SB 396 — An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in personal income tax, further providing for definitions, providing for elective tax imposed at pass-through entity level and further providing for taxability of partners and for income of a Pennsylvania S corporation.
Last action — Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS, April 2, 2025
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✓Introduced
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2In Committee
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3Passed Senate
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4Passed House
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 06, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.
Odds of enactment
Low chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.
Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.
A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.
Prognosis
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In Committee
Current position in the legislative process.
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4 sponsors
1 primary, 3 co-sponsors signed on.
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Bipartisan support
Sponsored across 2 parties (3 R · 1 D) — cross-party backing.
Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.
Summary
Optional Entity-Level SALT Cap Workaround
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
71 added · 193 removedPlain-language change summary
The amendments to Bill SB 396 introduce new provisions regarding nonresident withholding for pass-through entities and establish guidelines for good faith compliance. These changes mean that if a pass-through entity has made withholding payments that are later determined to be less than required, they won't face penalties or interest as long as they were acting in good faith. This matters because it provides clarity and relief for businesses, encouraging compliance by reducing the risks associated with potential tax mistakes.
PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.
343 PRINTER'STHE NO.GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.
508396 THE2025 GENERALINTRODUCED ASSEMBLYBY OFMASTRIANO, PENNSYLVANIACULVER, SENATEPISCIOTTANO BILLAND SessionSTEFANO, MARCH 6, 2025 REFERRED TO FINANCE, MARCH 6, 2025 AN ACT Amending the act of No.March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), entitled "An act relating to tax reform and State taxation by codifying and enumerating certain subjects of taxation and imposing taxes thereon;
396 2025 INTRODUCED BY MASTRIANO, CULVER, PISCIOTTANO AND STEFANO, MARCH 6, 2025 SENATOR HUTCHINSON, FINANCE, AS AMENDED, APRIL 1, 2025 AN ACT Amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), entitled "An act relating to tax reform and State taxation by codifying and enumerating certain subjects of taxation and imposing taxes thereon;
(2) An electing Pennsylvania S corporation with all resident shareholders shall be subject to and shall pay a tax imposed at the rate provided in section 302(b) on each resident taxable owner's share of each class of income and gain enumerated in 20250SB0396PN050820250SB0396PN0343 - 2 - section 303 from sources within this Commonwealth for the taxable year.
(7) In determining the tax due under this section, a pass- through entity shall not be permitted to use any tax credits otherwise available to the pass-through entity except a credit for estimated taxes paid for the current taxable year under this 20250SB0396PN050820250SB0396PN0343 - 3 - section or an overpayment of a prior-year tax paid under this section.
(3) The credit allowed under this subsection shall be applied after the application of all other tax credits available 20250SB0396PN050820250SB0396PN0343 - 4 - to the owner for the taxable year.
(4) Each pass-through entity that elects to pay tax under subsection (a) shall report on a return required under this 20250SB0396PN050820250SB0396PN0343 - 5 - article the following:
(6) To meet the requirements of this section, if a taxable owner holds an interest in the pass-through entity through an entity that is a disregarded entity for purposes of this article, the pass-through entity must provide information sufficient to identify both the disregarded entity that holds an 20250SB0396PN050820250SB0396PN0343 - 6 - interest in the pass-through entity and the taxable owner that owns the disregarded entity and is eligible for a credit under subsection (c).
20250SB0396PN050820250SB0396PN0343 - 7 - (4) The taxable owner shall report the adjustment of the credit on an amended return for the taxable owner's taxable year that includes the pass-through entity's taxable year for which the tax was assessed.
(G)(g) (1) ANUnless IRREVOCABLEotherwise ELECTIONprovided TOin, BEor ANinconsistent ELECTINGwith, PASS-this <--section, THROUGHthe ENTITYprovisions FORof Athis TAXABLEarticle YEARshall SHALLapply BEto MADEthis WITHsection. THE FILING OF A RETURN AND THE PAYING OF ANY TAX DUE FOR THE TAXABLE YEAR ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF NINETY (90) DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBSECTION, OR THE DUE DATE, INCLUDING EXTENSIONS, OF THE PASS-THROUGH ENTITY'S TAX RETURN UNDER SECTION 330.1 OR 335(C).
THE(2) PERIODThe FORdepartment FILINGmay Aissue RETURNguidance SHALLand NOTpromulgate BEregulations EXTENDED.necessary for the implementation of this section.
