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PHILADELPHIA HOME RULE CHARTER
THE PHILADELPHIA CODE
TITLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS
TITLE 2. CITY-COUNTY CONSOLIDATION
TITLE 3. AIR MANAGEMENT CODE
TITLE 4. THE PHILADELPHIA BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND OCCUPANCY CODE
TITLE 4.1. ELECTRICAL CODE
TITLE 4.2. PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE
TITLE 5. FIRE PREVENTION CODE
TITLE 6. HEALTH CODE
TITLE 7. HOUSING CODE
TITLE 8. PLUMBING CODE
TITLE 9. REGULATION OF BUSINESSES, TRADES AND PROFESSIONS
TITLE 10. REGULATION OF INDIVIDUAL CONDUCT AND ACTIVITY
TITLE 11. STREETS
TITLE 12. TRAFFIC CODE
TITLE 13. WATER AND SEWER
TITLE 14. ZONING AND PLANNING
TITLE 15. PARKS AND RECREATION
TITLE 16. PUBLIC PROPERTY
TITLE 17. CONTRACTS AND PROCUREMENT
TITLE 18. COMMERCE AND AVIATION
TITLE 19. FINANCE, TAXES AND COLLECTIONS
CHAPTER 19-100. GENERAL PROVISIONS (RESERVED)
CHAPTER 19-200. CITY FUNDS - DEPOSITS, INVESTMENTS, DISBURSEMENTS
CHAPTER 19-300. BOND ISSUES
CHAPTER 19-400. SINKING FUNDS
CHAPTER 19-500. TAXES AND RENTS - GENERAL
CHAPTER 19-600. AMUSEMENT TAX
CHAPTER 19-700. AUCTIONEER TAX
CHAPTER 19-800. BOWLING ALLEY TAX
CHAPTER 19-900. MECHANICAL AMUSEMENT DEVICES
CHAPTER 19-1000. MERCANTILE LICENSE TAX
CHAPTER 19-1100. PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES
CHAPTER 19-1200. PARKING TAX
CHAPTER 19-1300. REAL ESTATE TAXES
CHAPTER 19-1400. REALTY TRANSFER TAX
CHAPTER 19-1500. WAGE AND NET PROFITS TAX
CHAPTER 19-1600. WATER AND SEWER RENTS
CHAPTER 19-1700. REVIEW, REFUNDS AND COMPROMISES
CHAPTER 19-1800. SCHOOL TAX AUTHORIZATION
CHAPTER 19-1900. PAYMENT FOR CITY SERVICES BY SENIOR CITIZENS
CHAPTER 19-2000. DISCOUNTED RATES FOR NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION AND SUPPLY SERVICES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS
CHAPTER 19-2100. PETROLEUM PROCESSING TAX
CHAPTER 19-2200. GASOLINE DISTRIBUTOR'S TAX
CHAPTER 19-2300. CONDOMINIUM CONVERSION PRIVILEGE TAX
CHAPTER 19-2400. HOTEL ROOM RENTAL TAX
CHAPTER 19-2500. REAL ESTATE NON-UTILIZATION TAX
CHAPTER 19-2600. BUSINESS INCOME AND RECEIPTS TAXES
CHAPTER 19-2700. SALES AND USE TAX AND HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX
CHAPTER 19-2800. PENNSYLVANIA INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION AUTHORITY TAX ON WAGES AND NET PROFITS
CHAPTER 19-2900. SENIOR CITIZEN LOW INCOME SPECIAL TAX PROVISIONS
CHAPTER 19-3000. ANNUAL REPORTS RELATING TO FEES
CHAPTER 19-3100. ATTORNEY AND OTHER COLLECTION FEES IN COLLECTION MATTERS; RETENTION OF PRIVATE ATTORNEYS AND OTHER COLLECTORS
CHAPTER 19-3200. KEYSTONE OPPORTUNITY ZONE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, AND STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT AREA
CHAPTER 19-3300. VEHICLE RENTAL TAX
CHAPTER 19-3400. EXCISE TAX ON OUTDOOR ADVERTISING TRANSACTIONS
CHAPTER 19-3500. HOSPITAL ASSESSMENTS
CHAPTER 19-3600. FALSE CLAIMS
CHAPTER 19-3700. TOBACCO AND TOBACCO-RELATED PRODUCTS TAX
CHAPTER 19-3800. NEW BUSINESSES
CHAPTER 19-3900. TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR LONGTIME OWNER-OCCUPANTS OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES
CHAPTER 19-4000. INCOME INEQUALITY INITIATIVE - TAX LIABILITY REDUCTION ELIGIBILITY NOTIFICATION
CHAPTER 19-4100. SUGAR-SWEETENED BEVERAGE TAX
CHAPTER 19-4200. NEW SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES
CHAPTER 19-4300. MONTHLY RECONCILIATION REPORTING
CHAPTER 19-4400. DEVELOPMENT IMPACT TAX
CHAPTER 19-4500. ANNUAL REPORTING RELATING TO UNCLAIMED PROPERTY
CHAPTER 19-4600. LOW-INCOME TAX PROVISIONS
TITLE 20. OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
TITLE 21. MISCELLANEOUS
TITLE 22. PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT CODE
CHAPTER 19-1800. SCHOOL TAX AUTHORIZATION 373

