Philly councilman trying to crack down on out-of-town Realtors who avoid taxes

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 Philadelphia Councilman Ed Neilson (Tom MacDonald/WHYY)

Philadelphia Councilman Ed Neilson (Tom MacDonald/WHYY)

A Philadelphia City Councilman wants to make sure every Realtor who sells property in Philadelphia pays the appropriate taxes to the city. 

City Councilman Ed Neilson says people from beyond Philadelphia’s borders are selling city real estate and ducking taxes by not having business privilege licenses.

“The Realtors that are doing business outside the city selling homes inside the city unfortunately are not paying their taxes so that puts those living inside the city on an unfair playing field,” he said.

The councilman’s bill calls for a new sales form for city real estate:

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“When you go to the settlement table and you buy a house in the city, whoever the real estate broker is will have to put their business privilege license on the form or the transaction can’t happen.”

The license requirement would be the first step for the city to make sure everyone is paying the appropriate taxes.

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