Asked about Pennsylvania sales and use tax, PA DOR filings, Pennsylvania clothing exemption, Philadelphia sales tax, Allegheny County tax, or any request involving Pennsylvania state sales and use tax compliance.
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Quick Reference
| Field | Value | |---|---| | State | Pennsylvania | | Tax | Sales and Use Tax (state + local) | | State rate | 6.00% | | Local rates | Philadelphia 2.00%; Allegheny County 1.00% | | Maximum combined rate | 8.00% (Philadelphia) | | Sourcing | Destination-based | | Primary legislation | Tax Reform Code of 1971, Article II (72 P.S. 7201 et seq.) | | Tax authority | Pennsylvania Department of Revenue (PA DOR) | | Filing portal | https://www.revenue.pa.gov | | Return form | PA-3 | | SST member | No | | Economic nexus | $100,000 in gross sales (effective July 1, 2019) | | Contributor | Open Accountants Community | | Validated by | Pending -- requires PA CPA or EA sign-off | | Skill version | 2.0 |
Taxability Quick Matrix
| Item | Taxable? | Notes | |---|---|---| | Tangible personal property | YES | Default taxable | | SaaS / cloud software | YES | Taxable as canned software; custom software exempt | | Grocery food | NO | Most food for home consumption exempt | | Clothing | NO | Most clothing exempt (key PA distinction) | | General services | NO | Most services exempt unless specifically enumerated | | Repair/maintenance of TPP | YES | Taxable | | Cleaning services (commercial) | YES | Taxable | | Digital products | YES | Taxable (digital downloads) | | Manufacturing equipment | NO | Exempt (directly used in manufacturing) |
Conservative Defaults
| Ambiguity | Default | |---|---| | Product taxability unknown | Taxable | | Clothing item unclear | Exempt (most clothing is exempt in PA) | | Custom vs canned software unknown | Taxable (canned) | | Philadelphia or Allegheny unclear | State rate only (6%) |
Minimum viable inputs
Nexus confirmation, PA sales tax license, filing frequency, products/services sold, whether selling into Philadelphia or Allegheny County.
Recommended inputs
Sales by jurisdiction, exemption certificates, prior PA-3 returns.
Quick Reference
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| State | Pennsylvania |
| Tax | Sales and Use Tax (state + local) |
| State rate | 6.00% |
| Local rates | Philadelphia 2.00%; Allegheny County 1.00% |
| Maximum combined rate | 8.00% (Philadelphia) |
| Sourcing | Destination-based |
| Primary legislation | Tax Reform Code of 1971, Article II (72 P.S. 7201 et seq.) |
| Tax authority | Pennsylvania Department of Revenue (PA DOR) |
| Filing portal | https://www.revenue.pa.gov |
| Return form | PA-3 |
| SST member | No |
| Economic nexus | $100,000 in gross sales (effective July 1, 2019) |
| Contributor | Open Accountants Community |
| Validated by | Pending -- requires PA CPA or EA sign-off |
| Skill version | 2.0 |
Taxability Quick Matrix
| Item | Taxable? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tangible personal property | YES | Default taxable |
| SaaS / cloud software | YES | Taxable as canned software; custom software exempt |
| Grocery food | NO | Most food for home consumption exempt |
| Clothing | NO | Most clothing exempt (key PA distinction) |
| General services | NO | Most services exempt unless specifically enumerated |
| Repair/maintenance of TPP | YES | Taxable |
| Cleaning services (commercial) | YES | Taxable |
| Digital products | YES | Taxable (digital downloads) |
| Manufacturing equipment | NO | Exempt (directly used in manufacturing) |
Conservative Defaults
| Ambiguity | Default |
|---|---|
| Product taxability unknown | Taxable |
| Clothing item unclear | Exempt (most clothing is exempt in PA) |
| Custom vs canned software unknown | Taxable (canned) |
| Philadelphia or Allegheny unclear | State rate only (6%) |
Taxable Sales
| Pattern | Treatment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Electronics / hardware | Taxable at combined rate | TPP |
| SaaS subscription (canned) | Taxable | Canned software |
| Repair services for TPP | Taxable | Enumerated service |
| Cleaning services | Taxable | Enumerated |
| Digital downloads | Taxable |
Exempt Sales
| Pattern | Treatment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing (most) | Exempt | PA exempts most clothing |
| Grocery food (most) | Exempt | Food for home consumption |
| Custom software | Exempt | Designed for specific customer |
| Prescription medicine | Exempt | |
| Resale with certificate | Exempt | REV-1220 |
Input: Retailer sells electronics for $1,000 in Philadelphia. Rate: 8.00% (6% + 2%).
Classification: Tax = $80.00. Total = $1,080.00.
Input: Retailer sells $200 jacket in Pittsburgh (Allegheny County).
Reasoning: Most clothing is exempt in Pennsylvania.
Classification: Tax = $0. Clothing exempt.
Input: Business subscribes to canned SaaS product. $500/month. Located outside Philadelphia/Allegheny.
Classification: Tax = $30.00/month (6% state rate). Canned software is taxable.
Input: Business pays $50,000 for custom-developed software.
Classification: Tax = $0. Custom software is exempt in PA.
