Philadelphia's poorest neighborhoods pay 4x more in fees per tax dollar than the richest. A $15 demolition fee hides inside the realty transfer tax. The BIRT won't die for thirteen more years. Eight pieces on the tax machine, and what it actually does.
Philadelphia is one of the last major US cities to tax gross receipts. BIRT charges 1.410 mills on revenue and 5.71% on net income. Phases to zero by 2038.
Philadelphia's parking tax sat at 15% for 21 years (1987-2008). The current 22.5% rate is in the upper third of major US cities.
Parker's 0.01% Philadelphia wage tax cut saves a $50K family $5/year. The $1.9B tax generates real revenue; this is theatre.
Philadelphia's tax structure pressures ~9,000 upper-income households to leave each year while locking lower-income families in. A $5 tax cut won't fix it.
Philadelphia's Realty Transfer Tax jumped to 3.578% in July 2025 — the second-highest in PA. Combined with the state, every transaction pays 4.578%.
Philadelphia's $2.00 'school district' cigarette tax — higher than NYC's $1.50. A workaround for state preemption that raises $40-80M/year.
Philadelphia \u00a7 19-2504 taxes vacant lots at 10% \u2014 the highest rate in the US. The law is on the books but applies to less than 1% of parcels.
Philadelphia charges lowest-income neighborhoods 4x more in fees per dollar of tax debt than wealthy ones. Bottom quintile generates 56% of fee revenue.