AN(h) ELECTION(1) SHALLIn BEthe INVALIDcase IFof THEany RETURNtaxable ISyear NOTthat FILEDincludes ANDthe FULLeffective PAYMENTdate OFof ANYthis TAXclause, DUEany ISnonresident NOTwithholding MADEmade ONunder ORsection BEFORE324 THEby DUEthe DATE.pass-through entity for the current tax year for an owner shall be applied by the pass-through entity against its estimated tax liability.
A(2) PASS-THROUGHIn ENTITYthe ONLYcase MAYof MAKEany ANtaxable ELECTIONyear UNDERthat THISincludes SUBSECTIONthe FOReffective Adate TAXABLEof YEARthis INclause, WHICHthe THEdepartment PASS-THROUGHmay ENTITYnot FILEDassess Ainterest TAXand RETURNpenalties ORagainst ISan UNDEReligible Apass-through VALIDentity EXTENSIONfor TOany FILEunderpayment Aof RETURNestimated FORtax THEdue TAXABLEunder YEAR.subsection (d), 20250SB0396PN0343 - 8 - so long as the eligible pass-through entity acted in good faith with no intent to defraud the Commonwealth.
(2)(i) THEAs TAXused RETURNin SHALLthis REFLECTsection, ASSESSMENTSthe THATfollowing CHANGEwords THEand 20250SB0396PN0508phrases -shall 8have -the TAXABLEmeanings INCOMEgiven OFto THEthem ELECTINGin PASS-THROUGHthis ENTITY,subsection ORunless AMENDEDthe TAXcontext RETURNSclearly THATindicates THEotherwise: ELECTING PASS-THROUGH ENTITY HAS FILED ON OR BEFORE THE DUE DATE OF THE TAX RETURN UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) THAT WOULD CHANGE A TAXABLE OWNER'S PASS-THROUGH ENTITY CREDIT FOR THE TAXABLE YEAR.
THE CREDIT SHALL NOT BE ADJUSTED AT THE PASS-THROUGH ENTITY LEVEL TO REFLECT ANY SUBSEQUENT CHANGES OF THE ELECTING PASS-THROUGH ENTITY'S TAXABLE INCOME.
(3) IN DETERMINING THE AMOUNT OF TAX DUE IN A TAXABLE YEAR, AN ELECTING PASS-THROUGH ENTITY SHALL BE ENTITLED TO A CREDIT FOR TAX WITHHELD AND REMITTED ON BEHALF OF A NONRESIDENT TAXABLE OWNER AND REPORTED ON A SCHEDULE NRK-1 PROVIDED TO THE TAXABLE OWNER FOR THE TAXABLE YEAR REDUCED BY ANY WITHHELD TAX REFUNDED TO THE ELECTING PASS-THROUGH ENTITY OR CREDITED TO A SUBSEQUENT TAX YEAR.
(4) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ADJUST THE TAX IN CONNECTION WITH A RETURN FILED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) WITHIN TWELVE (12) MONTHS FROM THE FILING OF THE TAX RETURN.
(5) AN ELECTING PASS-THROUGH ENTITY SHALL PROVIDE THE TAXABLE OWNER A STATEMENT DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (D)(7) ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF NINETY (90) DAYS FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBSECTION, OR THE DUE DATE, INCLUDING EXTENSIONS, OF THE PASS-THROUGH ENTITY'S TAX RETURN UNDER SECTION 330.1 OR 335(C).
THE PENALTY IN SECTION 353(F) SHALL APPLY TO EACH STATEMENT NOT PROVIDED TO A TAXABLE OWNER WITHIN THE NINETY-DAY PERIOD.
(6) A TAXABLE OWNER SHALL CLAIM THE CREDIT IN SUBSECTION (C) ON AN AMENDED TAX RETURN FOR THE TAXABLE YEAR OR IN THE CURRENT TAX YEAR.
AN AMENDED TAX RETURN MUST BE FILED IF THERE IS A PENDING PETITION FOR REFUND OR PENDING APPEAL OF AN ASSESSMENT OR PETITION FOR REFUND AS OF THE DUE DATE OF THE AMENDED TAX RETURN.
20250SB0396PN0508 - 9 - (7) IN DETERMINING THE AMOUNT OF THE CREDIT IN THIS SECTION, A NONRESIDENT TAXABLE OWNER SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED TO CLAIM A CREDIT FOR TAX THAT THE ELECTING PASS-THROUGH ENTITY WITHHELD AND REMITTED ON BEHALF OF THE NONRESIDENT TAXABLE OWNER AND TREATED AS A PAYMENT OF THE TAX UNDER THIS SECTION.