Filing Frequency
| Frequency | Criteria | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | Tax liability > $75/month | 20th of following month |
| Quarterly | Tax liability $75 or less/month | 20th after quarter end |
| Semi-annual | Very low volume | 20th after period end |
Penalties
| Penalty | Rate |
|---|---|
| Late filing | 5% per month (max 25%) |
| Late payment | 3% per month (max 18%) |
| Interest | Federal underpayment rate + 3% |
PENNSYLVANIA SALES TAX WORKING PAPER (PA-3)
Business: _______________ License: ___________
Period: ___________
A. GROSS SALES ___________
B. EXEMPT SALES (clothing, food, resale) ___________
C. TAXABLE SALES (A - B) ___________
D. STATE TAX (C x 6%) ___________
E. LOCAL TAX (Philadelphia 2% / Allegheny 1%) ___________
F. TOTAL TAX ___________
G. VENDOR DISCOUNT (if timely) ___________
H. NET REMITTANCE ___________
Bank Statement Reading Guide
| Narration | Classification Hint |
|---|---|
| PA DOR / REVENUE PA | Tax payment -- exclude |
| AMAZON / SHOPIFY / STRIPE | Marketplace or processor |
ONBOARDING QUESTIONS -- PENNSYLVANIA SALES TAX
1. Do you have a PA sales tax license?
2. Filing frequency (monthly / quarterly / semi-annual)?
3. Do you sell into Philadelphia or Allegheny County?
4. Nexus type?
5. Products or services sold?
6. Do you sell clothing (exempt in PA)?
7. Do you sell software (custom or canned)?
8. Sell to exempt entities?
Key Legislation
| Topic | Reference |
|---|---|
| Sales tax imposition | 72 P.S. 7202 |
| Exemptions | 72 P.S. 7204 |
| Clothing exemption | 72 P.S. 7204(26) |
| Software taxability | PA DOR guidance |
| Economic nexus | Act 13 of 2019 |
| Local taxes | Philadelphia Code; Allegheny County |
Changelog
| Version | Date | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 | April 2026 | Full rewrite to v2.0; taxability matrix; clothing exemption; custom vs canned software |
| 1.0 | 2025 | Initial version |
This skill and its outputs are provided for informational and computational purposes only and do not constitute tax, legal, or financial advice. Open Accountants and its contributors accept no liability for any errors, omissions, or outcomes arising from the use of this skill. All outputs must be reviewed and signed off by a qualified professional before filing or acting upon.
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Other Pennsylvania computations in the OpenAccountants Tax Library.
Ideal inputs
Complete transaction log, exemption certificate register.
R-PA-1 -- Audit defense
Escalate.
R-PA-2 -- Complex use tax on construction
Construction use tax exemptions require specialist analysis. Escalate.
Taxable Sales
| Pattern | Treatment | Notes | |---|---|---| | Electronics / hardware | Taxable at combined rate | TPP | | SaaS subscription (canned) | Taxable | Canned software | | Repair services for TPP | Taxable | Enumerated service | | Cleaning services | Taxable | Enumerated | | Digital downloads | Taxable | |
Exempt Sales
| Pattern | Treatment | Notes | |---|---|---| | Clothing (most) | Exempt | PA exempts most clothing | | Grocery food (most) | Exempt | Food for home consumption | | Custom software | Exempt | Designed for specific customer | | Prescription medicine | Exempt | | | Resale with certificate | Exempt | REV-1220 |
State rate
6.00%
Philadelphia combined rate
+2.00% = 8.00%
Allegheny County combined rate
+1.00% = 7.00%
State rate
6.00%
Filing Frequency
| Frequency | Criteria | Due Date | |---|---|---| | Monthly | Tax liability > $75/month | 20th of following month | | Quarterly | Tax liability $75 or less/month | 20th after quarter end | | Semi-annual | Very low volume | 20th after period end |
Economic nexus threshold
$100,000 in gross sales into PA
Marketplace facilitator collection requirement
Required to collect and remit. Effective April 1, 2020.
Vendor discount
1% of tax collected for timely filing. Maximum $25/month for monthly filers.
Penalties
| Penalty | Rate | |---|---| | Late filing | 5% per month (max 25%) | | Late payment | 3% per month (max 18%) | | Interest | Federal underpayment rate + 3% |
Custom vs canned software treatment
Custom software (designed for a specific customer) is exempt. Canned/prewritten software is taxable. Mixed situations require analysis. Flag for reviewer.
Construction machinery/equipment exemption
Certain building machinery and equipment used in construction may qualify for exemption. Complex rules. Flag for reviewer.
Bank Statement Reading Guide
| Narration | Classification Hint | |---|---| | PA DOR / REVENUE PA | Tax payment -- exclude | | AMAZON / SHOPIFY / STRIPE | Marketplace or processor |
Key Legislation
| Topic | Reference | |---|---| | Sales tax imposition | 72 P.S. 7202 | | Exemptions | 72 P.S. 7204 | | Clothing exemption | 72 P.S. 7204(26) | | Software taxability | PA DOR guidance | | Economic nexus | Act 13 of 2019 | | Local taxes | Philadelphia Code; Allegheny County |
Changelog
| Version | Date | Change | |---|---|---| | 2.0 | April 2026 | Full rewrite to v2.0; taxability matrix; clothing exemption; custom vs canned software | | 1.0 | 2025 | Initial version |
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