 

Notes

373
   Added, 1963 Ordinances, p. 1298.
§ 19-1801. Authorization of Tax. 374
   (1)   The Board of Education of The School District of Philadelphia is authorized to impose an annual tax for school district purposes on real estate within the City of Philadelphia for the years 1964 through 2018 and thereafter. 375
   (2)   (a)   For each of the following years, the tax imposed by the Board of Education of the School District of Philadelphia shall be at the following respective rates on each one hundred dollars ($100) of assessed value of taxable real property as returned by the Board of Revisions of Taxes as the assessment made in the year immediately preceding the stated year: 376
Year of Tax   Tax Rate
1964 to 1965   $0.120
1966 to 1973   $0.425
1974   $0.825
1975 to 1976   $1.125
1977 to 1980   $1.225
1981 to 1983   $1.600
1984   $1.900
1985 to 1988   $2.295
1989 to 1990   $2.445
1991 to 2002   $2.844
2003 through 2007   $3.115
2008 through 2011   $3.284
2012   $3.634
      (b)   For tax year 2013, the tax imposed by the Board of Education of the School District of Philadelphia shall be at the rate of three dollars and sixty-three and four tenths cents ($3.634) on each one hundred dollars ($100) of the assessed value of taxable real property returned by the Office of Property Assessment or Board of Revision of Taxes for tax year 2011 (using the predetermined ratio of .32 then in effect), adjusted for subsequent improvements, demolition and destruction. 377
   (3)   For tax year 2014 and thereafter: 378
      (a.1)   For tax years 2014 and 2015, the Tax Rate shall be 0.7382%, or seventy-three and eighty-two hundredths cents ($0.7382) per one hundred dollars ($100).
      (a.2)   For tax year 2016 through tax year 2024, the Tax Rate shall be 0.7681%, or seventy-six and eighty-one hundredths cents ($0.7681) per one hundred dollars ($100) of Net Taxable Value.
      (a.3)   For tax year 2025 and thereafter, the Tax Rate shall be 0.7839%, or seventy-eight and thirty-nine hundredths cents ($0.7839), per one hundred dollars ($100) of Net Taxable Value.
      (b)   The tax imposed by the Board of Education shall be calculated, for all taxable real estate, by multiplying the Tax Rate by the Net Taxable Value of the property. Net Taxable Value shall be calculated by subtracting the amount of Homestead Exclusion, if any, provided for in Section 19-1301.2, from the assessed value of the property returned by the Office of Property Assessment in the year immediately preceding the tax year, but in no event may Net Taxable Value be less than zero.
   (4)   If the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania fails to provide legislation enabling City Council to enact Bill No. 131, introduced April 26, 1984, providing for the imposition of Business Privilege Taxes for Fiscal Year 1985, or if City Council fails to adopt Bill No. 131 for Fiscal Year 1985, the rate of tax shall be two dollars and four and one- half cents ($2.045) for the year 1985. 379
   (5)   In the event that a court of competent jurisdiction enters a final order from which all appeals have been exhausted, determining that City Council lacked the authority to impose this rate effective July 1, 1988 for the year 1989, the rate shall revert to two dollars and twenty-nine and one-half cents ($2.295) on each one hundred dollars ($100) of taxable real property for the year 1989. 380

 

