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Locate Your B Corp in Philly, Get a Tax Break Kristin Underwood (/author/kristin-underwood/) December 4, 2009

() () () (mailto:?subject=Locate Your B Corp in Philly, Get a Tax Break - Treehugger&body=Locate Your B Corp in Philly, Get a Tax Break%0D%0A%0D%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.treehugger.com%2Fcorporate-responsibility%2Flocate-your-b-corp-in- philly-get-a-tax-break.html)

Image via: Mr. Biggs on Flickr.com (http://www.�ickr.com/photos/mr_biggs/2421931752/)

Just this week, the City Council of Philadelphia (http://planetgreen.discovery.com/travel-

outdoors/philadelphia-city-guide.html) unanimously decided to o�er tax breaks to all B Corps located in the

city. Turns out, its a bit of help you help me as they found that most B Corps are also contributing to the

improvement of the city and the overall reduction of greenhouse gases. If that's what B Corps are doing,

what are they getting in the process? How can you get in on the bene�ts of the Sustainable Business Tax

Credit if you're a B Corp owners? First, your business has to be located in the City of Philadelphia. Next, "For

tax years 2012 through 2017, 25 eligible sustainable businesses

(https://www.treehugger.com/�les/2009/04/philadelphias-ambitious-sustainability-plan.php) shall

receive a tax credit of $4,000 to be used against the gross receipts portion of the Business Privilege Tax."

That means you've got to hurry up and get your B Corp certi�ed as a sustainable business to get one of those

25 spots.

When the City Council of Philadelphia began looking at the B Corps already located within the city, they

found a group that is already heavy into green energy, giving back to the community and promoting

"practice what you preach." Here's what they found:

- 72% of B Corps use renewable energy

(https://www.treehugger.com/�les/2007/09/bucks_county_pe_1.php)

- 51% percent have public transit or carpooling incentives

(https://www.treehugger.com/�les/2009/11/philadelphiavanguishes_new-york-with-highest-bicycle-

commute-rate.php)

- They are 30 times more likely to be located in green buildings

(https://www.treehugger.com/�les/2006/03/plumbers_expose.php)

82% have programs for community volunteering

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CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY Locate Your B Corp In Philly, Get A Tax Bre (mailto:?subject=Locate Your B Corp in Philly, Get a Tax Break - Treehugger&body=Locate Your B Corp in Philly, Get a Tax Break%0D%0A%0D%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.treehugger.com%2Fcorporate-responsibility%2Flocate-your-b-corp-in-philly-get-a-tax-

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(https://www.facebook.com/TreeHugger) (

- 82% have programs for community volunteering

- 74% are a�liated with a local charity and are 30 times more likely to donate at least 10% of their income to

charity

- 9 out of 10 are locally owned and are 3 times more likely to be owned by women or minorities

- 44% o�er some form of employee ownership

- Twice as likely to o�er health insurance and retirement plans

- 25% are saving money thanks to their B Certi�cation

Essentially, the city found that green businesses

(https://www.treehugger.com/�les/2007/09/philadelphia_ea.php) provide more than just economic

bene�ts. Yet, some in the green community are upset at the 25 business cap as it means that green

businesses will have to compete against each other

(https://www.treehugger.com/�les/2007/09/breaking_green_1.php) in order to earn the tax break. Of the

USD$369 million the city gets from business privilege tax revenue each year, essentially they will only be

forgiving USD$100,000 to B Corps. The city, for their part, said they would have considered expanding to

more businesses except for the tight �nancial situation they are in right now.

Businesses interested in becoming B Corps must be certi�ed by B Lab, an independent certi�cation

organization based in Berwyn. Applicants must �ll out a 200 question form covering everything from

employees, environment, consumers and the community. If you don't get one of the 25 tax breaks, you could

always consider moving to Braddock, PA (https://www.treehugger.com/�les/2009/10/move-to-braddock-

pa-and-a�ord-the-life-you-always-wanted-or-why-small-towns-are-best.php) - a town that is looking

to attract new (green) businesses and for really cheap.

Currently, the Pennsylvania cities of Yonkers

(https://www.treehugger.com/�les/2007/04/will_alsop_goes.php) and Media are also considering

implementing tax breaks for B Corps located within the city.

More on Sustainable Business

Jay Coen Gilbert and the Search for the Bene�cial Corporation

(https://www.treehugger.com/�les/2009/03/th-radio-b-corporation-1.php)

New Idiot's Guide Simpli�es the Equation: Green Business = Sustainable Planet

(http://planetgreen.discovery.com/work-connect/green-business-good-environment.html)

SustainableBusiness.com's List of Sustainable Stocks

(https://www.treehugger.com/�les/2005/08/sustainablebusi.php)

Go Green to Save Green: Sustainable Ideas for Every Business

(https://www.treehugger.com/�les/2007/11/go_green_to_sav.php)

Corporate Responsibility (/tag/corporate-responsibility/) Green Jobs (/tag/green-jobs/) Philadelphia (/tag/philadelphia/)

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CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY Locate Your B Corp In Philly, Get A Tax Bre (mailto:?subject=Locate Your B Corp in Philly, Get a Tax Break - Treehugger&body=Locate Your B Corp in Philly, Get a Tax Break%0D%0A%0D%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.treehugger.com%2Fcorporate-responsibility%2Flocate-your-b-corp-in-philly-get-a-tax-

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