There are many ways to file and pay taxes to the City of Philadelphia.
Usually, you’ll file and pay taxes at the same time. Sometimes, you may need to file a return without making a payment. For example, if you’re self-employed and your business loses money for the year, you might not owe any taxes. But, you’d still be required to file business tax returns.
This page includes instructions for filing and paying taxes through each method.
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Ways to file City taxes
File online
You can choose to file any City tax on the Philadelphia Tax Center, but a few taxes must be filed online. These include:
- Philadelphia Beverage Tax (PBT)
- Liquor Tax
- Wage Tax
- Use and Occupancy (U&O) Tax
If you need to file 1099 or W-2 forms, you can also upload them to the Tax Center.
File with Modernized e-Filing (MeF)
You can use the IRS Modernized e-Filing program to file three taxes. E-filing is available for:
- Business Income & Receipts Tax (BIRT)
- Net Profits Tax (NPT)
- School Income Tax (SIT)
To learn more, visit Modernized e-Filing for City taxes.
File with paper returns
You can file paper returns for most taxes, except for PBT, Liquor, Wage, and U&O taxes.
To file by paper, download the form for the appropriate tax. Then, complete and return the form according to the instructions on the form. You can also learn more about filing each tax on that tax’s webpage.
Ways to pay City taxes
You can find detailed payment instructions on each tax’s webpage. This section is for general reference.
Pay online
You can pay all Philadelphia taxes through the Philadelphia Tax Center.
You can either log into your Tax Center account, or pay as a guest without a username and password. To pay as a guest, follow the “Make a payment” link and follow the on-screen prompts.
Pay with eCheck or credit/debit card
You can pay taxes by eCheck or credit/debit card on the Philadelphia Tax Center.
It’s free to pay by eCheck. There is a processing fee for payments by credit/debit card. This fee is collected by the processing vendor, not by the City. There is a service fee of 2.25% for credit card payments. In-person payments with Visa debit cards have a processing fee of $3.95.
Pay through Modernized e-Filing (MeF)
If you file your City taxes through Modernized e-Filing, you can also send your payment through the approved software packages.
MeF allows you to schedule your payment for any date before the tax’s due date.
Pay by mail
If you received a bill in the mail, return the attached payment coupon along with a check or money order. Write the tax type and your account number on your check.
Use the mailing address provided on the bill or check the webpage for the specific tax you’re paying.
If you need to print a payment voucher, visit the Philadelphia Tax Center.
Pay in person
You can schedule an appointment at the Municipal Services Building (MSB) to pay taxes and fees in person. Our Northeast Philadelphia office is also open. Our North Philadelphia office remains closed.
You can pay by check or money order at any of our customer service locations. You can also pay with cash at the Municipal Services Building.
Pay by phone
To pay your Real Estate Tax with a credit card, call (877) 309-3710.
If you have any problems with this telephone system, call customer service at (800) 487-4567.
Get help with tax accounts and payments
For questions about your account
- For general account questions, call (215) 686-6600.
- For Real Estate Tax questions, call (215) 686-6442.
Videos about tax types and online filing
To learn more about different tax types, filing options, and payments, visit the Department of Revenue’s YouTube channel.