PICPA's Legislative Accomplishments

2021-2022

Act 110 of 2022 enacted much-needed changes to Pennsylvania's CPA Law. These changes include the following:

• Directs the Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy to adopt a nationally recognized code of professional conduct.
• Revises numerous peer review standards.
• Expands the scope of classes eligible for an accounting degree to include economics and technology.
• Permits an applicant for licensure to sit for the CPA Exam upon completing 120 semester credits without a degree being conferred.

Learn more about the major legislative changes to Pennsylvania's CPA Law. Signed into law on Nov. 3, 2022.

Act 108 of 2022 provides a phase-in schedule for increasing the threshold that requires quarterly estimated personal income tax (PIT) payments; creates and expands tax credit programs to support targeted investments in key industries. Signed into law on Nov. 3, 2022. 

Act 103 of 2022 extends the ability of businesses operating in Philadelphia to carry forward net operating losses (NOLs) from three years to 20 years. Signed into law on Nov. 3, 2022.

Act 53 of 2022 incorporates tax law changes, including a CNI rate decrease, and includes Federal conformity to IRC Section 179 expense deductions and to IRC Section 1031 like-kind exchanges. Signed into law on July 8, 2022.

Act 17 of 2022 amends the Local Tax Enabling Act further providing for declaration and payment of income taxes in the consolidated collection of local income taxes. Signed into law on April 19, 2022.

Act 10 of 2021 changed the corporate tax due date to the 15th day of the month following the federal tax due date and addressed the inconsistency with the local tax filing due date in 2021 by making a permanent change so that the local tax due date updates automatically when the federal and state due dates are moved. Signed into law on April 22, 2021.

Act 1 of 2021 exempted Paycheck Protection Program loans that were forgiven from the state personal income tax. Signed into law on Feb. 5, 2021.

Act 90 of 2019 amends the Tax Reform Code, in personal income tax (PIT), to establish a 10-year period for the Department of Revenue (DOR) to collect all assessed state taxes. It provides an exception for the inheritance tax and an exclusion from the sales and use tax for canned computer software used by a financial institution engaged in banking. It authorizes the DOR to enter into agreements with financial institutions and for institutions to share with the DOR bank account data for purposes of delinquent tax collections. The section relating to the time period for collection of assessed taxes took effect on Jan. 1, 2021. Signed into law on Nov. 27, 2019.

Act 13 of 2019 stipulates that if the executor of an estate and the trustee of a trust make an election under Section 645 of the Internal Revenue Code to treat the income of the trust as part of the estate, the fiduciary may make and file a joint tax return for the estate and trust. If a joint return is filed, the tax liabilities of the estate and trust shall be joint and several. This provision applies to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2019. Signed into law on June 28, 2019.

Act 72 of 2018 decouples the state’s corporate net income tax law from the bonus depreciation provided in the 2017 federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Signed into law June 28, 2018.

Act 18 of 2018 amends the Local Tax Enabling Act to provide consistency to the local EIT crediting provisions to protect taxpayers from double taxation. Signed into law May 4, 2018.

Act 6 of 2018 amends the Act empowering the General Counsel or designee to issue subpoenas for certain licensing board activities, providing for reporting of sanctions and criminal proceedings, for definitions of suspensions and civil penalties. Signed into law Feb. 15, 2018.

Act 5 of 2017 amends pension provisions allowing new employees and lawmakers to choose between three retirement options. Signed into law on June 12, 2017.

Act 71 of 2017 amends the Solicitation of Funds for Charitable Purposes Act to align audit requirements for financial reports with federal law. Signed into law on Dec. 22, 2017.

Act 72 of 2017 makes technical changes to the Solicitation of Funds for Charitable Purposes Act that will assist organizations filing a registration statement with the Department of State’s Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations. Signed into law on Dec. 22, 2017.

Act 170 of 2016 amends Titles 15 (Corporations and Unincorporated Associations) and 54 (Names) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. Signed into law on Nov. 21, 2016.

Act 150 of 2016 amending the The Local Tax Enabling Act, in consolidated collection of local income taxes. Signed into law on Nov. 4, 2016.

Act 157 of 2016 amends the Pennsylvania CPA Law to adopt a new comprehensive definition of attest services. Signed into law on Nov. 4, 2016.

Act 84 of 2016 amends the Tax Reform Code providing for amended reports for corporate net income tax. Signed into law on July 13, 2016.

Act 14 of 2016 amends the Second Class Township Code in auditors and accountants. Signed into law on April 14, 2016.

Act 141 of 2014 conforms filing date for charitable organizations with federal law. Signed into law on Oct. 14, 2014.

Act 87 of 2014 extends PA Whistleblower Law protections to private-sector employees. Signed into law on July 2, 2014.

Act 42 of 2014 clarifies the assessment of a Business Privilege Tax. Signed into law on May 6, 2014.

Act 71 of 2013 repeals the Corporate Loans Tax. Signed into law on July 18, 2013.

Act 52 of 2013 reforms to the Board of Finance and Revenue. Signed into law on July 9, 2013.

SB 4 of 2013 is a constitutional amendment for institutions of purely public charity and Pamphlet Laws Resolution No. 2. Filed in the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth on June 28, 2013.

Act 15 of 2013 removed the attest work experience requirement for CPA license. Signed into law on June 19, 2013.