Pennsylvania Tax Filing
Filing Your Taxes in Pennsylvania
Filing taxes can be frustrating. Here, you can find information that will help make filing your taxes easier and faster. Find out what your residency status is, which forms you need to file and on what income.
One thing all people paying taxes in Pennsylvania need to keep in mind that Pennsylvania charges local and school taxes in addition to the 3.07% state income tax. If you have a low income, you may qualify for a Tax Forgiveness Credit.
Income tax returns must be filed by April 15th.
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Pennsylvania Tax Forms
- PA Schedule PA-40X - Pennsylvania Schedule PA-40X - Amended
- PA Tax Booklet - Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax Return Booklet
- PA Form PA-40 - Pennsylvania Income Tax Return
- Pennsylvania Schedule G - Pennsylvania Credit for Tax Paid To Other States
- Pennsylvania Form Rev-276 - Pennsylvania Application for Extension to File
- PA Schedule A/B - Pennsylvania Interest and Dividend Income, Income from Estates and Trusts
- Pennsylvania Schedule C (Form 1040) - Profit or Loss From Business
- Pennsylvania Form PA-8453 - Pennsylvania Individual Income Tax Declaration for Electronic Filing
- Schedule D (Form 1040) - Capital Gains and Losses
What is My Residency Status?
There are four groups of people who need to file some sort of tax form in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania residents, part-year Pennsylvania residents, people who live in Pennsylvania but work in another state, people who live in another state and work in Pennsylvania and people who sold property in Pennsylvania that tax year.
Pennsylvania Residents
Not all Pennsylvania residents are required to file an income tax return using Form PA-40. To find out if you have to file a Pennsylvania resident tax return and all of the information you need to do fill out Form PA-40 correctly, you can download the PA-40 Instructions Booklet above.
Part-Year Residents
Pennsylvania taxes any and all income earned in or out of state if you were a resident as well as on all income earned in Pennsylvania regardless of residency status. Part-year Pennsylvania residents must file a state income tax return using Form PA-40 for any income earned while they were residents of Pennsylvania. You will also need to file any additional forms for the time in which you were not a resident. Refer to page 15 of the Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax Guide, which you can download above, for help on filing a part-year resident return. There is a whole section dedicated to nonresident tax returns.
Pennsylvania Residents Who Work Out of State
Pennsylvania residents working in any state are still required to file an income tax return with Pennsylvania and the state in which they work. If you want to make sure you don’t get taxed twice (dual taxation), you will need to fill out Schedule G and file it with your Pennsylvania resident state income tax return (Form PA-40) and you will be credited for any taxes paid to other states.
Work in Pennsylvania, Live Out of State
If you do not live in Pennsylvania, but you work there, you will be required to file a tax return for any income earned in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania considers wages and salaries from employment as taxable income. To file taxes on income earned in Pennsylvania, fill out Schedule C. For more information on how to file as a nonresident and how to fill out a Schedule C, see the Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax Guide which you can download above.
Any nonresidents who sold property in Pennsylvania are required to file taxes on any income they earned from that sale. To file a return on income from the sale of property, fill out a Schedule D. For more information see the Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax Guide which you can download above.