PENNSYLVANIA — Governor Josh Shapiro, in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Office of Transformation and Opportunity (OTO) and Office of Digital Experience (CODE PA), has unveiled PAyback.pa.gov, an innovative system that guarantees refunds to residents, businesses, charities, and schools if their application fees are not processed within the stipulated timeframe.
“When I took office in January, I made a promise to the good people of Pennsylvania that my Administration would work at the speed of business and respond in a timely manner. Today, with the launch of PAyback, we are delivering on that promise, increasing transparency and accountability in the application process and giving Pennsylvanians the certainty they need to be successful,” said Governor Josh Shapiro.
“My Administration has made significant progress already to improve our processing timelines – eliminating backlogs and reducing the time it takes to do business with the Commonwealth. Now, thanks to the work of our teams at the Office of Transformation and Opportunity, the Office of General Counsel, the Office of Administration, and CODE PA, Pennsylvanians will have certainty – they will know how long it will take for agencies to respond, and if an agency doesn’t live up to that promise, they will get their money back.”
This initiative is a response to Executive Order 2023-07, which mandated all state agencies to standardize timeframes for issuing permits, licenses, and certifications. It also introduced the money-back guarantee tool for requesting refunds when these timeframes are not met.
In the 90 days following the order, every agency catalogued all 2,400 permits, licenses, and certifications issued to date. The OTO then developed efficient processing times based on agency recommendations, while CODE PA designed and created PAyback. This tool enables Pennsylvanians to select the specific permit or license needed to check for refund eligibility.
Governor Shapiro highlighted the significance of this launch, stating, “When I took office in January, I promised that my Administration would work at the speed of business and respond in a timely manner. Today, with the launch of PAyback, we are delivering on that promise, increasing transparency and accountability in the application process and giving Pennsylvanians the certainty they need to be successful.”
Key Points:
- Approved refunds will be notified within three business days and delivered via check within 45 days.
- Approximately 70% of all Commonwealth-issued permits qualify for a refund through PAyback.
- Retroactive applications will not be accepted. Refunds are available for completed applications onwards from November 1st, 2023.
- The Shapiro Administration has made significant progress in eliminating application backlogs and reducing processing times.
- Future plans include ongoing improvements to permitting, licensing, and certification processes through technological updates and filling key vacancies.
This initiative represents a significant step towards improving the efficiency and transparency of governmental operations in Pennsylvania.
To check your eligibility for a refund of permits, licenses, or certification application fees, visit payback.pa.gov.
For more information on the Shapiro Administration’s efforts to cut red tape and make government more effective and efficient, visit pa.gov/cuttingredtape.
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