Bill exempts official papers from tax

MERCER, Pa. -- State officials have been defeated in their attempt to collect the 6 percent state sales tax on copies and maps sold in courthouses and other county offices.
Mercer County Commissioner Brian Beader said Tuesday that members of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania were told at a recent meeting that a bill to exempt county offices from charging the sales tax is expected to be signed any day by Gov. Ed Rendell.
Mercer and many other counties in Pennsylvania do not charge sales tax. But several months ago, state officials had notified counties that sales tax should have been charged in the past on such items.
They were told they would have to start charging the tax on items such as nonofficial copies, sale of old equipment and maps.
However, Senate Bill 1331, recently passed by the state Legislature, amends the Tax Reform Code of 1971 to exempt copies of official documents sold by a government agency or court from the state sales and use tax. Mercer County Fiscal Director John Logan said that items sold only occasionally also are exempt.