It’s tax season, and you’ve got a lot on your plate—from organizing tax records to meeting filing and payment deadlines. But getting your taxes done by someone else doesn’t have to be a hassle.
In Philadelphia, you can get help filing your taxes for free if you meet certain income and other requirements. Free tax help is also available through the IRS’ FREE File program. Even businesses can file their returns for free if they qualify! Keep reading to learn more.
Businesses get free tax prep too!
Philly businesses making under $250,000 in sales last year qualify for free tax filing! The City is taking many steps to ease the transition to filing the BIRT, including the Philadelphia Free Business Tax Preparation program from the Department of Commerce. You can get help in several languages other than English. Personalized business help is also available for qualifying businesses. Find out more in this blog post!
Residents can get taxes done for free
Qualifying Philadelphians can get free tax preparation services from six nonprofit organizations. Whether you need general tax prep or help filing your return in a language other than English, the following providers can help — and it’s free:
- Campaign for Working Families
- Philadelphia Chinatown Development Cooperation
- Ceiba
- HACE CDC
- Congreso
- Universal Financial Solutions
You can file online or in person with these providers. Their services are safe and secure. They’ll also help you claim tax credits like Child Tax Credit (CTC), Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Working Pennsylvanians tax Credit (WPTC), and other deductions if you qualify.
The CTC and EITC are federal tax credits given to eligible taxpayers. You can get up to $8,046 if you qualify for the EITC, and up to $2,200 if you qualify for the CTC. The WPTC is a new state tax credit that gives you up to $805. You automatically qualify for the state’s WPTC if you’re eligible for the federal EITC.
Even if you don’t have to file a federal tax return because your income is below the threshold, you might still be eligible for refunds, and these organizations will make sure you receive the credits you qualify for.
Don’t miss out!
Thousands of taxpayers took advantage of these free filing services last year. You can too! Visit our website to learn more about each provider, their services, eligibility criteria, and schedule.
Each of them has a different income limit based on your federal adjusted gross income. Your gross income includes your wages, dividends, capital gains, business income, and retirement distributions.
Get more free file services
Even if you don’t pick any of the providers listed on our website, you still have options. You can file a return at an IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site near you. Multiple VITA locations in Philadelphia are offering free filing services.
You can find providers in your area using this VITA Locator Tool or by calling 800-906-9887. Most free filers do not require an appointment. Make sure to bring your photo ID and all necessary tax documents.
There’s also MyFreeTaxes, which is another free tax filing service you can use. Check out myfreetaxes.com for more information about their tax help services.
