HARRISBURG, PA — Nearly 100,000 Pennsylvanians with simple tax situations may be able to file their 2025 state income tax return in just a few steps under a new free pilot program launched by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.
What This Means for You
- Eligible taxpayers can file their PA-40 online without re-entering W-2 wage data.
- Nearly 100,000 residents will receive letters inviting them to participate.
- The state filing deadline is Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
The new program, called Fast File, is designed for taxpayers with straightforward returns and limited income sources. It allows qualified users to complete their Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax Return, known as the PA-40, through the state’s myPATH online system at https://mypath.pa.gov/.
Under the pilot, employer-reported W-2 information — the wage and tax withholding form provided by employers — is automatically uploaded into the system. That eliminates the need for taxpayers to manually enter wage and withholding data.
“Under Governor Shapiro’s leadership, we are continually looking for ways to lower costs and offer new and improved online services,” Revenue Secretary Pat Browne said. “Our Fast File initiative reflects that commitment and our belief that it should be easy for Pennsylvanians to handle their tax-filing obligations.”
He added that the state already receives employer-reported withholding data, making it possible to streamline the filing process for eligible residents.
Who Qualifies
According to the Department of Revenue, Fast File is limited to:
- Single taxpayers who were full-time Pennsylvania residents in the prior year.
- Taxpayers with only one W-2 income source from the same employer.
- Taxpayers whose employer has already filed the corresponding W-2 with the department.
- Taxpayers not claiming deductions, credits, or carry-forwards.
- Taxpayers who did not make estimated payments in the prior year.
Those identified as eligible will receive a letter encouraging them to use the Fast File option through myPATH.
More information about the program is available at https://www.pa.gov/agencies/revenue/.
Pilot Program Goals
The Department of Revenue said Fast File is launching as a pilot as the agency explores ways to modernize the tax-filing process.
Officials said one goal is to encourage taxpayers who traditionally file paper returns to move online. Processing electronic returns reduces administrative costs and speeds up processing times, which the department said can help save taxpayer dollars.
April 15 Deadline
All Pennsylvania residents who received more than $33 in total gross taxable income during calendar year 2025 must file a PA-40 return by midnight Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
Taxpayers who receive a Fast File letter and have questions can use the contact information included in the letter or submit inquiries through the Department of Revenue’s Online Customer Service Center at https://revenue-pa.custhelp.com/.
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