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South Hills Bookkeeping

Bookkeeping services for South Hills businesses

The South Hills has some of the most complicated local tax math in the Pittsburgh region. Four communities, three different EIT rates, two tax collectors, and two counties. We know how all of it works, so your books stay right.

Jordan Peacock, owner of Peacock Bookkeeping Services
Certified Advanced QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor badgeJordan PeacockCertified Advanced QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor

About South Hills

Bookkeeping that knows your market

The South Hills is one of the most established business corridors south of Pittsburgh. Route 19 and Route 88 run through the heart of it, connecting Mt. Lebanon, Bethel Park, Upper St. Clair, and Peters Township. You'll find everything from long-running construction companies and family-owned restaurants to growing professional services firms and retail operations. The mix of industries here is as diverse as the communities themselves.

What makes the South Hills unique from a bookkeeping perspective is how different the tax situation is from one municipality to the next. Unlike the North Hills where all four townships share the same rate and collector, the South Hills has a patchwork of rates, two different tax collectors, and even a county line running through the middle of it. Peters Township is in Washington County while the other three are in Allegheny County. For business owners with employees spread across these communities, the withholding math gets complicated fast.

Local Tax Expertise

South Hills Tax Rates: A Municipality-by-Municipality Breakdown

  1. Here's where it gets detailed. Mt. Lebanon has a combined EIT rate of 1.3% (0.8% municipal plus 0.5% school district) and files through Jordan Tax Service. Bethel Park has the highest rate in the area at 1.75% (1.25% municipal plus 0.5% school district) and files through Keystone Collections. Upper St. Clair matches Mt. Lebanon at 1.3% and also files through Jordan Tax Service. Peters Township, which is actually in Washington County, has a combined rate of 1% (0.5% municipal plus 0.5% school district) and files through Keystone Collections.

  2. That means if you run a business in the South Hills and have employees living in different communities, you could be dealing with three different withholding rates at the same time, all sent to your own worksite's collector under each employee's home PSD code. An employee living in Bethel Park is withheld at 1.75%. An employee living in Mt. Lebanon is withheld at 1.3%. Get the rates or home codes mixed up and you're looking at penalties and refilings.

  3. We know how both Jordan Tax Service and Keystone Collections work, so when what your payroll provider withheld doesn't line up with an employee's home municipality or your books, we catch it and tell you what to fix.

Why Choose Us

Why South Hills businesses choose Peacock

  • Two Collectors, Two Counties, One Bookkeeper

    Jordan Tax Service handles Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair. Keystone Collections handles Bethel Park and Peters Township. Peters Township is in Washington County. We know which is which, so we catch it when your payroll provider files with the wrong one for your location.

  • Construction and Restaurant Experience

    The South Hills has a strong base of contractors and restaurant owners. We understand job costing for construction projects, tip reporting for restaurant staff, and the seasonal cash flow patterns that come with both industries.

  • Virtual, But We Know the Area

    We're based in Cranberry Township and work with clients across the Pittsburgh region. Everything runs through QuickBooks Online, so there's no need for in-person meetings. But we know the South Hills market and the tax landscape that comes with it.

  • Transparent Pricing

    Three plans starting at $399/mo. No hidden fees, no long-term contracts. You know exactly what you're paying before you sign up.

Common Questions

Frequently asked questions

Each municipality sets its own EIT rate, and the school district adds a separate percentage on top. Bethel Park's municipal rate is 1.25%, which is the highest in the area, while Peters Township's is just 0.5%. When you add the school district portion, the combined rates range from 1% to 1.75%. On top of that, two different collectors handle the filings depending on the municipality. It's one of the most fragmented tax setups in the Pittsburgh region.

Yes. Construction bookkeeping is one of our specialties. We handle job costing so you know the profitability of each project, track materials and subcontractor expenses, record payroll for crews that work across different municipalities, and keep your books organized for tax season. Bethel Park's 1.75% EIT rate also means your withholding math needs to be exact. We check your payroll provider's withholding against that rate and tell you when it's off.

Yes. Peters Township files through Keystone Collections under the Washington County system, not the Allegheny County system that covers the rest of the South Hills. The combined EIT rate is 1% there (0.5% municipal plus 0.5% school district). If you have employees who live in Allegheny County municipalities, the withholding rates and home PSD codes are different for each one, but all of it still goes to your own worksite's collector. We know the cross-county rules and tell you when your payroll provider's withholding doesn't line up.

No. We don't run payroll or file payroll returns, so your payroll provider files with the collectors. Jordan Tax Service handles Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair. Keystone Collections handles Bethel Park and Peters Township. We know both systems, so if your employees are spread across these communities, we catch it when a withholding has the wrong rate or home PSD code and tell you what to fix.

Absolutely. Catch-up bookkeeping is one of our most common services. Whether you're a few months behind or a few years behind, we'll reconcile everything, get your accounts current, and set up a system so it stays that way going forward.

At a Glance

Peacock Bookkeeping Services provides monthly bookkeeping and catch-up bookkeeping for South Hills businesses in Mt. Lebanon, Bethel Park, Upper St. Clair, and Peters Township. EIT rates in the South Hills range from 1 percent to 1.75 percent across two tax collectors, Jordan Tax Service and Keystone Collections. We work alongside your payroll provider and keep your books matched to it. We're based in Cranberry Township, PA and plans start at $399 per month. Call (412) 407-7420 for a free financial health check.

Ready to get your South Hills books in order?

Book a free call and see exactly where your business stands. No pressure, no jargon. Just a clear picture of your finances. 100% satisfaction guarantee your first month.