Senate Panel Approves Martin Bill to Extend Emergency Relief for Local Taxpayers

HARRISBURG – The Senate Education Committee unanimously approved a bill today sponsored by Senator Scott Martin (R-13) that would help more local taxpayers benefit from school property tax discounts and extended payment deadlines.

Senate Bill 1125 would give each school district the option to extend property tax discount periods and remove penalties for late payments through June 30, 2021. The bill would give school districts the power to help more taxpayers who are struggling financially in the wake of the COVID-19 public health emergency, Martin said.

“Millions of Pennsylvanians are still out of work due to Governor Wolf’s shutdown orders, and hundreds of thousands of them haven’t been able to access unemployment benefits because of flaws in the system. It has never been more important to offer assistance and flexibility for taxpayers,” Martin said. “It is encouraging to see this bill moving forward to give school boards the ability to offer a helping hand to those who need it most.” 

The bill mirrors a law that Martin authored in April that allows counties and municipalities to provide property tax relief to taxpayers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The law gives county and municipal governments the option to extend deadlines for property tax discount rates to any date up until August 31, and waive any fee or penalty for late payments of property taxes if paid in full by the end of the year.

Senate Bill 1125 was sent to the full Senate for consideration.

CONTACT:   Terry Trego (717) 787-6535

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