Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s Online Tax System Goes Live After 10 Years, $100M

Published

2 years ago

December 10, 2022

(TNS) — It took ten years and $100 million, however lastly the Pennsylvania Division of Income has a web-based system that gives an entire view of every taxpayer’s tax obligations and funds.

The division introduced with the latest addition of enterprise taxes onto the system, it now has a totally built-in system for the taxes it collects and packages it administers accessible for all state taxpayers.

“This method is already used to course of private earnings tax returns and funds in addition to rebates on property taxes and lease for older residents and Pennsylvanians with disabilities,” stated Income Secretary Dan Hassell. “It has been very effectively acquired by the general public so we’re wanting ahead to increasing this useful resource for extra folks within the enterprise neighborhood.”

Warren Hudak Jr., who runs a Camp Hill accounting agency that focuses on serving small companies, stated his agency has logged about 20 hours on the system since its launch final Wednesday.

“By all measures, it is a house run,” he stated.

The system is intuitive, Hudak stated, and supplies real-time info, even permitting for companies to arrange installment and cost preparations with out involving a income division worker.

Among the many new enterprise taxes managed on what’s name the “myPath” system are employer withholding tax, gross sales and company taxes, which mixed make up a considerable portion of the income the state depends on to pay its payments and supply packages and companies.

The brand new system is a far cry from the one in use when Gov. Tom Wolf served because the state’s income secretary in 2007 and 2008. That system relied on COBOL, an outdated laptop language, which made it difficult to seek out staff who knew use it.

Amongst different shortcomings, it had varied tax sorts working on separate laptop programs that couldn’t talk with one another and it required staff to manually calculate curiosity owed on company tax accounts.

“I don’t suppose anyone even is aware of what COBOL is,” Wolf stated in an interview final week. “So it was actually necessary to get off of that … however I feel it’s additionally necessary to have a system that may join with the remainder of the state” authorities companies.

On the time the pc modernization mission was launched, Wolf stated he anticipated it could take 5 years, or to 2013, to finish.

However he admits, “there have been some matches and begins.”

The unique modernization mission required the profitable vendor, Accenture, a world expertise guide, to construct a system utilizing the identical software program program that different companies underneath the governor’s jurisdiction used to supply consistency.

“As time went on, it grew to become obvious that the software program product supplied by the seller wouldn’t meet the long-term objective of the company to maneuver all of our taxes into one built-in system,” stated Income spokesman Jeff Johnson.

All was not misplaced, although. Johnson stated Accenture produced a $43 million tax system, which was in use from 2013 till the switchover final week.

Hudak didn’t have a sort phrase to say in regards to the previous system.

“It was a nightmare in that system to only work out stuff,” he stated. “We’re accountants. They’re already killing us with coverage. The very last thing they should do is kill us with expertise. It was a double-edged sword. You couldn’t get stuff completed. Then they had been killing you with penalties.”

In 2018, the division entered right into a 10-year contract with Quick Enterprises LLC, one other international software program and data expertise firm.

However in contrast to the customized system that Accenture needed to construct to accommodate a software program requirement, Quick’s product is a “business off-the-shelf” answer, which Johnson stated means it’s simpler to put in and keep.

To this point, the state has spent $62.9 million on the contract with Quick Enterprises. Johnson stated the seller will present upkeep and help at a further value to make sure stability within the division’s tax administration whereas being conscious of taxpayers.

Johnson stated the state will save roughly $10 million not having to take care of the previous system.

Wolf stated a brand new laptop mission encountering hiccups was not surprising.

“Within the personal sector, I’ve by no means been a part of a pc implementation that has been completely excellent,” he stated.

After testing out the brand new system, Hudak considers the cash effectively spent.

He provides Wolf, Hassell and their groups excessive marks for lastly delivering a web-based tax system that he stated accomplishes one of many Wolf Administration’s tag strains: “authorities that works.”

Hudak stated, “I give them credit score for taking this and fixing a major problem the division had. That is getting the job completed.”

As a part of the transition, the income division is asking enterprise taxpayers to register for a brand new account. As soon as logged in, they are going to have the choice emigrate their present entry from the earlier system to the brand new one, in addition to have the choice to enter their present username and password to entry any account info on the previous system.

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Pennsylvania

How to be a poll worker in Pennsylvania

Published

1 hour ago

September 28, 2024

Press Room

Who can I contact if I have more questions?