A NONRESIDENT TAXABLE OWNER SHALL NOT BE ENTITLED TO A REFUND OF, OR CREDIT FOR, ANY PORTION OF THE CREDIT UNDER SUBSECTION (C) FOR WHICH A REFUND OF PREVIOUSLY WITHHELD AND REMITTED TAX WAS RECEIVED, OR AN OVERPAYMENT WAS APPLIED TO ANOTHER TAXABLE YEAR.
(8) IN DETERMINING WHETHER A RESIDENT TAXABLE OWNER IS ENTITLED TO A REFUND OF THE CREDIT UNDER SUBSECTION (C), TAX PAYMENTS OR CREDITS SHALL EXCLUDE TAX PAYMENTS MADE FOR THE TAXABLE YEAR OR AVAILABLE CREDITS THAT WERE REFUNDED OR APPLIED TO ANOTHER TAX YEAR OR TAX.
(9) A TAXABLE OWNER MAY NOT RECEIVE A DOUBLE TAX BENEFIT THROUGH THE RETROACTIVE APPLICATION OF THIS SECTION IF THERE HAS BEEN A PREVIOUS REFUND OR CREDIT TO ANOTHER TAXABLE YEAR OR TAX OF A TAX OVERPAYMENT OR TAX CREDIT.
(10) A TAXABLE OWNER SHALL FILE AN AMENDED TAX RETURN ON OR BEFORE ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY (180) DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBSECTION.
THE PERIOD FOR FILING AN AMENDED TAX RETURN SHALL NOT BE EXTENDED.
AN AMENDED TAX RETURN REQUESTING A REFUND OR CREDIT FILED AFTER THE DUE DATE SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED AND PROCESSED.
(11) THE AMENDED TAX RETURN SHALL REFLECT ASSESSMENTS THAT CHANGE THE TAXABLE INCOME OF THE TAXABLE OWNER AND REFUND CLAIMS PENDING ON OR BEFORE THE DUE DATE OF THE TAX RETURN.
IF AN AMENDED TAX RETURN HAS BEEN FILED AFTER A PETITION FOR REFUND HAS BEEN FILED, OR AN ADMINISTRATIVE OR JUDICIAL APPEAL OF AN ASSESSMENT OR REFUND PETITION HAS BEEN TAKEN, THE AMENDED TAX 20250SB0396PN0508 - 10 - RETURN SHALL BE DEEMED A PART OF THE ORIGINAL TAX RETURN UPON PETITION OF THE TAXPAYER AT ANY SUBSEQUENT PROCEEDING AS THOUGH IT HAD BEEN FILED WITH THE ORIGINAL TAX RETURN.
A SEPARATE APPEAL OF AN ASSESSMENT OR PETITION FOR REFUND SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO BE FILED IF THE DETERMINATION OF THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF THE CREDIT IN THIS SECTION DEPENDS UPON THE RESOLUTION OF THE ISSUES IN THE APPEAL OR PETITION FOR REFUND.
(12) PARAGRAPH (6) SHALL APPLY TO AN ELECTING PASS-THROUGH ENTITY THAT HAS FILED A CONSOLIDATED RETURN ON BEHALF OF SOME OR ALL ELECTING NONRESIDENT TAXABLE OWNERS FOR A TAXABLE YEAR.
AN ELECTING PASS-THROUGH ENTITY ALSO MUST FILE AN AMENDED TAX RETURN IF THE COMPOSITION OF TAXABLE OWNERS ELECTING TO FILE AS PART OF THE CONSOLIDATED GROUP DIFFERS IN THE TAXABLE YEAR FOR WHICH THE CREDIT IS BEING CLAIMED AND THE CURRENT TAXABLE YEAR.
(13) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ASSESS TAX IN CONNECTION WITH AN AMENDED TAX RETURN FILED UNDER PARAGRAPH (6) OR (12) WITHIN THE LATER OF TWELVE (12) MONTHS FOR THE FILING OF THE AMENDED TAX RETURN, OR THE EXPIRATION OF THE APPLICABLE STATUTE IN SECTION 348.
IF THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR ASSESSING ADDITIONAL TAX IN SECTION 348 FOR A TAX YEAR HAS OTHERWISE LAPSED, THE DEPARTMENT ONLY MAY ADJUST ITEMS RELATED TO THE CREDIT DETERMINED IN SUBSECTION (C) AND PARAGRAPH (5).
