Brief Overview of the PA PIT Withholding Requirement When PA-Based Companies Make Payments to Non-PA-Based Contractors
PA 72 P.S. §7316.2 Withholding Requirement
PA 72 P.S. § 7316.2 states that a person that (1) makes payments of income from sources within PA to a non-resident individual or an entity that is disregarded that has a non-resident member and (2) who is required to file Form 1099-MISC with the PA Department of Revenue, shall deduct and withhold the PA Personal Income Tax (PIT) at the rate of 3.07%.
Who Is Subject to this Withholding?
This withholding requirement applies to payments made to non-resident individuals, estates or trusts or disregarded entities owned by such non-resident entities.
Who Is Not Subject to this Withholding?
Payments to any of the following are NOT subject to this withholding requirement: Partnerships, Corporations, Multi-Members LLCs, Residents, and disregarded entities (LLCs) owned by partnerships, corporations, multi-member LLCs or PA residents.
What Types of Payments Are Subject to Withholding?
Payments for services rendered in PA by non-residents of PA are subject to the PIT withholding requirement.
Withholding Examples
Ex. 1: PACo, a business located in West Chester, PA, hires Stephanie, a MD resident individual, to perform customer surveys from her home in MD. PACo (the payor) pays Stephanie (the payee) $10,000 for her consulting services. PACo will report the $10,000 on Form 1099-MISC since it exceeds the $600 dollar filing requirement threshold.
However, since Stephanie performed no services within PA, she is not subject to PA PIT withholdings.
Ex 2: If we change the facts to show that Stephanie spent time in PA to perform some of her services, then PA withholding is required for the services provided within PA by this non-resident individual. PACo has the compliance burden of devising a process to substantiate the time Stephanie spent in PA to perform her services and withhold PA PIT on the fees she earned for her work performed within PA.
Ex 3: The facts are the same as in Example 2, except Stephanie is a single owner of her LLC and the LLC (not Stephanie) was contracted to perform the consulting services in PA.
The PA payor is required to withhold PA PIT because the LLC is a disregarded entity.
What Types of Payments Are Not Subject to Withholding?
Payments made related to goods or materials (inventory), sale of property, and interest and dividend income are not subject to the PA withholding tax requirement.
Tax Planning Tip #1:
PA payors should protect themselves from failure to withhold. To determine if the payee is a non-resident individual of PA or a disregarded entity owned by one, have the payee complete PA Form REV-1832, 1099-MISC Withholding Exemption Certificate form. This form lists the reason(s) the payee is not subject to the PA 3.07% withholding tax. The payee simply checks the appropriate box which the landlord can normally accept in good faith.
Tax Planning Tip #2:
Estimate the annual calendar year payments to the non-resident payee. If not more than $5,000 in a calendar year, no withholding is required. If it is unknown whether the $5,000 threshold will be met, the PA DOR encourages withholding.
KEEP IN MIND THAT IF IT WAS ANTICIPATED THAT THE PAYEE WOULD BE PAID LESS THAN $5,000, BUT THAT THRESHOLD WAS EXCEEDED, THE PAYOR IS LIABLE FOR THE FULL 3.07% PIT WITHHOLDING AMOUNT ON THE ENTIRE MONIES PAID TO THE PAYEE.
Tax Planning Tip #3:
If payee will likely be paid more than $5,000 or if the payee wishes to have tax withholdings, register for a 1099 withholding account on E-Tides. Withhold tax at 3.07% rate for payments made to non-PA resident service providers working in PA.
If you would like to discuss your business or personal tax planning, tax preparation and other financial concerns with an experienced tax professional, we invite you to call 610-594-2601 today to make an appointment at our Exton PA CPA office to discuss your situation. You can also schedule a consultation at Click Here.
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About F. Bryan Haarlander, EA, CTRS:
Bryan Haarlander is an IRS licensed Enrolled Agent and who owns and operates a specialized tax services firm serving clients in the western suburbs of Philadelphia, PA, which includes the cities of Chester Springs, Coatesville, Collegeville, Devon, Downingtown, Exton, Frazer, King of Prussia, Paoli, Philadelphia, Phoenixville, Pottstown, Radnor, Reading, Wayne, West Chester in Berks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties, as well as clients in Delaware, New Jersey, New York and throughout the continental USA.
A Certified Tax Resolution Specialist, Bryan is well-known for his IRS tax resolution expertise and his book How to Resolve Your IRS Tax Debt Problems.
