Collection firm brings in back taxes for Chester

CHESTER » eCollect Plus (eCollect), the city of Chester’s partner in conducting business tax audits, collected $2 million in new tax revenues from more than 300 businesses since it commenced collections for the financially distressed city.

The total amount collected is almost half of the $4.5 million eCollect identified for the city in 2012 as unpaid business taxes. eCollect has been taking collection actions since that time by utilizing analytics and field audits in conjunction with a legal team. The majority of unpaid taxes were uncovered from out-of-state businesses operating in the city.

“Our method and technology has allowed us to find businesses that refused to comply with the city of Chester’s business tax regulations,” said Michael Hill, eCollect partner. “These are new tax revenues going into the city’s coffers that can be used to pay for essential services, benefiting all citizens of the city of Chester.”

Chester is a financially distressed community designated by Act 47 of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. eCollect has provided the city with the expertise in conducting field audits and identifying tax revenues that prior city tax collectors did not know existed.

“eCollect worked diligently with the city administration, the solicitor’s office and code enforcement in order to hit the ground running at the time of our greatest financial need. Their professionalism and audit discovery program are second to none,” said Thaddeus Kirkland, mayor of Chester and Democratic primary candidate for the 5th Congressional District.

eCollect works in partnership with the city and continues its efforts to assist it with collecting as much of the outstanding taxes as possible.

“We have spent many years in this industry and know that success is derived by helping everybody – governments, their employees and taxpayers alike – as often as we can,” said Hill.