but most are 2 years old or older. On the chart Burrell Twp. isn't listed at $52, but the school district hasn't updated it's data to the PDCED since Spring 2003. It's interesting to see how the School District and Municipality split the new tax differently in different areas. Some areas are charging a $52 tax for "emergency and municipal services" and then funneling it all into the school district. I guess that you could look at the condition of a lot of local school districts and consider it an emergency.
Since raising taxes isn't good for any politicians, I think this tax hike snuck under a lot of radar prior to the election. I heard that they were doing away with the occupational assessment tax, but never heard that it was just being increased and renamed.

If some of it goes to schools, then maybe a smaller increase in something that was publicly known to goe to schools wouldn't have my "panties in a bunch". The education system in alot of areas needs some help. I just think it's complete bull how it's, BAM, we taking 4.2 times what we were in this area. I truly believe if this goes without any stink being raised we're gonna be looking at hikes like this in other areas. As far as voting, I didn't vote in the last governatorial election but, I am this time. I don't care if Satan runs against Rendell, I'll vote for the king of evil over this crackhead we have now.

[ain soph aur]

I have a good point - shouldn't we all just become bumbs and live off the gov't? Have about 10 kids so we keep getting raises. Hell, if we do this, then the f'ed up gov't will pay us for NOT working. Yet, if we WANT to work or try making a living on our own - we pay the gov't. How screwed up is this.
If you're a bumb, the government will pay you not to work.
If you want to work, then you have to pay the government.
Does anyone else see a problem with our "great" government!!?

You do have a point, but on the other hand this is far from a black and white issue. There's no doubt that it's misused, but that is no reason to stereotype people either. That's really harsh considering the inner workings of the welfare system.

The problem with welfare in a nutshell is once your on it's very difficult to get off, and sadly it seems purposely. If you make more money 3,5 how ever many benefits you you receive decrease making it actually LESS than if you didn't make more... what the hell kind of incentive is that to even try to better yourself? Better jobs usually means having to now pay for health insurance and rent, which puts you right back where you were... again incentive is just not there. Then the disabled are really screwed, receiving a fraction of what it actually costs to raise a family and survive, and then if a spouse works they loose benefits for that too. If they find something they can do, after so long they loose benefits entirely. Even though they are still limited to part time work or insufficient jobs that could never support them. So there is a definite fear on top of absolutely NO incentive, the whole system is designed for exactly that... keeping people on it and "oppressed". If it wasn't they would have done a way with or fixed a failing system a long time ago, but they don't because it's NOT failing. There is no denying that our country has been becoming more and more of a "controlled" state. These people are simply already "government controlled".

If you really want something to bitch about... how about the fact that if
food stamps were counted as gross income most people on welfare would actually MAKE MORE that someone serving a basic 4 years in the military. That's really fucked up. Then consider the recruitment of soldiers mainly coming from the POOR with no other options to make a good life for themselves... two birds with one stone type of thing. Controlled AND a way to "force" life long enlistment without calling it a draft. Our
government is way smarter then they look!

As for taxes, Article 1 of the Constitution prohibits them basically due to the "communistic" nature of the income tax, yet a little over 100 years ago that was disregarded as "error" and The 16th Amendment was implemented. And now we have a tax for everything! I wouldn't know why they were prohibited in the first place. Don't get me wrong without taxes we wouldn't have paved roads, public schools and many other luxuries often taken for granted, but the PEOPLE should have at least some control over taxes and THEIR money! Kind of like the true intention of the Constitution was designed to be the people running the government, not the other way around... that's EXACTLY what the US WASN'T suppose to be, but that's the way it is. It doesn't matter who you elect we have no say whatsoever in taxation or anything else for that matter.

[bassist_25]

The above post makes a lot of excellent points. It reminds me of something that I'm quite indignant about when it comes to this issue: people being forced onto disability. I know many people who were forced out of their respective trades (truck driver, electrician, etc.) because of insurance reasons. The funny part is that their alignments really wouldn't affect their job performance. It's bullshit.

And something also to keep in mind: Chances are unless you're a highly paid entertainer or a doctor, you're not going to earn a substantial amount of wealth simply through wages. Wages usually don't generate wealth - profit and interest do. Why do you think Marx was for the proliteriate (those who earned their living through earning wages) and against the bourgoeisie (those who earned their living through earning profit, rent, and interest)? Of course, unless you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth, you'll need the wages to purchase the things that earn profit, rent, and interest. It doesn't cost much to invest, so find some good blue chip stocks and start investing away. If there's one thing I've learned in life, it's that capitalism has nothing to do with "hard work" (as a lot of people would like to have you believe).