State offering free help with taxes
Department of Revenue officials will visit senior centers Wednesday in Clairton and Thursday in McKeesport.
Some Mon Valley residents will soon have an opportunity to get free, in-person help filing state tax returns and applying for property tax and rent rebates when representatives from Pennsylvania’s Department of Revenue visit local senior centers later this month.
The assistance sessions are part of a statewide outreach effort aimed at helping eligible residents navigate the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program and other tax benefits during the current filing season.
Two sessions are scheduled locally in Allegheny County. Staff from the Department of Revenue will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Steel Valley Active Life Center in Clairton and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at the Mon Valley Active Life Center in McKeesport.
Officials said the events are intended to bring tax filing assistance directly into communities where residents may need it most, particularly older adults and those with disabilities who qualify for rebate programs.
“Our team has had a lot of success in recent years traveling to communities across Pennsylvania and meeting people where they are to provide in-person support,” Department of Revenue Secretary Pat Browne said in a statement.
Department staff will assist residents with filing applications for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program, completing Pennsylvania personal income tax returns and applying for the state’s new Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit.
The rebate program provides financial relief to eligible Pennsylvanians who paid property taxes or rent during the previous year. It is open to residents age 65 and older, widows and widowers age 50 and older and adults with disabilities age 18 and older.
Officials say the program has expanded in recent years, allowing more residents to qualify for assistance. According to the Department of Revenue, more than 512,000 rebates totaling $314 million were issued last year. Data from the past two years shows the expansion has allowed about 165,000 people to receive a rebate for the first time.
Representatives will also help residents complete their Pennsylvania personal income tax returns, known as PA-40 forms, as the April tax deadline approaches. Taxpayers who earned more than $33 in gross taxable income during calendar year 2025 must file a Pennsylvania income tax return by midnight April 15.
In addition, assistance will be available for the new Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit, created in the 2025-26 state budget. Modeled after the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, the state credit equals 10 percent of the federal credit and can provide up to $805 depending on income and family size. Anyone who qualifies for the federal credit will automatically qualify for the state program.
Residents seeking help with rebate applications should review eligibility guidelines ahead of time. Those attending the events for tax filing help should bring income statements, photo identification and Social Security cards for themselves and any dependents.
Applicants for the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit must also bring a completed federal tax return, or IRS Form 1040, so staff can determine the credit amount.
Additional assistance is also available at Department of Revenue district offices from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Residents are encouraged to call or email ahead to schedule an appointment.
Officials recommend calling the host centers in Clairton or McKeesport before attending to confirm availability and schedule a time, as appointments may fill quickly and weather could affect the schedule.
