Will Pennsylvania Go After Your Taxes If Unpaid PA Turnpike Tolls?

For 2023, the amount of unpaid tolls has increased to $170 million – up $15 million from the previous year. If you have unpaid tolls with the PA Turnpike, you may be at risk of having your vehicle registration suspended and face fines.

Effective January 2, 2023, Act 112 of 2022 allowed the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to request the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to suspend the vehicle registration of any Pennsylvania motorist with unpaid PA Turnpike tolls and fees totaling $250 or more.

At CNS Licensing, we have seen this uptick of suspended license plates in the last year.

Now there is more pressure to collect turnpike tolls.

Let’s look at what is happening.

The PA Turnpike toll problem

The Pennsylvania Turnpike reported a projected total of $155 million in unpaid tolls from April 2021 to March 2022. That amount was up 49% from the previous year.

For 2023, the amount of unpaid tolls has increased to $170 million – up $15 million from the previous year.

As of Sept. 30, 2022, the Commission has collected $11.4 million in toll and fees associated with 23,095 suspended registrations under Act 165. This is just a small amount of the unpaid tolls.

Last year’s new measure enabled the Turnpike to more quickly trigger the processes to collect from people who flout responsibility by choosing not to pay.

“The fact is that uncollected tolls are largely due to drivers dodging their responsibilities,” said PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton. “These customers receive invoices but simply choose not to pay. This legislation will allow us to better hold accountable those who intentionally cheat the system.”

Related article: What Does Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Future Electric Charging Road Mean for Trucking?

What if I have unpaid tolls with the PA Turnpike?

If you have unpaid tolls and fees for your vehicle’s registrations, contact the PA Turnpike’s Customer Service Center at 1-877-736-6727. When prompted, say “Customer Service” and then select 5 to resolve the amounts owed.

When a vehicle registration is suspended, you no longer have the privilege of operating the vehicle on the road until the registration is valid.

You will be responsible for payment of all outstanding tolls and fees to the PA Turnpike and will be required to pay a restoration fee to PennDOT.

Additionally, any individual driving with a suspended registration may be subjected to criminal penalties.

PA Senate bill unanimously voted to target unpaid tolls users

In early October, one bill is now halfway through the Pennsylvania statehouse that calls for garnishing certain Pennsylvania lottery winnings and state income tax returns of non-paying turnpike users.

Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Northampton, said “law-abiding Pennsylvanian’s have been paying their fair share. However, repeated toll offenders are escaping accountability. Without more effective methods, we risk the erosion of the entire system as more individuals seek to evade payment.”

The bill includes multiple recommendations offered by the office of the Pennsylvania Auditor General:

• Garnish lottery winnings more than $2,500
• Taxpayers due a state income tax refund also would have unpaid toll amounts deducted from their refund.

The Department of Revenue would work with the Turnpike Commission to set up guidelines and framework for determining delinquencies in paying tolls.

Need registration help?

CNS has been handling our clients’ licensing and permitting needs for over 30 years.

We offer a number of DOT Licensing Services to make your interaction with government authorities easy, fast, cost-effective, and with the least amount of stress as possible.

Our DOT Licensing Specialists will learn your operation so we can accurately set up and renew your required DOT authorities.

We offer a long list of licensing services and are always adding more to accommodate our clients, including obtaining DOT numbers, MC authorities, vehicle registration, UCR and so much more.

For more information, call (888) 260-9448 or email us at info@cnsprotects.com.