Tax error concerns residents

By BETH LUCAS
Collegian Staff Writer

Many local, nonworking students living in apartments have been receiving statements billing them $730 in State College Area occupational assessment taxes even though all full-time students are exempt.

The State College Area School District made an effort in 1998 to add individuals to the tax rolls and accidentally added some students, said John Marchek, State College Borough tax assessor.

Mark Earnest (junior-economics) received one of these bills and immediately called a telephone number on the statement.

"After I got off the phone, I realized the magnitude of the problem," he said.

He was guided to the Patton Township tax assessor's office after being told all in the township were automatically taxed as if they were self-employed.

If students had not registered themselves on the township's tax roll, they were mailed the bill.

"It sounds like they are trying to pull some get-rich-quick scheme," he said, adding this was the typical feeling among his roommates and neighbors, who also were billed.

Patton Township tax assessor Warren Coleman said he is concerned with educating members of the public about registering themselves in the township.

"Ninety-five percent of the population does not know that all residents of any of these townships around here are supposed to declare their status," Coleman said.

It is his responsibility to identify everyone living in the township and submit the information for tax collection purposes.

The school district's miscalculation likely was a result of the constant movement of residents, of which students are a large percentage.

Students from other areas may not even know an occupational tax exists in State College.

The standard procedure for adding residents to the tax roll is to try to contact them directly, said Leslie Doremus, occupational assessment tax secretary for the school district.

"I understand (Coleman) made attempts to obtain the correct information," he said. "If nothing is returned, residents are listed as self-employed."

Affected students should go to the Patton Township tax assessor's office at 240 S. Pugh St., inside of Days Inn Penn State, within 90 days of receiving the bill to register themselves as students and to fix their bills or prevent future ones.

Students who may have accidentally paid any bills will receive refunds at the office when their account is adjusted.

If students do not register themselves or pay the bill, they will incur late fees, Coleman said.