News You Can Use

March 2, 2007

Earlier Trout Season Plan Will Proceed

The winter weather that stormed across the Commonwealth on February 13 and 14, 2007 required the delay of trout stockings in a number of locations.  The PA Fish & Boat Commission has rescheduled the stockings to avoid any delay in the 2007 trout season set to kickoff on March 31 in an 18-county region and April 14 for the remaining 49 counties.

The 18 counties all located in the southeastern and southcentral regions of the state include:   Adams, Berks, Bucks, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, Perry, Philadelphia, Schuylkill and York counties.

Get the latest on the 2007 PA Trout Season 

Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption Program

Honorably discharged PA resident veterans with a one hundred percent permanent and total service-connected disability and a proven financial need may be eligible for a real estate tax exemption, according to the PA Department of Military & Veterans Affairs.

The Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption Program requires the veteran to occupy the property as his or her principal dwelling.  The applicant's home must be owned solely by the veteran or as an estate in its entirety.  Income eligibility is capped at $75,000 or less annually, unless the veteran can prove financial need according to criteria established by the State Veterans Commission.

Once the tax exemption is granted it will be reviewed every five years to determine continued need.  Access related information on the tax exemption program

Frequently Asked Questions relating to disability benefits.

Contact the Veterans Affairs Office closest to you.

Learn about a wide variety of veterans benefits offered through PA. 

Store Policies & Gift Certificates 

If store return policies sometimes fail to meet your expectations, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General is reminding you that gift card policies may also leave you less than satisfied.

Individual stores are not required to accept returns, even if you have the receipt.  Return policies are not subject to specific laws.  The consumer should become familiar with each store's standard practices to ensure the ability to return items. 

There is no PA law requiring an expiration date on gift certificates or cards.  Those without an expiration date that go unused must be turned over to the PA Department of Treasury after five years from the date of issuance.  Gift certificates with an expiration date must be turned over two years after the expiration date to the PA Department of Treasury.

To claim an unused gift card or certificate from the State Treasury call 1-800-222-2046.  To date, the PA State Treasury has collected more than $2.7 million in unredeemed gift cards and certificates.

To file a consumer complaint, contact the PA Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection at 1-800-441-2555.  See the PA Attorney General's discussion of "Store Policies & Gift Certificates."  Find more on the Bureau of Consumer Protection.  Consumer complaints may be filed online.  If you prefer, a printable complaint form which can be sent by mail is available on the same webpage.

Telephone Excise Tax Refund – Too Much or Not at All

According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), nearly one in three early filers are failing to request a refund for this year's special telephone excise tax refund, while others are claiming amounts hundreds of times in excess of any realistic calculations.

The IRS is reminding eligible taxpayers that, unless they have phone bills and other records to request the actual amount of excise tax paid, the government has established a standard refund amount based on personal exemptions, ranging from $30 to $60.  The standard amount is easier to figure and approximates the eligible amount for most individual taxpayers.  On the other hand, inflated claims for thousands of dollars are resulting in search warrants of unscrupulous tax preparation businesses, visits from IRS agents, and audits. 

Law-abiding taxpayers are reminded they only have to fill out one line for the refund and can do so electronically with software that helps taxpayers accurately figure tax breaks.  "Free File" e-file services are available to low and moderate income taxpayers ($52,000 or less).  For more on the special telephone excise tax refund and links to e-file and "Free File."

"Click It or Ticket" Program Back in Force

Lower seat belt use and large populations have prompted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to provide approximately $400,000 in federal funding to police in 18 Pennsylvania (PA) counties.  One hundred eighty-four municipal police departments in Allegheny, Berks, Butler, Cambria, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Erie, Fayette, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Schuylkill, Washington, Westmoreland and York Counties will utilize the grant dollars.

The first wave of enforcement will run from March 1 – 7, 2007; the next will be conducted from September 24 – 30, 2007.  In addition, the PA State Police and 340 local police departments will participate in the national "Click It or Ticket" campaign from May 14 – June 3, 2007 and November 19 – 25, 2007.  For the latest from NHTSA on seat belt use and occupant protection view this PDF. 

Enlist the kids in your family's "Click It or Ticket" campaign.  Raise your children's awareness and understanding of traffic safety.  Get them started here and here.

Winter Activities Peaking in PA

Winter activities in Pennsylvania are peaking in many state parks with cold temperatures capable of preserving the natural snowfall left behind from the February 2007 storms.  Outdoor enthusiasts can take advantage of the Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR) PA State Park Winter Report webpage to take advantage of these conditions.

PA State Parks offer cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, sledding, ice skating, ice fishing, and ice boating during the winter months.  The DCNR interactive webpage allows you to select one or more of these sports from one of seven regions or choose the statewide report and discover where the snow and ice may lead you.  Links to specific state parks, email addresses and phone numbers will allow you to make personal contact for more specific details.

If snowmobiling is your thing, go directly to the State Forest Snowmobile Trails – Maps and Trail Conditions webpage.