Harrisburg, PA — With tax season officially underway, Pennsylvania Department of Revenue Secretary Pat Browne is encouraging Pennsylvanians to take advantage of new and expanded state tax credits championed by Governor Josh Shapiro that will deliver meaningful tax relief to working Pennsylvanians across the Commonwealth this year.
Thanks to Governor Shapiro, this tax season brings historic tax relief for working Pennsylvanians. Eligible taxpayers can now claim the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit (WPTC), created in the 2025-26 budget signed by the Governor last year. Modeled after the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), the WPTC can provide up to $805 in tax relief.
The credit is expected to deliver $193 million in tax savings to approximately 940,000 Pennsylvanians this year. Anyone who qualifies for the federal EITC automatically qualifies for the state credit, helping to put more money back into the pockets of working Pennsylvanians. Visit pa.gov/wptc for more information and to check eligibility using an online calculator.
In addition, the Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit offers significantly expanded relief for working families across the Commonwealth. Governor Shapiro advocated for legislation two years ago that has tripled the amount of relief available through this credit.
Eligible families can receive between $600 and $2,100, depending on income level and number of dependents. Visit pa.gov/childcarecredit for more information and to check eligibility.
“Governor Shapiro led the charge last year to create the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit and two years ago to significantly expand the Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit — both of which will deliver real, meaningful relief to hardworking Pennsylvanians and their families when they file their tax returns this tax season,” said Secretary Browne. “We want Pennsylvanians to know these credits are available and that we offer free, user-friendly tools to help them claim every dollar they’re eligible for before the April 15 filing deadline.”
Secretary Browne also reminded taxpayers that the Department of Revenue offers a free online filing option through myPATH for the PA Personal Income Tax Return (PA-40), making it easier and more affordable for Pennsylvanians to file on time.
Free, Secure Filing with myPATH
Pennsylvanians can file their PA Personal Income Tax Return (PA-40) for free using myPATH — short for My Pennsylvania Tax Hub. The platform is accessible on computers, tablets, and mobile devices and includes automatic calculators to help reduce errors and provide instant confirmation once a return is successfully filed. myPATH is available for state tax filing only; taxpayers will need to find other options to file federal and local returns.
Taxpayers do not need to create a username or password in order to file a PA-40. To file, taxpayers need a Social Security number and either:
- Tax liability from a previous year, or
- Date of birth and Pennsylvania driver’s license or photo ID information.
Taxpayers can also file their PA-40 through myPATH in Spanish, and the department offers a Spanish Language Resources page with additional resources.
April 15 Filing Deadline
All taxpayers who earned more than $33 in total gross taxable income in 2025 are required to file a Pennsylvania personal income tax return by midnight on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
Taxpayer Filing Resources and Assistance
Personal income tax assistance is available through the department's Online Customer Service Center and by calling 717-787-8201 between 8:30 AM and 5 PM, Monday through Friday. The Online Customer Service Center contains answers to hundreds of common income tax questions and allows taxpayers to securely submit a question to the department through a process that is similar to sending an email. Step-by-step video guides are also available in the department’s Revenue411 instructional video series.
Taxpayers may also visit a Department of Revenue district office for state personal income tax filing assistance. Assistance at district offices is available from 8:30 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. Customers are encouraged to call ahead to make appointments, and they should also bring their Social Security cards and photo identification with them to facilitate tax filing.
Taxpayers can check the status of their refunds online by selecting the Where's My Income Tax Refund? link on the department's homepage; or by calling 1-888-PATAXES. Taxpayers will be prompted to provide their Social Security number and requested refund amount to obtain the current status.
Free tax forms and instructions are available at revenue.pa.gov.