(14) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL NOT ASSESS ANY INTEREST OR PENALTY ARISING FROM THE TIMELY FILING OF A TAX RETURN AND PAYMENT OF ANY TAX ARISING FROM THE APPLICATION OF THIS SUBSECTION.
THE DEPARTMENT SHALL NOT PAY ANY INTEREST ARISING FROM A REFUND OR OVERPAYMENT ARISING FROM THE APPLICATION OF THIS SUBSECTION.
(g) (H) (1) Unless otherwise provided in, or inconsistent <-- with, this section, the provisions of this article shall apply to this section.
20250SB0396PN0508 - 11 - (2) The department may issue guidance and promulgate regulations necessary for the implementation of this section.
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(h) (1) (I) In the case of any taxable year that includes <-- the effective date of this clause, any nonresident withholding made under section 324 by the pass-through entity for the current tax year for an owner shall be applied by the pass- through entity against its estimated tax liability.
(2) In the case of any taxable year that includes the <-- effective date of this clause, the department may not assess interest and penalties against an eligible pass-through entity for any underpayment of estimated tax due under subsection (d), so long as the eligible pass-through entity acted in good faith with no intent to defraud the Commonwealth.
(J) EXCEPT FOR SUBSECTION (G), THE PENALTY IN SECTION 353(F) <-- SHALL APPLY TO EACH STATEMENT NOT PROVIDED TO A TAXABLE OWNER UNDER THIS SECTION.
(i) (K) As used in this section, the following words and <-- phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Partnership." A domestic or foreign general partnership, joint venture, limited partnership, limited liability company, business trust or other unincorporated entity that for Federal 20250SB0396PN0508 - 12 - income tax purposes is classified as a partnership.
FOR TAX YEARS BEGINNING AFTER 2024, THE TERMS <-- "NONRESIDENT TAXABLE OWNER," "RESIDENT TAXABLE OWNER" AND "TAXABLE OWNER" SHALL INCLUDE THE GRANTOR OF A TRUST OR OTHER PERSON TO THE EXTENT THAT THE GRANTOR OR THE OTHER PERSON IS TAXABLE ON TRUST INCOME UNDER SECTION 302(C).
Taxability of Partners.--Except as provided under [section] sections 302.3 and 306.2, a partnership as an entity shall not be subject to the tax imposed by this article, 20250SB0396PN0343 - 9 - but the income or gain of a member of a partnership in respect of said partnership shall be subject to the tax and the tax shall be imposed on his share, whether or not distributed, of the income or gain received by the partnership for its taxable year ending within or with the member's taxable year.
* * * 20250SB0396PN0508 - 13 - Section 4.
The amendment or addition of sections 301(w), <-- 302.3, 306 and 307.8(a) of the act shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2020.
THIS ACT SHALL APPLY AS <-- FOLLOWS:
(1) THE AMENDMENT OR ADDITION OF SECTION 301(W), 306 AND 307.8(A) OF THE ACT SHALL APPLY TO TAXABLE YEARS BEGINNING AFTER DECEMBER 31, 2022.
(2) (I) EXCEPT FOR SUBPARAGRAPH (II), THE AMENDMENT OF SECTION 302.3 OF THE ACT SHALL APPLY TO TAXABLE YEARS BEGINNING AFTER DECEMBER 31, 2022.
(II) THE ADDITION OF SECTION 302.3(G) OF THE ACT SHALL APPLY TO TAXABLE YEARS BEGINNING IN 2023 AND 2024.
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Action History
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Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS, April 2, 2025
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Second consideration, April 2, 2025
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First consideration, April 1, 2025
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Reported as amended, April 1, 2025
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Referred to FINANCE, March 6, 2025
Sponsors
- Doug Mastriano · Primary
- Lynda Schlegel Culver · Cosponsor
- Nick Pisciottano · Cosponsor
- Patrick J. Stefano · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 3 co-sponsors · 249 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
- Doug Mastriano Republican
Co-sponsors (3)
- Lynda Schlegel Culver Republican
- Nick Pisciottano Democratic
- Patrick J. Stefano Republican
Not signed on (249)
249 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 249 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does SB 396 do?
- Optional Entity-Level SALT Cap Workaround
- Who sponsors SB 396?
- SB 396 is sponsored by Doug Mastriano (Republican), Lynda Schlegel Culver (Republican), Nick Pisciottano (Democratic), and Patrick J. Stefano (Republican).
- What is the current status of SB 396?
- This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 06, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
- Where can I track SB 396?
- Track SB 396 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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