articlesTaming the Dragon - A Practical Guide to The Pennsylvania Local Earned Income Tax
Compiled by Robert W. Ditmer, CPP
In the legend of Hercules, Hercules had to perform a number of labors. In the second labor he was faced with the task of defeating the Hydra, a dragon with nine heads, one of which was immortal. If he cut off one of the heads, it immediately grew back two heads, thus multiplying the difficulty of his task. Well, to many payroll professionals, dealing with the Pennsylvania Local Earned Income Tax is like dealing with the Hydra. It has so many heads that seem to multiply with each new employee.
But dealing with the Earned Income Tax (EIT) does not have to be like fighting an uncontrollable dragon. It is possible to tame the dragon and gain control. In this guide we will try to clear away the confusion as well as provide practical direction for administering the withholding and remitting of the local EIT. And the material in this guide has national scope because the the Pennsylvania Earned Income Tax affects every employer who operates in or has employees working in Pennsylvania
What Is the Earned Income Tax?
What Income Is Subject to the Earned Income Tax?
Who Is Subject to the Earned Income Tax?
Who Collects the Local Earned Income Tax?
What Are the Employer's Obligations?
A Practical Guide to the Procedures for Complying With the EIT Regulations
What If a Business Fails to Register and Withhold Local Pennsylvania Taxes?
What Additional Resources are Available? Conclusion.
Addendum - A Brief Word on the Emergency and Municipal Services Tax (EMST)
Robert W. Ditmer, CPP, is the owner of RWD Financial Support Service, located in Raleigh, North Carolina. Mr. Ditmer provides support and consulting services in the areas of bookkeeping, accounting, payroll and human resources. With over 25 years of experience Mr. Ditmer has worked in a wide variety of industries, and he worked as a Controller in four different businesses including a land planning/landscape architecture firm in Philadelphia, PA, a private dining and catering facility in Wilmington, DE, an IT support company in Glastonbury, CT, and a commercial construction management firm in Columbia, MD. Mr. Ditmer has also spoken at conferences and provided training on various issues, and he has written a number of articles in the field of payroll and payroll taxation. He is a member of the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers and the American Payroll Association, and qualified as a Certified Payroll Professional in 2000. He can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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