After being nominated by Gov. Josh Shapiro, Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne June 29 officially became the secretary of his respective office in accordance with the Pennsylvania Constitution.

“I’m extremely grateful to have been nominated by Gov. Shapiro to lead the Department of Revenue,” Browne said. “In my short time leading the department, I have been deeply impressed by the many dedicated professionals in our agency who work every day to ensure that we do our part to fund essential programs and services for all Pennsylvanians. We strive to administer the Commonwealth’s tax laws and revenue programs as fairly and efficiently as possible. We recognize the importance of this work and the key role that we play in the Governor’s vision of offering freedom and opportunity for the people of Pennsylvania.”

Browne has a long career in public service.

Prior to his nomination by Shapiro, he served for 28 years in the General Assembly, representing Lehigh and Northampton counties.

He first represented the 131st District as a member of the state House of Representatives.

He was later elected to serve the 16th District in the state senate.

During his legislative career, Browne was the author of dozens of bills, including those focused on job creation, education, pension reform, and improvements to state government.

During his service in the senate, Browne was elected to serve as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which led him to play a leading role in shaping fiscal policy and the Commonwealth budget.

Browne also has professional experience as an attorney and certified public accountant, making him uniquely positioned to lead the Department of Revenue.

Since taking office in January, following his nomination by Shapiro, Browne has:

• Advocated for Shapiro’s proposed budget, which includes a major expansion of the property tax/rent rebate program that benefits older residents and Pennsylvanians with disabilities.

Under the Governor’s proposal, the maximum standard rebate will increase from $650 to $1,000, the income cap for renters and homeowners will both increase to $45,000 a year, and these caps will be tied to the cost of living moving forward. Under the Governor’s plan, nearly 175,000 more Pennsylvanians will qualify for the program and many of the 430,000 people who already qualify will see their rebates increase. The Department of Revenue, which administers the program, is prepared to deliver this additional relief to people in need.

• Announced the extension of the filing deadline for rebates on rent and property taxes paid in 2022 to ensure more eligible applicants can take advantage of the program.

• Oversaw a successful tax filing season, which involves the processing of more than 6.5 million personal income tax returns. This year’s tax season was the first time the department has issued relief to working families through the Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit. The department has issued more than 200,000 credits to working families who filed 2022 income tax returns.

• Issued a warning on a recurring scam that involves phony letters sent to taxpayers through the mail.

• Encouraged taxpayers to visit select senior and community centers during tax season for help with their PA personal income tax returns and property tax/rent rebate applications.

• Updated monthly revenue reports to provide additional context and expand consumer-focused information. This was done to better explain variances between reporting periods and highlight economic conditions that are responsible for revenue performance. This provides Shapiro’s staff and members of the General Assembly with additional information on the Commonwealth’s fiscal outlook.

You can read more about Browne by visiting the Department of Revenue’s website.