Mayor Signs Soda Law Into Action

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The new 1.5-cent tax per ounce on sugary and diet beverages in Philadelphia is official, as Mayor Kenny signed the bill into action on Monday, June 20th at City Hall.

The taxes will not include baby formula and beverages more than 50 % fresh fruit/vegetables or milk, or are considered “medical foods”, but will include artificially sweetened waters and bottled coffees.

The new tax is projected to raise over 90 million dollars a year to help expand the city’s pre-k and improve health through community and school efforts.

The next step is implementing the law with retailers and distributors in January and collecting taxes.

Payments of the taxes from distributors to the city taxes will start in mid-February, reported Deputy Revenue Commissioner Marisa Waxman to The Inquirer.

Basic questions for businesses and distributors to know more about the tax and how to implement these changes is available on the sweetened beverage tax website.

Click here, to learn more about the history of the bill and how it passed despite the private sector spending millions to say the law is unconstitutional.

Copy & Share on Twitter: It’s official! Philly is the 2nd city in the nation to tax #SSB! Congrats! #SaludAmerica salud.to/SSBfreephilly