Philadelphia Free Tax Prep 2027: City Partners, VITA Income Limits, the Wage Tax Refund and What to Bring

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Every year, Philadelphians leave a lot of money unclaimed. The City says eligible residents leave more than $100 million in federal Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit money on the table. CBS Philadelphia reported this spring that an estimated 40,000 people in the city miss credits they qualify for each year.

Free, IRS-certified tax preparation is one of the simplest ways to fix that. Philadelphia also has two money-savers that many paid preparers skip: Pennsylvania's new Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit, and the City's income-based Wage Tax refund, which can return part of the city wage tax taken out of your paycheck.

This guide covers who offers free filing in Philadelphia, the income limits, what to bring, and how to make sure both of those extras get claimed.

Last checked October 2026. Sources: the City of Philadelphia's free tax preparation page and its March 30, 2026 Department of Revenue article on the income-based Wage Tax refund; Campaign for Working Families; the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue's Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit page; the IRS VITA/TCE and "what to bring" pages; and CBS Philadelphia's April 2026 report. Providers usually post 2027-season sites and hours in January. The details below are from the 2026 season, so check them again before you go.

The Short Version

City-partnered free filers: Campaign for Working Families, Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, Ceiba, HACE CDC, Congreso and Universal Financial Solutions. All of them prepare federal and state returns for free if you qualify.
IRS VITA income guideline: the IRS says VITA serves people who generally make about $70,244 or less.
Over 60? Look for TCE sites, most of which are run by AARP Foundation Tax-Aide (888-227-7669).
Find any VITA or TCE site: the IRS VITA Locator or 800-906-9887.
New state credit: the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit equals 10% of your federal EITC, up to $805, and you can get it even if you owe no PA tax.
City Wage Tax refund: if you're approved for PA tax forgiveness, the City treats you as owing only 1.5% Wage Tax and refunds the rest.
Campaign for Working Families: 215-454-6483, getinfo@cwfphilly.org.

Who Offers Free Tax Prep in Philadelphia

The City lists these partners on its free tax preparation page. Each one prepares federal and state returns for free, and some also file the City Wage Tax refund. The City says people with disabilities or limited English can file free with a City partner or an IRS VITA provider even when income-based rules would otherwise apply.

| Provider | What's included | Who it's free for | When (per the City) | |---|---|---|---| | Campaign for Working Families (CWF) | Federal and state returns; EITC and CTC | Low-income families | Throughout tax season, until the end of the e-filing season (usually mid-October) | | Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation | City Wage Tax refunds; federal and state; EITC and CTC | Limited English speakers, people with disabilities, or anyone earning under $64,000 | February to March | | Ceiba Inc. | City Wage Tax refunds; federal and state | Limited English speakers, low-income families | Year-round | | HACE CDC | Federal and state; EITC and CTC | Low-income families | Tax season only | | Congreso | Federal and state; EITC and CTC | Annual income up to $73,000 | Tax season only | | Universal Financial Solutions | Federal and state; EITC and CTC | Low-income families | January–April |

The City says you can use these providers in person or online, and that most free filers don't require an appointment. Campaign for Working Families does take appointments, though: its staff told commenters to book at the tax site nearest them or call 215-454-6483.

Campaign for Working Families

CWF is the largest name on the list and an IRS VITA partner. Its headquarters is at 935 N. 29th Street in Brewerytown, and CBS Philadelphia reported that volunteers there, including Wharton students who earn IRS certification and course credit, prepare returns throughout the season. CWF also offers a virtual filing option if you'd rather not go in person.

Phone: 215-454-6483
Email: getinfo@cwfphilly.org
Sites and booking: cwfphilly.org, under "Tax Sites"

Because CWF's season runs until the mid-October e-filing deadline, it's also an option if you filed an extension or missed the April deadline.

MyFreeTaxes

The City also points to MyFreeTaxes (myfreetaxes.com) as another free option, including for people with disabilities or limited English.

IRS VITA and TCE Sites

VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) and TCE (Tax Counseling for the Elderly) are IRS programs run by local partners. According to the IRS:

VITA serves people who generally make about $70,244 or less, along with people with disabilities and limited English speakers.
TCE focuses on people 60 and older, especially questions about pensions and retirement income.
Every volunteer who prepares returns must pass IRS-standard tax law training, and every return gets a quality review before it's filed.

