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Tag: Pennsylvania Department of Revenue

Federal liens filed against Patriot Water Heater Co., Spectrum Coatings LLC and more

Federal 

The following federal liens were filed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service: 

Dauphin County 

TLC Construction & Renovation LLC, 1821 Fulton St., Suite 202, Harrisburg, 17102, amount: $12,375. 

Lancaster County 

Patriot Water Heater Co., 2284 Kirkwood Pike, Kirkwood, 17536, amount: $139,704; 

Kats Auction Service, 140 Auction Road, Manheim, 17545, amount: $164,755; 

Spectrum Coatings LLC, 921 Rabbit Hill Road, Lititz, 17543, amount: $20,515; 

Pure Air Heating and Cooling LLC, 13 Country Lane, Millersville, 175501, amount: $20,605. 

York County 

RA Residential LLC, 7086 Jackson Drive, Seven Valleys, 17360, amount: $29,327; 

Andonia Enterprises LLC, 109 S. Duke St., York, 17401, amount: $5,087; 

Ward Building Solutions, an LLC, 1615 Condor Lane, Dover, 17315, amount: $154,526; 

C.W. Brawbaugh Construction Inc., 400 S. Winding Road, Dover, 17315, amount: $11,267. 

State 

The following liens were filed in Cumberland County by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue: 

Central Pennsylvania Pulmonary Associates, 101 Old Schoolhouse Lane, Floor 2, Mechanicsburg, 17055, amount: $27,270; 

Baron Air LLC, P.O. Box 3159, Shiremanstown, 17011, amount: $23,701; 

Cumberland Medical Properties LLC, P.O. Box 668, Carlisle, 17013, amount: $20,832; 

Commonwealth of Pa. Metrology Lab, Room G-44A, 22nd and Forster streets, Harrisburg, 17125, amount: $20,495; 

Juba Halal Market LLC, 5247 Simpson Ferry Road, Mechanicsburg, 17050, amount: $9,875; 

R&R Repair LLC, 591 Willow Grove Road, Carlisle, 17015, amount: $15,423; 

Boyd & Enriquez Auto LLC, 200 N. Walnut St., Mechanicsburg, 17055, amount: $15,491; 

Lilfresh1215 LLC, 1251 Harrisburg Pike, Carlisle, 17013, amount: $15,874; 

The following liens were filed in Dauphin County by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue: 

Omega Products Inc., 6291 Lyters Lane, Harrisburg, 17111, amount: $22,568; 

N&R Group LLC, 6303 Allentown Blvd., Harrisburg, 17112, amount: $22,148; 

All-Star Property Management and Maintenance, 3130 Walnut St., Harrisburg, 17109, $16,751; 

HFC Pizza LLC, 3828 Union Deposit Road, Harrisburg, 17109, amount: $175.99; 

Labs Design LLC, 1737 Susquehanna St., Harrisburg, 17102, amount: $2,500; 

Au Bon Lieu Harrisburg LLC, 1 N. Third St., Harrisburg, 17101, amount: $6,292; 

Choukri Auto Services LLC, 1539 Walnut St., Harrisburg, 17103, amount: $649; 

Dania’s Kitchen LLC, 316 N. Second St., First Floor, Harrisburg, 17101, amount: $1,952. 

The following liens were filed in Lancaster County by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue: 

Gerhart Northwest Co., 910 Brunnerville Road, P.O. Box 405, Lititz, 17543, amount: $2,381; 

Laura Rich Associates LLC, 1405 Lancaster Pike, Lot C, Quarryville, 17566, amount: $2,028; 

Brick House Café, 60 N. Main St., Manheim, 17545, amount: $7,324; 

Lancaster Health Center, 304 N. Water St., Lancaster, 17603, amount: $5,451; 

J&J Asphalt LLC, 178 Graybill Road, Leola, 17540, amount: $9,103; 

The Property Examiners Inc., 519 Front St., Lititz, 17543, amount: $10,646; 

Nolt Mathis LLC, 404 Campbell Lane, New Holland, 17557, amount: $1,000; 

Smoker Door Sales LLC, 87 N. Kinzer Road, Kinzers, 17535, amount: $180,060; 

HAS Counseling Inc., 321 N. Market St., Lancaster, 17603, amount: $41,255; 

Proquality Group LLC, 338 Ridge Drive, Ephrata, 17522, amount: $1,033. 

Compiled from Office of the Prothonotary records by Paula Wolf 

‘Revenue department’ fraudsters scamming Pa. Businesses

Businesses in Pennsylvania are being warned that scam artists may be preying on them. 

According to the Pa. Department of Revenue, the scammers are impersonating the department by sending Pennsylvania business owners fraudulent letters in the mail, which direct them to turn over their accounting records.  

The goal of this ploy, according to the department, is to trick unsuspecting taxpayers into providing sensitive financial information, which the criminals behind the scheme can use for a number of illicit activities that could seriously harm a business’ financial standing.   

“This is a prime example of fraudsters impersonating a government agency as they try to convince hardworking Pennsylvanians to turn over sensitive information about their businesses,” Revenue Secretary Dan Hassell said. “We are urging Pennsylvania business owners to be on high alert if they receive a suspicious notice that includes the Department of Revenue name and logo. If you have any doubt at all about the legitimacy of a notice from the department, please use the contact information listed on our website, revenue.pa.gov. This is the best way to ensure you are speaking with a legitimate staff member at the Department of Revenue.” 

He said the goal of this scam is to make the recipient of the letter believe they are being investigated by the Department of Revenue for an “alleged violation of delinquent sales tax liability.”  

