City of Pittsburgh Income Tax (Philadelphia, Plum: houses, schools, property taxes)

[Kippy]

As I understand it, if you live within the city limits of Pittsburgh, you pay an additional 3% income tax. However, I am confused as to what counts as "the city limits." If you live out in Plum Boro, but your address is "Pittsburgh, PA," would you be subject to the additional city income tax?

[chelez613]

Plum Boro is an area that uses a Pittsburgh zip code to process mail but it is not within the city limits. You would pay whatever Plum's income tax rate is, which from what I found online is 1%.

[bbrian12]

just another reason for people to move out of the city
the wage tax is 3%
that is triple what i pay in the suburbs

and let us not forget the mayor murphy tax
the 52$ a year privlige tax

[BrianTH]

Unfortunately, our mailing addresses and zipcodes aren't a lot of use in determining which city we live in (in fact I've lived in three different cities with the same zipcode).

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by bbrian12

just another reason for people to move out of the city
the wage tax is 3%
that is triple what i pay in the suburbs

Not that most people in the suburbs want to hear this, but that is a good reason for increased incorporation at the county level or higher. To put it bluntly, the suburbs are basically free-riding on the City, the health of which is essential to the region as a whole.

And for what it is worth, I am a beneficiary of the status quo, since we live just outside the City and thus enjoy a lower wage tax. But I still don't think it is fair.

[Geeo]

Also, residents of the city receive sanitation service with recyclable and bulk pickup, professional firefighters, an extensive police department, EMS, and lots of other services for their taxes. In lots of suburbs, people pay separately for garbage service, depend on volunteer fire companies, and pay separately for EMS service. I'm not sure that it's not a wash in the end.

[Tinare]

Originally Posted by Geeo

Also, residents of the city receive sanitation service with recyclable and bulk pickup, professional firefighters, an extensive police department, EMS, and lots of other services for their taxes. In lots of suburbs, people pay separately for garbage service, depend on volunteer fire companies, and pay separately for EMS service. I'm not sure that it's not a wash in the end.

Also property taxes are lower if you own. I live in the city on the border with Dormont, and I know that equivalently-priced houses that I looked at in Dormont would have had property taxes that were twice as high.

[tim18184]

hey guys i`m loking for a house or apartament in u`r city help me please!!!!!!!!!

[pman]

Originally Posted by Tinare

Also property taxes are lower if you own. I live in the city on the border with Dormont, and I know that equivalently-priced houses that I looked at in Dormont would have had property taxes that were twice as high.

interesting. the same phenomenon is occurring in the Philadelphia area. as the wage tax in Philadelphia (3.98%, once as high as 4.95%) declines and the taxes in nearby suburbs increase in property, it's now actually cheaper for families of middle class means to live in the city (though there are other reason not to live in the city, such as schools). It sounds like the city has one big price tag while other places nickel and dime you. also, is Pitt's tax a wage tax or an income tax? any deductions?

[cooper10]

In Houston, Texas - the 4th largest city in the US - there is no city wage tax, and no state income tax. So why on earth am I planning to move to Pittsburgh? I must be OUTTA MY MIND!!! I can't believe there is a tax on your wages from both the city and the state. WOW!!!!