To find a site, use the IRS VITA Locator Tool or call 800-906-9887. For AARP Tax-Aide sites, use AARP's site locator or call 888-227-7669 between January and April.

Before you go, the IRS suggests checking Publication 3676-B, which lists the kinds of returns volunteers can and can't prepare. Complicated returns, such as some business or rental income, may be out of scope.

Don't Miss the New Pennsylvania Credit

Pennsylvania created the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit (WPTC) in the 2025–26 state budget, which Governor Shapiro signed on November 12, 2025. The 2026 filing season was the first time anyone could claim it.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue:

The credit is 10% of your federal EITC, up to $805.
If you qualify for the federal EITC and have earned income in Pennsylvania, you automatically qualify.
It's refundable, so you can get it even if you owe no Pennsylvania income tax.
To get it, you have to file both your federal Form 1040 (claiming the EITC) and your PA-40.
The Department needs a copy of your federal Form 1040 to calculate the credit. If you file the PA-40 on the state's free myPATH system, you'll be asked to enter your federal EITC amount and upload your 1040. Paper filers should attach a copy of the 1040.

The easiest approach is to have your free preparer file the federal and state returns together. When you get your copy, check that the PA-40 shows the credit.

Questions: Department of Revenue, 717-425-2495 ext. 97821.

Get Back City Wage Tax With the Income-Based Refund

If you work in Philadelphia, Wage Tax comes out of every paycheck. For 2025, the City's Department of Revenue lists the rate at 3.74% for residents and 3.43% for nonresidents. Lower-income workers can get much of that back.

How it works: if you qualify and are approved, the City treats you as owing just 1.5% and refunds everything you paid above that.

Who qualifies: you must first be approved for Pennsylvania Tax Forgiveness, which you claim on PA Schedule SP with your PA-40. Eligibility depends on the state's income and household-size tables for Schedule SP. Both residents and nonresidents can qualify.

What you need:

Your W-2, showing Philadelphia local wages and Medicare withholding
A copy of your PA-40
A copy of your PA Schedule SP

Where to apply: online at tax-services.phila.gov. On the homepage, find the "Refunds" panel and choose "Request Employee Wage Tax Refund." You don't need a username or password. The City notes that ITIN filers have to use the paper petition.

Ask your preparer about this. Chinatown Development Corporation and Ceiba list City Wage Tax refunds among their services, and the City says its partners can file the refund for you free of charge. File your state return with Schedule SP first, then submit the City petition with copies of those forms.

What to Bring

This list comes from the IRS checklist for free tax preparation:

Identity

Original photo ID for you and your spouse if you're filing jointly
Social Security cards for you, your spouse and your dependents. If anyone doesn't have an SSN, bring the ITIN notice, or the IP PIN letter (CP01A) if you received one
Birth dates for everyone on the return

Income

W-2s from every employer, plus any W-2G, 1099-R or 1099-MISC
SSA-1099 if you received Social Security
1099s for bank interest or dividends
Income transcripts from the IRS or state, if you have them

Other

Last year's federal and state returns, if you have them
A blank check or your bank's routing and account numbers, for direct deposit
The total you paid for child care, plus the provider's tax ID (SSN or EIN)
Form 1095-A if you had Marketplace health insurance

Married filing jointly? The IRS says both spouses must be present to sign the forms needed to e-file.

Extra for Philadelphia filers: bring every W-2 that shows Philadelphia local wages withheld, so your preparer can see whether the Wage Tax refund applies.

Your Information Is Protected

The City says its partner providers and IRS VITA preparers can't share or use your tax information for anything other than filing your taxes. That matters if you're worried about your immigration status, a benefits case or old debts.

A Simple Plan for the 2027 Season

Early January: check the CWF tax-site page and the City's free tax prep page for 2027 locations and hours.
Collect your documents as they arrive. W-2s are usually mailed by the end of January.
Book or walk in with a City partner, a VITA site or an AARP Tax-Aide site.
Ask three questions: "Am I getting the EITC and Child Tax Credit?" "Is the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit on my PA-40?" and "Do I qualify for Schedule SP and the City Wage Tax refund?"
After the state return is filed, submit the City Wage Tax refund petition at tax-services.phila.gov if your preparer didn't do it for you.