Taxes
Tax Collectors
*Mandated by Pennsylvania Act 32, Lower Gwynedd Township Elected Tax Collector will no longer be collecting the Earned Income Tax (EIT), Local Services Tax (LST), Mercantile Tax and Business Privilege Tax after the 2011 tax year. The Act has consolidated the collection of the taxes to one administrator per county. Effective 2012, Berkheimer Tax Administrator will collect for all jurisdictions in Montgomery County.
**Lower Gwynedd's Elected Tax Collector will continue to collect the Real Estate Tax for Lower Gwynedd Township. Below is the contact information:
Natalie Cormier, Real Estate Tax Collector- More tax information can be found on the Tax Collectors website- click here!
Lower Gwynedd Real Estate Tax Collector
PO Box 3042
Ambler, PA 19002
Physical Office Location
428 Knight Road
Lower Gwynedd, PA 19002
Phone: (267) 460-1891 taxcollector@lowergwynedd.org
Hours
Walk-in Office Hours: Every Thursday, 10 am - 1 pm
Other hours: By appointment only
Pay your County/Township Tax Electronically
Please note the following charges for electronic payment
- If paying with an E-check (+50 cent flat fee)
- Credit/debit card (+2% service fee)
School Taxes
You can now pay your school taxes electronically! Click the link below to pay your SCHOOL TAX.
Please note the following charges for electronic payment
- If paying with an E-check (+50 cent flat fee)
- Credit/debit card (+2% service fee)
2021 Taxes
For questions or issues with tax bills from 2021 please contact our previous Tax Collector, Linda Sacks
Linda Sacks, (Tax Collector 2021)
Lower Gwynedd Real Estate Tax Collector
PO Box 640
Spring House, PA 19477
Physical Office Location
921 N Bethlehem Pike
Ambler, PA 19002
Phone: (215) 628-3988 Fax: (215) 628-9296
Taxes
For Lower Gwynedd Township 80% of the total revenues come from taxes. This revenue is used towards police protection, fire protection, street repair and maintenance, parks maintenance and capital improvement projects along with many other services throughout the township to ensure the highest quality of safety for our residents and visitors. The following is a list and brief explanation of the taxes enacted by Lower Gwynedd Township.
Earned Income Tax (EIT)*
An Earned Income Tax (EIT) of 1% on gross earnings for individuals and net profits for businesses is imposed on everyone living or working in Lower Gwynedd Township. This tax is distributed evenly between the Township and Wissahickon School District, each receiving 0.5%. The collection of the EIT generates 53% of the revenues received by the Township.
Real Estate Tax**
The Board of Supervisors approves the real estate millage rate for the Township as part of the annual budget approval process (usually in early December). The following is the millage rate and breakdown for the 2023 Fiscal Year:
General Purpose | 0.762 mills |
Fire Protection | 0.146 mills |
Recreation | 0.285 mills |
Fire Hydrant | 0.030 mills |
Total Millage Rate (2023) 1.223 mills
Property Taxes are expressed in terms of mills per dollar of assessed value. One mill is equal to one-tenth (1/10) of a penny or 1/1000 of a dollar. To calculate a property tax the formula is always (Mill Rate X Assessed Value). For instance, with a millage rate of 1.493 mills, and a $300,000 assessed value of a home the tax rate would be:
.001493 X $300,000 = $447.90
Local Services Tax (LST)*
The Local Services Tax was enacted in 2011 and is paid by everyone working in the Township. The tax is $52.00 per year. This tax is usually collected by payroll withholding and remitted to the Tax Administrator. Any individual making less than $12,000 in a calendar year can file for an exemption with your employer.
Business Privilege Tax*
The Business Privilege Tax is paid by business owners and professionals with offices based in Lower Gwynedd Township. The BPT is based on one mil (1 mil) of gross receipts.
Under Act 42 of 2014 a Business that conduct activities for all or part of 15 or more calendar days within a year is subject to the Business Privilege Tax.
Statutory Authority. In order to address the aforementioned conflicting case law as well as ambiguity in the law, the General Assembly enacted Act 42 of 2014. Act 42 amended Section 301.1 of the Local Tax Enabling Act to specify that the business privilege tax may be levied on a business if it conducts transactions in the levying jurisdiction for all or part of fifteen (15) or more calendar days within a year or if the business is operated through a base of operations in the levying jurisdiction. 20 Act 42 defines a base of operations as “an actual, physical and permanent place of business from which a taxpayer manages, directs and controls its business activities at that location.”21 Additionally, Act 42 provides that a taxpayer can be credited in its home jurisdiction (i.e., the location of the base of operations) for the gross receipts tax paid to a jurisdiction pursuant to the 15 day rule.
Mercantile Tax*
The Mercantile Tax is paid by merchants with businesses in Lower Gwynedd Township. The Mercantile Tax is based on total retail and wholesale sales from the business.
** PSD Codes can be found here for the requisite forms.**