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What is the Local Wage Tax and What is the Money Used For
The Special Tax Collector for the Portage Area School District collects school and local wage taxes from all taxpayers in Portage Borough, Portage Township and Cassandra. These taxes are divided between the Portage Area School District and the local municipality in which you live.
The local wage tax withholding rate is 1% of your gross wages. One-half of that tax goes to the school district and the remaining half goes to the borough or township where you live. These taxes are usually deducted directly from the individual's wages and are documented on their Form W-2. The employer is generally responsible for sending the tax to the district at the end of each quarter. Sometimes, the employer does not withhold or withholds the tax and gives it to the taxpayer at the end of the year. In these instances, it becomes the taxpayer's (employee's) responsibility to pay their local wage tax. If you have any question concerning how your local wage tax is withheld you could ask your employer or call the district.
The taxes that go to the school district help pay for the education of the communities children. With the tax money, the school district buys textbooks, supplies, computers and necessary learning tools. Local income tax money also helps pay for extra-curricular activities for students such as sports programs, music programs and other clubs and organizations. Wage tax revenues also help pay employee salaries and the maintenance of the buildings.
The portion of the local wage tax that goes to the municipality in which you live is used to keep your roads paved and plowed, your street lights glowing and the other necessary expenses of your community.
Who Must File a Local Tax Return
If you resided in the Portage Area School District during any portion of the current tax year, you must complete and file a local tax return for earned income and/or net profits and attach a copy of your Form W-2 along with any money you may owe. Additionally, if you received a pre-printed tax form in the mail, but do not have any earned income, you still need to return the tax form. You can simply write on the form the reason you had no income, such as "retired" "housewife", etc.
If you are a taxpayer in the school district, but do not receive a pre-printed tax return form, you are still required to file a return. You may call the tax office to have a form sent to you. Additionally, a tax form is provided on the website that you can print and file.
Individuals who report a net loss on their local tax return must submit supporting schedules verifying this loss. Incomplete tax returns will not be accepted and will be returned to the taxpayer for correction.
