Northwest PA News

The Pennsylvania Senate has approved legislation aimed at improving the tax appeals process managed by the Pennsylvania Board of Finance and Revenue (BF&R). The bill, sponsored by Senator Scott Hutchinson, is set to be signed into law.

Hutchinson explained that the current law does not grant BF&R the authority to oversee a formal settlement process when appropriate. "Senate Bill 1051 modifies the appeals process to encourage settlements," he stated. This change aims to resolve more appeals without requiring a final board decision or involving Commonwealth Court.

The bill provides BF&R with the authority to direct mediation processes, which is expected to reduce litigation costs for taxpayers and enable quicker resolution of tax issues. Hutchinson emphasized that this will allow Pennsylvania to collect tax liabilities faster and allocate resources towards more complex cases.

Treasurer Stacy Garrity expressed support for the legislation, stating, "This will make tax appeals much more fair for Pennsylvania families and businesses." She added that these reforms would remove bureaucratic obstacles and streamline the appeal process. Garrity thanked Hutchinson for his efforts in creating an equitable system for taxpayers.

According to estimates from the Pennsylvania Treasury Department, up to 500 appeals from individuals and businesses could benefit from this improved mediated appeals process.

Hutchinson acknowledged the support of Treasurer Garrity and others in promoting fairness in dealing with the Department of Revenue across Pennsylvania.