UPDATE (November 2, 2021): The City’s new tax filing and payment website, the Philadelphia Tax Center, is now live. From now on, please complete online returns and payments for most City business taxes on the new website. Check out our online tax center guide for help getting started and answers to common questions.

Philadelphia taxpayers—both individuals and businesses—can file and pay many City taxes electronically though our eFile/ePay website.

We recently unveiled an updated version of that site. We hope our redesigned portal helps taxpayers who are familiar with electronic filing and paying, as well as those discovering it for the first time.

Toni Curtis-Ford works for the Office of Innovation & Technology. With 30 years of experience working with the City, she oversaw much of eFile/ePay’s upgrade. We asked her to answer seven questions about the site and the recent changes.

What do the changes mean for taxpayers already familiar with the eFile/ePay website?
Toni Curtis-Ford: Although the site has a new look, the functionality remains the same. The implemented changes have made the site more user friendly, and there are additional enhancements on the way.

If you already have a taxpayer account ID and PIN, they remain the same. The web address is also the same, so you don’t have to worry about bookmarking us again.

What is the biggest change to the eFile/ePay site?
T.CF.: The biggest and best change to eFile/ePay is the ability for customers to file and pay their taxes using any Internet browser and operating system. In the past, Firefox, Internet Explorer 10 and 11, and some Mac customers experienced difficulties accessing our site. But the system upgrade has addressed the problem.

What taxes can be filed and paid through the portal?
T.CF: All City taxes can be paid through the site. However, the following taxes can be filed AND paid online:

What are some of the portal’s other services
T.CF: Through our eFile/ePay site, customers can view any outstanding tax balances, their Loss Carry Forward statement, review and print returns previously submitted via our portal, print payment coupons, and change their PINs.

What should I know if I want to file and pay electronically for the first time?
T.CF: The following information is required to file or pay your taxes via our eFile/ePay portal:

  • Your Philadelphia Tax Account Number,
  • Your Employer Identification Number (EIN), or Social Security Number (SSN),
  • Your Personal Identification Number (PIN).

What are the benefits of filing and paying my Philadelphia taxes electronically?

T.CF: Tax returns filed electronically through the portal are processed within 24 hours. Electronic payments are processed in 5-7 business days. Customers have immediate receipt of their returns and payments. This is much faster than traditional filing and payment options.

What if I prefer traditional tax filing and payment?

T.CF: In some cases, electronic filing and payments are now mandatory. Taxpayers who owe $5,000 or more for the Business Income and Receipts Tax (BIRT) or the Net Profits Tax (NPT) are required to pay those taxes electronically. Electronic filing and payment is also mandatory for Use & Occupancy (U&O) Tax.

In addition, semi-monthly and weekly Wage Tax filers must submit their payments electronically through our online portal, or via our Automated Clearing House (ACH) Credit program.

Traditional paper filing and payment are still available for most City taxes, but we are encouraging people to go paperless.

Visit the new eFile/ePay site.