With the deadline to file 2021 personal income tax returns a week away, the Department of Revenue is reminding Pennsylvanians that they can use a free online option to file their Pennsylvania returns. Taxpayers can visit mypath.pa.gov to file their PA tax returns through the department’s state-only filing system.
In addition to being free, myPATH is user friendly and provides an option for the majority of taxpayers to seamlessly file the Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax Return (PA-40), make income tax payments, and access other services. The deadline to submit 2021 personal income tax returns is Monday April 18, 2022.
“myPATH is a great resource, especially if you are looking to avoid paying for third-party tax preparation software or for someone else to prepare your return for you,” Revenue Secretary Dan Hassell said. “Thousands of Pennsylvania taxpayers have already used myPATH this year to file their 2021 returns. It’s a simple process that we hope more of our customers will take advantage of prior to the filing deadline a week from today.”
No Username or Password Needed for Filing Returns through myPATH
Taxpayers do not need to create a username or password to perform many functions in myPATH. That includes filing a PA-40 or making a payment, responding to department requests for information, and checking the status of a refund.
In order to file the PA-40, taxpayers will need to provide their Social Security number and either: (1) the tax liability for a previous tax year; or (2) their birth date, Pennsylvania driver’s license/photo ID number and the expiration date for the license/photo ID.
If you choose to create a username and password in myPATH, you’ll have the ability to update/ view detailed account information and notices. You can also manage third-party access to your account, meaning you can give a tax professional or another person access to file your return and make payments on your behalf. A detailed list of instructions is available in the myPATH User Guide.
April 18 Deadline
All taxpayers who received more than $33 in total gross taxable income in calendar year 2021 must file a Pennsylvania personal income tax return by midnight, Monday, April 18, 2022. The deadline is extended this year due to Emancipation Day, a holiday in Washington, D.C., observed on Friday, April 15, which pushes the federal and state filing deadlines to April 18.
Taxpayer Service and Assistance
Personal income tax assistance is available through the department’s Online Customer Service Center and by calling 717-787-8201, a phone number that will connect customers with the Department of Revenue’s Customer Experience Center. Personal income tax assistance will be available on this phone line between 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, through the April 18, 2022 filing deadline. Meanwhile, the Online Customer Service Center contains answers to hundreds of common income tax questions and allows taxpayers to securely submit a question to the department through a process that is similar to sending an email.
Taxpayers may also visit a Department of Revenue district office for state personal income tax filing assistance. Assistance at district offices is available from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and taxpayers are encouraged to bring their Social Security cards and photo identification with them to facilitate tax filing. Taxpayers interested in visiting a district office are encouraged to call ahead to schedule an appointment.
Taxpayers can check the status of their refunds online by selecting the Where’s My Income Tax Refund? link on the department’s homepage; or by calling 1-888-PATAXES. Taxpayers will be prompted to provide their Social Security number and requested refund amount to obtain the current status.
Free tax forms and instructions are available at www.revenue.pa.gov.
Have You Received All of Your 2021 Child and Income Tax Credits?
As taxpayers work on filing their 2021 tax returns, the U.S. Treasury is encouraging American families and workers to file federal tax returns this year to ensure they are receiving the federal tax credits that many people are eligible for. The 2021 tax year was a historically large year for these tax credits, so Treasury officials are encouraging people to file their returns prior to the April 18, 2022 deadline so they can take advantage of these benefits. This applies even if you don’t normally file a return or didn’t earn enough income in 2021 to be required to file.
You can visit www.ChildTaxCredit.gov/triage for more information and free tools to file a federal return prior to the deadline. Whether or not you received Earned Income Tax Credits or monthly Child Tax Credit payments, you may still be eligible for more money.