New Tax Collector
Running for the Office of Tax Collector
Individuals running for the office of Tax Collector for the first time:
A criminal history clearance report must be obtained and filed with your petition to run for office, at your local Board of Elections. These reports must be obtained from the PA State Police (FBI in some cases-see statute) and in most cases can be received immediately.
Cost is $22.00. Please be sure to allow for enough time, in case there is a delay in your ability to receive the report.
Last day to file petitions in 2025 is TBD (usually in March).
PA State Police website (PATCH)
Current Tax Collectors seeking Re-election
Q3 or Q4 of 2024 = Schedule to be on the Agenda for your municipality’s Board of Supervisors’ meeting to discuss compensation for the Resolution or Ordinance that must be in place by February 14, 2025.
Petitions may be circulated for signature starting in February 2025, actual date not known at this time. The last day to file petitions is in March (actual date To Be Determined).
Current Tax Collectors must have reported to the DCED 2 Continuing Education credits by the conclusion of their 3rd year in office of the current term. (December 31, 2024)
Votes PA has all the deadline details and information
First things first – you’ve won the election, now what…..
Next Steps
You must be complete the Tax Collector Basic Qualification class and exam
prior to taking your Oath of Office in January. This will establish you as a “Qualified tax collector”. You may sign up for that class here: Tax Collector Basic Qualification Class and exam
You should register for a unique tax collector ID# with the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED)
this is how they will track your “Qualified” status. You may register here, using A$tps3B4, as your access code
You must qualify for bond before entering into the duties of your office.
Typically, the taxing districts will initiate bonding which can be done jointly. Make sure you contact your County, Municipality or school district to determine the process for completion of the bonding application form.
A tax collector bank account should be set up at a bank convenient to you.
The account should be entitled with your name, tax collector, the name of your municipality and school district (if applicable). They are typically opened as a government funds account. You are a municipal official and as such should utilize the municipal EIN to open the bank account. You are restricted by statute, to open the account with your social security #.
There are numerous tax collection software programs available to tax collectors.
Evaluate the programs to select one that works best for your collections. The names of popular computer programs can be obtained from other collectors in your County or through the PSTCA.
Office equipment and software useful for the operation of your tax office:
paid stamp (to include the date received and your name), address stamp, adding machine, fax machine, answering machine, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word.
Submit membership for your local tax collectors association and the PA State Tax Collectors’ Association.
Select an individual to be your Deputy tax collector; in the case of incapacitation.
Select an individual to be your Deputy tax collector; in the case of incapacitation. This is mandated by state law and should be done at the beginning of your term. A Deputization form can be printed here. (Only municipal approval is required)
To be eligible to run for re-election in 2025;
All tax collectors must maintain their Qualified status by completing 2 hours MANDATORY continuing education, PER TERM. These credits must be completed by the third year of a collectors term.
New Tax Collectors
Are you a new tax collector? Visit this page for the next steps in your new position.
Join Today!
If you are not yet a member of the PSTCA, you can click here to join now.
Members-Only Login
Click here to log in to the Members-Only Area of the PSTCA's website
Note: New members-only site users must contact admin@pstca.org for login credentials. Please provide your name, email address, County and the Municipality for which you collect. Attaching a scan of your CURRENT Membership card will expedite the process of receiving the
Password by return email as Membership must be verified. You must complete this step before you can sign in.