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BillENACTED

Bill 240087-A

Amending Chapter 9-600 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Service and Other Businesses”, by adding a new section regulating the operation of establishments providing tax preparation services and providing for remedies, all under certain terms and conditions.

Introduced Feb 8, 2024Committee on Commerce & Economic DevelopmentOfficial record: City of Philadelphia via Legistar

Introduced by

Councilmember LandauCouncilmember LandauCouncilmember BrooksCouncilmember BrooksCouncilmember HarrityCouncilmember HarrityCouncilmember YoungCouncilmember YoungCouncilmember O'RourkeCouncilmember O'RourkeCouncilmember GauthierCouncilmember GauthierCouncilmember JonesCouncilmember JonesCouncilmember DriscollCouncilmember Driscoll

How members voted

  1. Vote on May 16, 2024 · CITY COUNCIL

    Aye (15)

    Councilmember BassCouncilmember BrooksCouncilmember DriscollCouncilmember GauthierCouncilmember Gilmore RichardsonCouncilmember HarrityCouncilmember JonesCouncilmember LozadaCouncilmember PhillipsCouncilmember SquillaCouncilmember ThomasCouncilmember LandauCouncilmember O'RourkeCouncilmember YoungCouncil President Johnson

    Absent (1)

    Councilmember O'Neill

From the floor

Passages in the official transcripts that cite this file number. Every quote links to its exact place in the record.

  1. “… 29, 2024 I signed the following bills which were passed by Council at its session on May 16, 2024: Bill No. 240087-A, Bill No. 240247-A and Bill No. 240281; and A resolution appointing Brianna Wilkins to the Board of Directors for the Old City Special Services District. Council President, there are no other communications in my possession.”

    Chief Clerk · Stated Meeting, May 30, 2024 · May 30, 2024 · official transcript, this passage

  2. “… already past due, meaning we have no idea where 300 billion of our tax dollars was spent on. Under Bill 240087-A, the Department of Revenue would provide information publicly regarding no cost tax services provided by the City and other legal aid services. I'm wondering if any anti-war tax workshops will be illustrated in these announcements, the kinds that teach people how to withhold their federal taxes in protest…”

    Ms. Perez · Stated Meeting, May 16, 2024 · May 16, 2024 · official transcript, this passage

  3. “…l members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. Will the Clerk please read the title of Bill No. 240087-A. Yeah. I just counted that too, correct. For the record, that's 13 on Bill No. 240281 -- I'm sorry; 14 on Bill No. 240281. Will the Clerk please read the 5/16/24 - STATED - 2ND READING title of Bill 240087-A.”

    Council President Johnson · Stated Meeting, May 16, 2024 · May 16, 2024 · official transcript, this passage

  4. “… already past due, meaning we have no idea where 300 billion of our tax dollars was spent on. Under Bill 240087-A, the Department of Revenue would provide information publicly regarding no cost tax services provided by the City and other legal aid services. I'm wondering if any anti-war tax workshops will be illustrated in these announcements, the kinds that teach people how to withhold their federal taxes in protest…”

    Ms. Perez · Stated Meeting, April 16, 2024 · Apr 16, 2024 · official transcript, this passage

  5. “…l members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. Will the Clerk please read the title of Bill No. 240087-A. Yeah. I just counted that too, correct. For the record, that's 13 on Bill No. 240281 -- I'm sorry; 14 on Bill No. 240281. Will the Clerk please read the 5/16/24 - STATED - 2ND READING title of Bill 240087-A.”

    Council President Johnson · Stated Meeting, April 16, 2024 · Apr 16, 2024 · official transcript, this passage

Status timeline

  1. Feb 8, 2024
    Introduced and Referred · CITY COUNCIL

    This Bill was Introduced.

  2. Mar 20, 2024
    HEARING NOTICES SENT · Committee on Commerce & Economic Development

    This Bill was HEARING NOTICES SENT.

  3. Mar 20, 2024
    REPORTED FAVORABLY, RULE SUSPENSION REQUESTED · Committee on Commerce & Economic Development

    This Bill was REPORTED FAVORABLY, RULE SUSPENSION REQUESTED.

  4. Mar 20, 2024
    HEARING HELD · Committee on Commerce & Economic Development

    This Bill was HEARING HELD.

  5. Mar 21, 2024
    SUSPEND THE RULES OF THE COUNCIL · CITY COUNCIL

    This Bill was SUSPEND THE RULES OF THE COUNCIL.

  6. Mar 21, 2024
    READ AND ORDERED PLACED ON NEXT WEEK'S SECOND READING CALENDAR · CITY COUNCIL

    This Bill was READ AND ORDERED PLACED ON NEXT WEEK'S SECOND READING CALENDAR.

  7. Mar 21, 2024
    ORDERED PLACED ON THIS DAY`S FIRST READING CALENDAR · CITY COUNCIL

    This Bill was ORDERED PLACED ON THIS DAY`S FIRST READING CALENDAR.

  8. May 9, 2024
    READ · CITY COUNCIL

    This Bill was READ.

  9. May 9, 2024
    AMENDED · CITY COUNCIL

    This Bill was AMENDED.

  10. May 9, 2024
    ORDERED PLACED ON FINAL PASSAGE CALENDAR FOR NEXT MEETING. · CITY COUNCIL

    The Bill was ORDERED PLACED ON FINAL PASSAGE CALENDAR FOR NEXT MEETING.

  11. May 16, 2024
    READ AND PASSED · CITY COUNCIL

    Recorded result: Pass

    A motion was made that this Bill be READ AND PASSED. The motion carried by the following vote:

  12. May 29, 2024
    SIGNED · MAYOR

    This Bill was SIGNED.

Official documents

Documents open on the City of Philadelphia’s legislative site.

Full text

Read the full text as published

..Title Amending Chapter 9-600 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Service and Other Businesses", by adding a new section regulating the operation of establishments providing tax preparation services and providing for remedies, all under certain terms and conditions. ..Body THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS: SECTION 1. Chapter 9-600 of The Philadelphia Code is hereby amended as follows: CHAPTER 9-600. SERVICE AND OTHER BUSINESSES * * * � 9-630. [Reserved] Tax Preparation Services. (1) Definitions. (a) Tax Preparation Services Provider. An individual or business involved in providing a service to consumers involving preparation of, federal, state, or City tax returns or related filings. (b) Consumer. An individual or couple filing taxes jointly or a business consisting of a self-employed person, but not including a business with one or more employees other than the business owner. (2) Authorization. (a) The Department of Revenue shall provide information on its publicly-available webpage, in a prominent location, concerning the availability of no cost tax preparation services provided by the City, Commonwealth, Federal Government, registered non-profit organizations and legal aid services. (3) Prohibited Conduct. (a) No Tax Preparation Services Provider shall provide service to a consumer unless: (.1) The Tax Preparation Service Provider has provided a listing of the cost of the services offered to the consumer and any additional fees that may be charged; and (.2) Such consumer has acknowledged receipt of such information by providing evidence of receipt, such as signing a copy of such document, or digitally certifying awareness of the cost of services; and (4) Remedies. a. The penalty for a violation of this Section shall be a fine of $500 for each offense. b. Any person aggrieved by a Tax Preparation Services Provider's violation of this Section 9-630 shall have a right of action against such Provider and may recover for each such violation: (.1) Actual damages; (.2) Reasonable attorney's fees and court costs; (.3) Such other relief, including injunctive relief, as the court may deem appropriate. * * * SECTION 2. This Ordinance shall take effect November 1, 2024. ..End