Philadelphia Business Privilege Tax

Resolving Municipal Business Privilege Tax Problems

If you have questions about personal or business tax liability, or if you're involved with one of the many businesses facing trouble with Philadelphia's city Business Privilege Tax (BPT), contact municipal tax lawyer Joseph Gembala. With an M.B.A. in Finance and Management, he is closely familiar with the tax problems that many Pennsylvania and New Jersey businesses commonly encounter.

Over the last 15 years, many of the firm's clients have needed representation for problems relating to the city BPT. Unique among major American cities, Philadelphia's Business Privilege Tax represents a levy on both gross receipts and net profits for most private-sector business activity conducted within the city, whether or not the business itself is located here.

Real estate brokers, architects, home improvement contractors, licensed professionals, and other small businesses based in suburban Philadelphia or southern New Jersey often lack the business license required for their contracts in the city, and they're often found out when their Philadelphia clients deduct the BPT for the project from their own state and federal tax returns. Our experience with Philadelphia Business Privilege Tax problems can help you resolve enforcement actions on terms you can live with.

At Joseph A. Gembala III, Esq. & Associates, we represent businesses, in addition to those located outside of Philadelphia, that find themselves facing Philadelphia Municipal Court proceedings to enforce and collect city Business Privilege Tax revenues. With the interest and penalties that can also be levied, your total exposure on BPT liabilities is generally triple the amount originally owed.

Philadelphia business tax attorney Joseph Gembala can help with the resolution of BPT problems and other local tax collection situations, such as the Philadelphia Net Profit Tax. Whether your solution will involve proof of payment, adjusting your returns, a dispute as to the amount, an offer in compromise, or even invoking the innocent spouse defense, Joseph A. Gembala III, Esq. & Associates, can identify constructive alternatives for dealing with the Philadelphia Department of Revenue. For further information about our firm's ability to resolve or at least significantly reduce your municipal tax problem, contact us in Philadelphia.