Committee hears bills to modernize local tax collection notices and allow recovery of collection costs for business and county taxes

The House Finance Committee held a public hearing in Harrisburg on two related measures, House Bill 852 and House Bill 853, that would change how local taxes are collected and how collection costs are recovered.

Representative Joe Webster, sponsor and member of the committee, described HB 852 as a targeted modernization that “removes the requirement for a certified letter from the tax collector to the delinquent taxpayer.” He said the change responds to delivery problems in gated communities and multifamily housing and intends to reduce inadvertent delinquencies caused by reliance on certified mail.

Why it matters: Sponsors and testifiers said the measures aim to help municipalities and contracted tax collectors collect taxes already due while reducing procedural burdens on taxpayers who may not receive certified mail. Supporters said the change could increase…