Green seeks change to tax policy toward non-profits

Philadelphia City Councilman Bill Green introduced on Thursday legislation that would direct the Department of Revenue to collect taxes from city non-profit organizations that are engaging in commercial activity outside of their charitable, religious or educational mission. Such businesses, Green contends, should be treated the same as any other taxable business.

The bill would clarify the city’s tax code to draw distinctions between commdercial and mission-specific business conducted by nonprofits. 

“This is an issue of fairness,” Councilman Green said in a press statement. “These institutions benefit us, but they also benefit from city services that have a real, hard cost to taxpayers.”