Tick-tock, business owners and property managers in Philadelphia, your clock to settle up on the 2025 Commercial Trash Fee is winding down. This fee, which covers your weekly city trash pick-up for the year, needs to be paid in full by June 30. Nearly 27,000 bills have been dispatched to the city's commercial property owners, as reported by the City of Philadelphia. If you've put yours aside, it's time to reach for the checkbook or get click-happy online. Remember, late payments will to accrue extra charges and could lead to a date with a collection agency.
The fee shakes out to $500, and if you didn't manage to pay it up front, you're already halfway into the installment plan. The first $250 was supposed to hit the City's coffers by December 31, 2024. Now, the second $250 installment is knocking on your door. For the digitally inclined, a quick visit to the Philadelphia Tax Center's website lets you pay without fuss. No logins or passwords required unless you're juggling multiple properties, wherein an account can keep everything streamlined.
But not everyone's comfortable leaving their financial footprints in the digital sands. The brick-and-mortar option is still on the table at one of the three municipal service centers. Just be mindful that your shiny Visa card won't make the cut for in-person payments—though it's perfectly fine for online transactions. Should cash be your currency of choice, you'll need to trek to the Center City location.
Sending a check via snail mail? Make sure to attach a payment voucher and scratch your OPA number on the check or money order made payable to 'City of Philadelphia'. Mailing your payment isn't complex, but swinging by the tax-services.phila.gov site to print a voucher will make it even easier. And note, if you're already sorting your trash through private services or fit the exemption criteria, you can skip the fee — just ensure to file the necessary exemption forms yearly to maintain that privilege.
The deadline is crystal clear: June 30. Whether you're clicking through menus online, signing checks, or handing over cash, it's on all commercial property owners using the city's services to handle this business—or face the fiscal music. So review your accounts, check the mail for the bill if you haven't already, and settle up to keep your business trash-free and penance-free.
