HARRISBURG, PA — With tax season underway and the Wednesday, April 15, 2026, filing deadline approaching, Pennsylvania is urging workers and families to claim new and expanded state tax credits that officials say could put hundreds — and in some cases thousands — of dollars back into taxpayers’ pockets this year.
Revenue Secretary Pat Browne said two credits promoted by Gov. Josh Shapiro are central to the push: the new Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit and a significantly expanded Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit.
Created in the 2025-26 state budget signed last year, the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit is modeled after the federal Earned Income Tax Credit and can provide up to $805 in state tax relief, the Department of Revenue said. The credit is expected to deliver $193 million in savings to about 940,000 Pennsylvanians this year, according to the department, with eligibility tied directly to the federal EITC — meaning anyone who qualifies federally automatically qualifies for the state credit.
Taxpayers can learn more and check eligibility through an online calculator at pa.gov/wptc.
The department also highlighted expanded relief through the Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit, which officials said has tripled the amount of assistance available after legislation Shapiro supported two years ago. Eligible families can receive between $600 and $2,100, depending on income level and the number of dependents, the department said. Details and eligibility information are available at pa.gov/childcarecredit.
“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,” Browne said. “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.”
Browne also promoted myPATH — short for My Pennsylvania Tax Hub — as a free online filing option for the state Personal Income Tax Return, known as the PA-40. The platform works on computers, tablets, and mobile devices, includes automatic calculators designed to reduce errors, and provides confirmation once a return is filed, the department said. The system is for state taxes only; taxpayers must use other options to file federal and local returns.
The department said taxpayers do not need a username or password to file a PA-40 through myPATH. To file, taxpayers need a Social Security number and either their prior-year tax liability, or their date of birth along with Pennsylvania driver’s license or photo identification information. The department said the PA-40 can also be filed through myPATH in Spanish and pointed taxpayers to its Spanish-language resources.
The Department of Revenue said 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.
For help, the department said personal income tax assistance is available through its Online Customer Service Center and by phone at 717-787-8201 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. It also cited its Revenue411 instructional video series with step-by-step guides.
Taxpayers can also seek in-person assistance at Department of Revenue district offices during the same weekday hours, though the department encouraged residents to call ahead for appointments and to bring Social Security cards and photo identification.
Refund status can be checked online through the “Where’s My Income Tax Refund?” link on the department’s homepage or by calling 1-888-PATAXES, the department said. Free tax forms and instructions are available at revenue.pa.gov.
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