City Considers 50% Raise on Liquor Tax They Don’t Collect

According to today’s Philadelphia Daily News, Mayor Nutter and City Council are considering increasing the “liquor by the drink” tax by 50% to help fund Philadelphia schools. The tax is currently at 10% with the funds collected going to the schools. Problem is, the tax isn’t being collected. In a Victor Fiorillo Philly Post column from last year, Fiorillo finds that the tax isn’t collected from one-third of all establishments. That is $31 million in unpaid liquor taxes.

City Considers hiking liquor-drink tax to 15% [Daily News]
How to Cheat on Your Taxes, Philly Style [Philly Post]