Pennsylvania General Fund Revenue Exceeds November Estimate; Sales and Personal Income Tax Fall Short

FundsImage by Michael Kin

PENNSYLVANIA — The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania reported a collection of $3.1 billion in General Fund revenue for November, surpassing the anticipated amount by $46.4 million, or 1.5 percent, according to Revenue Secretary Pat Browne. Despite this, the fiscal year-to-date General Fund collections fell slightly short of expectations at $16.1 billion, a marginal $1.1 million below the estimate.

However, sales tax receipts for November totaled $1.1 billion, falling $19.6 million short of the estimate. Year-to-date sales tax collections amounted to $6.0 billion, marking a shortfall of $125.3 million, or 2.0 percent. This outcome is attributed to lower-than-expected personal consumption of durable goods such as appliances, furniture, and electronics.

In terms of Personal Income Tax (PIT) revenue, November saw a collection of $1.2 billion, which was $13.0 million below the estimate. Consequently, year-to-date PIT collections reached $6.3 billion, registering a shortfall of $90.1 million, or 1.4 percent.

On a positive note, corporation tax revenue for November stood at $257.5 million, exceeding the estimate by $64.3 million. The year-to-date corporation tax collections were also above estimate at $1.8 billion, which is $133.8 million, or 8.0 percent, more than anticipated. Strong Tax year 2022 payments for Corporate Net Income Tax (CNIT) significantly contributed to these figures.

Inheritance tax revenue for November was marginally below estimate at $113.9 million, but the year-to-date total reached $651.8 million, surpassing the estimate by $61.3 million, or 10.4 percent.

Realty transfer tax revenue for November was slightly above estimate at $48.4 million, but the fiscal year-to-date total of $208.1 million fell short by $13.6 million, or 6.1 percent.

The collection from other General Fund tax revenue, including cigarette, malt beverage, liquor, and gaming taxes, totaled $160.3 million for November, marking a shortfall of $10.4 million. The year-to-date total stands at $703.5 million, which is $40.0 million, or 5.4 percent, below the estimate.

Non-tax revenue for November exceeded the estimate by $24.8 million at $172.3 million, bringing the year-to-date total to $498.2 million, which is $72.7 million, or 17.1 percent, above the estimate.

Aside from the General Fund collections, the Motor License Fund received $273.6 million in November, falling $5.8 million short of the estimate. The fiscal year-to-date collections for this fund, which includes gas and diesel taxes as well as other license, fine, and fee revenues, totaled $1.3 billion, marking a shortfall of $10.0 million, or 0.7 percent.

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