You can call 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772) or email ra-voterreg@pa.gov with questions about the poll worker interest form. You can also reach out to your local county’s election office for more details. For the Greater Philadelphia area, the contacts are the following:

Bucks County

Elections & Voter Registration

55 E. Court St.

Doylestown, Pennsylvania, 18901

Phone: (215) 348-6154

Email: elections@buckscounty.org

Chester County

Elections

Karen Barsoum

Government Services Center

601 Westtown Road, Ste. 150

PO Box 2747

West Chester, Pennsylvania, 19380-0990

Phone: (610) 344-6410

Email: ccelectionofficials@chesco.org

Voter registration

Stephanie Saitis

Government Services Center

601 Westtown Rd., Ste. 150

PO Box 2747

West Chester, Pennsylvania, 19380-0990

Phone: (610) 344-6410

Email: ccelectionofficials@chesco.org

Delaware County

Elections

Laureen Hagan

Chief Clerk/Director

201 W. Front St.

Government Center Building

Media, Pennsylvania, 19063

Phone: (610) 891-4673

Email: DelcoElection@co.delaware.pa.us

Voter Registration

Crystal Winterbottom

Interim Voter Registration Director

201 W. Front St.

Government Center Building

Media, Pennsylvania, 19063

Phone: (610) 891-4659

Email: DelcoElection@co.delaware.pa.us

Montgomery County

Elections & Voter Registration

Montgomery County Voter Services

One Montgomery Plaza

425 Swede St., Suite 602

Norristown, Pennsylvania, 19401

Phone: (610) 278-3280

Email: montcovotes@montgomerycountypa.gov

Philadelphia County

Elections

Philadelphia County Board of Elections

142 City Hall

1400 JFK Blvd.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107

Phone: (215) 686-3469

Voter Registration

Voter Registration Office

520 N Columbus Blvd.

5th Floor

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19123

Phone: (215) 686-1590

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Pennsylvania

Remnants of Hurricane Helene will pass close to rainy Pennsylvania

Published

9 hours ago

September 28, 2024

Press Room

Remnants of Hurricane Helene will pass close to rainy Pennsylvania

Hurricane Helene hit Florida as a powerful Category 4 storm on Thursday, and while it’s weakened since, it’s still bringing heavy rain to some states.

The storm center isn’t tracking to Pennsylvania, according to the National Hurricane Center, but it will be close. Related flash-flood warnings have been issued in Ohio and West Virginia, and Pennsylvania will continue to get rain.

More: Statewide weather alerts

That includes the Harrisburg area, where it’s been raining all week — and more wet days are ahead. The National Weather Service forecast calls for rain in central Pennsylvania through at least early Wednesday.

Live radar over Pennsylvania:

On Saturday, the National Weather Service says, the Harrisburg area is expected to have rain on and off, especially in the morning. The Weather Channel shows less than a 20% chance of rain much of the day. The high temperature is forecast to be around in the low 70s.

Stevie Nicks is set to perform in Hershey tonight, at the outdoor stadium, rain or not. Anyone heading to other outdoor events should check for changes in plans or venues.

Hurricane Helene and its aftermath, September 2024

Helene has led to the deaths of at least 44 people in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Millions are without power, and countless buildings and roads have been destroyed or damaged.

The forecast in central Pennsylvania for the next few days:

Today: Showers, high 74, low 65
Sunday: Showers, high 69, low 63
Monday: Showers, high 69, low 61
Tuesday: Rain, high 68, low 59

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Pennsylvania

Busy on phone Pennsylvania dad arrested after toddler, 2, shoots self with gun lying on bed

Published

17 hours ago

September 28, 2024

Press Room

Busy on phone Pennsylvania dad arrested after toddler, 2, shoots self with gun lying on bed

Luis Marin, a Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, father was recently taken into custody after his two-year-old son shot himself with a gun that was lying close to him.

Luis Marin, a 34-year-old Pennsylvania father, was arrested on September 25, 2024, and subsequently arraigned in connection with a May incident. His toddler shot himself with a gun left on the bed in May.(Montgomery County Press Release)

The 34-year-old man turned himself over to the police on Wednesday, September 25. He was subsequently arrested on charges of felony endangering the welfare of a child and recklessly endangering another person for allegedly leaving a loaded firearm unattended on his bed, which his toddler used to shoot himself. The frightening incident happened at home in Pottstown on May 15.

Marin was purportedly “playing on phone” as the horrifying incident transpired, The Mirror US reported. In a subsequent investigation, authorities found out that the man went to a bedroom on the second floor before the shooting. He was there to collect a crossbody bag he was going to lend his nephew. Marin’s two handguns and ear protection, which he put on the bed, were usually kept in the same bag.

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Injuries sustained by the two-year-old toddler who shot himself

After the two-year-old shot himself, his father quickly grabbed him and ran outside while applying pressure to the wound. During that time, the toddler’s mother also arrived home and his parents rushed him to Pottstown Hospital. He eventually transferred to Lehigh Valley Hospital. The staff later told the police, who were called just before 5 pm, that the baby’s self-inflicted gunshot had resulted in broken ribs and a fractured scapula.

The harrowing development had also damaged his left lung. Other injuries included burnt skin, which was also stippled, suggesting the gun had been in close contact with his skin when he shot himself.

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The way forward: What awaits Pennsylvania father Luis Marin who left a gun on the bed

Despite the heart-rending injuries, the two-year-old baby has survived the gunshot, District Attorney Kevin Steele revealed in a statement. “This shooting is a frightening reminder to parents that children, even very young children, can and do find unsecured firearms in a home, and their inclination is to play with them,” he added.

Meanwhile, a preliminary hearing for the infant’s father has been scheduled for October 8, 2024. If found guilty, Marin could face five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. For the time being, Magisterial District Judge Jody L. Griffis set his bail at $50,000 unsecured and demanded that no firearms be held in Marin’s house.

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