My company was merged with another company (acquired might be more accurate) and we are now on a new payroll system. I am a virtual office telecommuter and never go to a corporate office. For accounting purposes, they have me listed as working at an office in Stroudsburg, even though I live and work in Tobyhanna.
 
Anyway, there was a fairly hefty deduction for "Occupation Tax" on my first pay stub. When I checked with the Pocono Record (http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/99999999/NEWS090102/51216004/-1/NEWS0923), I read:
 
OCCUPATION TAX
Has roots in 17th- and 18th-century England, when many occupations were created by grant or title and could be sold or transferred between individuals, much like real estate. Tax is levied on the value of residents’ occupations, as determined by the county assessors office.

For instance, a school bus driver may have an assessed value of $25, while that of a lawyer might be $300. Every individual within the same occupation pays the same rate, regardless of income. Some levy the occupation tax at the same flat rate for all occupations, in which case the maximum allowed by state law is $10 per person. There is no limit if this tax is levied as a distinct tax rate for each occupation.

Municipalities collect the tax from all residents, regardless of where those taxpayers work.

No municipalities in Monroe County collect this tax anymore, and Monroe County eliminated its occupation tax in 1982.
Occupational assessors are elected positions, technically still mandated by state law. But Pocono Township was the last municipality in the county to have an occupational assessor candidate appear on the ballot, a candidate who was elected to compile the now useless list of residents and their occupations. That person, who earned $42,000 over 14 years, resigned from the position in 1997, amid allegations that the occupational assessor continually supplied incorrect information and may have billed the county for duties never performed.

Am I correct in assuming that I do not owe this mystery tax?
 
Thanks!

Hot flashes are just my inner child playing with matches.

thought there was a $52  dollar tax in stroudsburg   could be wrong.   What is the dollar amount??    You sure it's not  the   Local Earned Income tax? 
 

Is that $52 for the entire year? they took $52 out of this year's first check.
 

Hot flashes are just my inner child playing with matches.

ORIGINAL: LowRain

Is that $52 for the entire year? they took $52 out of this year's first check.

 
 
im not the expert, but i believe you are correct.
 
it used to be $10.   they would take it out of one paycheck.   i believe the $52 is also taken out of one paycheck....not week by week of deducting a dollar.
 
 

 

Even though I don't work in Stroudsburg, if it's just $52, I'll make a donation. But if it was $52/paycheck, I would squawk a lot! I never paid this tax before, and I've been working in tobyhanna for the past two tax years.

Hot flashes are just my inner child playing with matches.

occupation tax is a one time...once a year thing.
 
i used to whine when it was 10 bucks.     you should hear me now.    
 
we need Frank on this one for the facts

 

I also work from home, and for accounting purposes I'm assigned to my company's Bethlehem office.  It took several tries, and much stress and aggravation, but Payroll finally got all the tax jurisdictions straightened out (I  live/work in Pike county/Porter township). 

Having more than 1600 (!) local tax jurisdictions in 1 state is beyond byzantine, but I know the answer to the question of simplification -- "But we've always done it this way!"

-Lyn

And Shadow and Moose, the canine contingent

For too many people GIGO means "Garbage In, Gospel Out." ("The computer says it, we believe it, and that settles it.")

well   for some it is a new thing   up to the school districts and towns  how they collect the money and some started  collecting it this year.

sorry for the delay - i have been busy
 
the occupation tax is gone in monroe county.  like you found it was based on your occupation.  that was in addition to the income tax.  carbon still has this btw.
 
the $52 tax is the emt tax.