Notes

374
   Amended, Bill No. 030013 (approved June 5, 2003). Section 2 of Bill No. 030013 provides: "The deletion from and addition to portions of Section 19-1801 of The Philadelphia Code effected by this Ordinance is not intended to change any rates of taxation or any other matter with respect to any tax year, but is intended only to restate those rates in a more easily readable form."
375
   Amended, 1964 Ordinances, p. 1223; amended, 1965 Ordinances, p. 1623; amended, 1966 Ordinances, p. 576; amended, 1967 Ordinances, p. 647; amended, 1968 Ordinances, p. 1558; amended, 1969 Ordinances, pp. 356 and 1079; amended, 1970 Ordinances, p. 742; amended, 1971 Ordinances, p. 798; amended, 1972 Ordinances, p. 405; amended, 1973 Ordinances, p. 509; amended, 1974 Ordinances, p. 550; amended, 1975 Ordinances, p. 477; amended, 1976 Ordinances, p. 546; amended, 1977 Ordinances, p. 587; amended, 1978 Ordinances, p. 803; amended, 1979 Ordinances, p. 917; amended, 1980 Ordinances, p. 491; amended, 1981 Ordinances, p. 873; amended, 1983 Ordinances, p. 1295; amended, 1983 Ordinances, p. 1077; amended, 1984 Ordinances, p. 621; amended, Bill No. 538 (approved June 5, 1985); amended, 1989 Ordinances, p. 764 (Bill No. 436). Section 2 of Bill No. 436 includes certain effective date provisions in the event of litigation. Amended, 1990 Ordinances, p. 622; amended, 1991 Ordinances, p. 431; amended, 1992 Ordinances, p. 545; amended, 1993 Ordinances, p. 628; amended, 1994 Ordinances, p. 800; amended, Bill No. 1050 (approved June 2, 1995), 1995 Ordinances, p. 606; amended, Bill No. 47 (approved June 19, 1996), 1996 Ordinances, p. 451; amended, Bill No. 970131 (approved April 3, 1997); amended, Bill No. 990026 (approved May 10, 1999); amended, Bill No. 000007 (approved April 11, 2000); amended, Bill No. 010011 (approved April 4, 2001); amended, Bill No. 030013 (approved June 5, 2003); amended, Bill No. 040259 (approved June 10, 2004); amended, Bill No. 050004 (approved May 19, 2005); amended, Bill No. 060004 (approved June 1, 2006); amended, Bill No. 070118 (approved June 13, 2007); amended, Bill No. 080158 (approved May 22, 2008); amended, Bill No. 090216 (approved May 27, 2009); amended, Bill No. 100120 (approved June 1, 2010); amended, Bill No. 110477 (approved June 24, 2011); amended, Bill No. 120175-AA (approved June 30, 2012); amended, Bill No. 130181 (approved June 25, 2013); amended, Bill No. 140148 (approved June 19, 2014); amended, Bill No. 150165 (approved June 18, 2015); amended, Bill No. 160174 (approved June 16, 2016); amended, Bill No. 170199 (approved June 14, 2017).
376
   Amended, Bill No. 070015-A (approved June 13, 2007). Section 3 of Bill No. 070015-A provides: "Effective Date. This ordinance shall take effect upon the filing by the School Reform Commission, no later than June 30, 2007, of a written explanation of how the additional School District funding that will result from this ordinance will be used, including the impact of such additional funding on each of the following: (a) early childhood education; (b) class size; (c) after school programs; (d) drop out prevention; and (e) school safety. Such written explanation shall be filed with the Chief Clerk of Council, with copies to the President and to all members of Council, and the Chief Clerk of Council shall publish notice of such filing in a newspaper of general circulation in the City. If no such written explanation is filed with the Chief Clerk of Council by June 30, 2007, then this ordinance shall be of no effect." The required explanation was filed with the Chief Clerk by the School Reform Commission on June 19, 2007. Amended, Bill No. 110477 (approved June 24, 2011); amended, Bill No. 120175-AA (approved June 30, 2012).
377
   Added, Bill No. 120175-AA (approved June 30, 2012).
378
   Added, Bill No. 120175-AA (approved June 30, 2012); amended, Bill No. 130181 (approved June 25, 2013); amended, Bill No. 150165 (approved June 18, 2015); amended, Bill No. 240180 (approved June 14, 2024).
379
   Bill No. 120175-AA (approved June 30, 2012) failed to renumber subsection; renumbered by Code editor.
380
   Bill No. 120175-AA (approved June 30, 2012) failed to renumber subsection; renumbered by Code editor.
§ 19-1801.1. Homestead Exclusion. 381
   (1)   Any homestead exclusion provided for by Section 19-1301.2 with respect to City real estate tax shall apply to the same extent and in like manner to any tax on real estate imposed by the Board of Education pursuant to Section 19-1801, above.

 

Notes

381
   Added, Bill No. 120175-AA (approved June 30, 2012).
§ 19-1802. Administration and Enforcement. 382
   (1)   Except where otherwise provided by law, the taxes imposed by the Board of Public Education of the School District of Philadelphia shall be levied, assessed and collected in accordance with all provisions, restrictions, rights of notice, appeals, interest, penalties and such other matters as are applicable to City taxes.

 

Notes

382
   Amended, 1980 Ordinances, p. 12.
§ 19-1803. Authorization of Gross Receipts Tax. 383
   (1)   The Board of Education of the School District of Philadelphia is authorized to impose a tax on annual receipts from business within the City as provided in the Act of May 23, 1949 (P.L. 1669), as amended to Act No. 246, approved November 16, 1967 (P.L. 504), for the calendar year 1970.

 

Notes

383
   Added, 1969 Ordinances, p. 1132.
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