The letter also threatens taxpayers by saying penalties will be imposed on their accounts. Further, the letter includes contact information for a “Resolution Officer” and urges the business owner to provide accounting records prepared by a licensed professional, such as an attorney or CPA. 

Providing this information allows the scammers to comb through the accounting records for sensitive information such as bank account numbers and other financial data, which could be used to make unauthorized transactions, request fraudulent tax refunds, and even apply for loans under the name of the business. 

Although these counterfeit notices bear the department’s name and logo, the notices include suspicious and inaccurate details that can help differentiate between a counterfeit notice sent by a scam artist and a legitimate notice sent by the Department of Revenue, he said.  

There are signs that business professionals can look out for according to the department: 

  • The counterfeit notice does not include a return address. A notice from the Department of Revenue will always include an official Department of Revenue address as the return address.
  • The counterfeit notice addresses the recipient as “Dear Business Owner.” When the Department of Revenue attempts to contact a business through a notice in the mail, the notice typically addresses the business owner or business name.
  • The counterfeit notice is sent by the “Pennsylvania Department of Revenue Tax Investigation & Enforcement Unit” and claims the business is “under investigation by the Pennsylvania State Revenue and Cash Disbursement Unit.” While the department does conduct criminal tax investigations and tax enforcement, the units listed on the counterfeit notice are phony. Reach out to the department directly, as advised below, to determine if the “Unit” named exists.
  • The counterfeit notice claims that the business has not registered their “entity with the Pennsylvania Department of State and The Sales and Use Tax Division.” If you are an established business in Pennsylvania, it is likely that you already registered your business with the Pennsylvania Department of State and have registered for a sales tax license by completing the Department of Revenue’s PA Online Business Entity Registration (PA-100).

The Department of Revenue is encouraging Pennsylvania businesses to keep the following tips in mind to safeguard against this scam: 

  • Ensure You Are Speaking With Legitimate Representatives of the Department: This scam uses the Department of Revenue’s name and logo to pose as a government entity. If you have any doubt at all about the legitimacy of a notice from the department, you should reach out to a department representative by using the Online Customer Service Center. This allows the taxpayer to securely submit a question through a process that is very similar to sending an email. 
  • Examine the Notice: This counterfeit notice used vague language to cast a wide net to lure in as many victims as possible. Examine the notice for identifying information that can be verified. Look for blatant factual errors and other inconsistencies. If the notice is unexpected and demands immediate action, take a moment, and verify its legitimacy. 
  • Conduct Research Online: Use the information in a potentially counterfeit notice, such as a name, address or telephone number, to conduct a search online. The Department of Revenue’s website, revenue.pa.gov, is the best source to verify information contained in a legitimate notice from the department.  

Anyone concerned about a fraudulent notification can visit the department’s Verifying contact by the Department of Revenue webpage for verified phone numbers and contact information. This will help individuals know they are speaking with a legitimate representative of the department. 

 

Revenue department extends personal income tax return deadline

Taxpayers in the commonwealth have an extra 90 days to file their 2019 Pennsylvania personal income tax returns, as the deadline has been extended from April 15 to July 15.

Penalties and interest on 2019 personal income tax payments have also been waived through this new deadline, according to a recent announcement from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.

State revenue department officials announced changes last week to the due date for filing personal income tax returns amid Gov. Tom Wolf’s mandated closure of non-life-sustaining business operations to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The extension falls in line with the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS’s) extension of the federal filing of tax returns to July 15.

“This is a necessary step that will give Pennsylvania taxpayers extra time to file their returns and make tax payments during a difficult time for everyone,” said state Revenue Secretary Dan Hassell. “Particularly for those who plan to meet with a tax professional to prepare their returns, the new deadline will help everyone follow the governor’s guidance to stay at home as we all work to prevent the spread of the virus.”

State revenue department officials are still urging taxpayers who are able to file their returns electronically to do so, which will enable the department to continue to process returns while commonwealth offices are closed.

 

State revenue up for the year, down for December

The state took in $2.9 billion in general fund revenue last month, which was $91.5 million short of projections, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue reported.

But even though December’s numbers were roughly 3.1% below expectations, Revenue Secretary C. Daniel Hassell said year-to-date general fund collections of $15.6 billion, $75 million, or 0.5%, above estimates.

Highlights from the December report included:

  • Sales tax receipts: $981.4 million, $6.7 million below estimates. Year-to-date total: $5.8 billion, up $42.7 million, or 0.7%.
  • Personal income tax revenue: $1 billion, up $18.9 million. Year-to-date PIT collection: $6.2 billion, up $93 million, or 1.5%.
  • Corporation tax revenue: $542.2 million, $80.7 million below estimates. Year-to-date: $1.7 billion, down $126.7 million, or 7.1%.
  • Inheritance tax revenue: $94.7 million, $7.7 million below estimates. Year-to-date: $555.7 million, up $14.3 million, or 2.6%.
  • Realty transfer tax: $53.4 million, down $6.1 million. Fiscal-year total: $281 million, down $2.8 million, or 1%.
  • Cigarette, malt beverage, liquor and gaming taxes: $183.2 million, down $1.9 million. Year-to-date: $930.6 million, down $3.4 million, or 0.4%.
  • Non-tax revenue: $24.2 million, down $7.3 million. Year-to-date: $261.5 million, up $57.8 million, or 28.4.
  • In addition to the general fund collections, the Motor License Fund received $206.3 million, up $8.4 million. Year-to-date: the fund, which includes gas and diesel taxes, licenses, fines and fee revenues, $1.4 billion, down $5.8 million, or 0.4%.