Shapiro, state officials promote new tax credit
They urged all qualified Pa. residents to claim it during a visit to Turtle Creek on Monday.
Gov. Josh Shapiro, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis and other state officials are encouraging eligible state residents to take advantage of the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit to receive more money in their refunds.
Shapiro and Davis spoke Monday during a visit to the Human Services Center Mon Valley, a nonprofit in Turtle Creek committed to helping area residents improve their lives. They were accompanied by state Sen. Nick Pisciottano, D-West Mifflin, Rep. John Inglis, D-West Mifflin, and Rep. Brandon Markosek, D-Monroeville.
Residents can qualify based on their income and number of dependents, and the maximum credit is $805. Shapiro noted that the WPTC was one of seven tax reductions his administration recently secured.
“When I took office, I made a commitment to cut costs for Pennsylvanians and my administration is making real progress,” Shapiro said. “The Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit is the seventh tax cut we’ve delivered through bipartisan work with the Legislature — but there are more than 400,000 hardworking Pennsylvanians who have yet to claim this credit, and I want to make sure everyone who is eligible will get this money back into their pockets.”
Pennsylvanians are urged to verify their eligibility for the WPTC and utilize statewide tax-filing resources, such as HSCMV’s Volunteer In- come Tax Assistance program.
“With the support of forward thinking state policies under the leadership of the Shapiro- Davis administration, I believe the Mon Valley is starting to turn a corner,” Pisciottano said. “New state programs like the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit and the Child Care Tax Credit are the difference between a growing and a slowing economy — and a growing economy uplifts every Pennsylvanian.”
According to Shapiro, more than 35,000 Allegheny County residents claiming the WPTC have filed their taxes with the state, delivering $9 million to people who claimed the new credit.
Under the WPTC:
• A single working parent with three children earning $23,300 would receive the maximum of $805.
• A single working parent with two children who earns $50,000 per year would receive $154.
• A single working parent with three children who earns $45,000 per year would receive $349.
• A married couple with two children making $30,470 would receive $715.
• A married couple with three children making $60,000 would receive $183.
“Everyone knows that we’re also weathering an affordability crisis,” Pisciottano said. “It’s getting harder and harder to make ends meet. So new state programs like the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit and the Child Care Tax Credit help working families keep more of their money in their pockets. It helps retain and attract people to Pennsylvania as well. “We have to make sure that families are able to navigate those parts of their lives, and they have to be able to afford it. They’re going to want to live in places where they can have children and raise them and afford everything that comes along with growing their family.”
When Pennsylvania residents file their federal and state taxes this tax season, the Department of Revenue will automatically calculate the state credit. Anyone who qualifies for the federal EITC will automatically qualify for the state credit.
An online tool can help families determine if they qualify for the WPTC. To access the tool, families can visit www. pa.gov/agencies/revenue/ resources/tax-types-and-information/ personal- income- tax/working-pennsylvanians- tax-credit.
“We have a lengthy history of responding to community needs here in the Mon Valley, and the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit has already increased the return dollars for the people that we serve,” said Dave Coplan, executive director, Human Services Center Mon Valley. “Gov. Shapiro has made it a priority to help countless Pennsylvanians with their economic circumstances.”
According to Shapiro, the Department of Revenue has received tax returns from 492,960 filers claiming the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit. He added that approximately 450,000 Pennsylvanians who qualify have yet to file their taxes and claim this credit — including nearly 40,000 residents in Allegheny County.
Organizations like the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania provide free tax prep if eligible. Those interested can schedule an appointment online at https:// unitedwayswpa.org/our-impact/ community-change-collaboratives/ free-tax-prep.
