The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue (DOR) launched a free pilot program offering eligible Pennsylvanians a simplified way to file their PA Personal Income Tax Return (PA-40) this tax season.

The Fast File initiative is for Pennsylvania taxpayers with a straightforward state tax return and who meet other specific criteria.

The Department of Revenue identified nearly 100,000 Pennsylvanians who may qualify to use Fast File ahead of the April 15 deadline for filing taxes. Eligible taxpayers will receive letters in the mail encouraging them to use the Fast File option through myPATH, DOR’s online tax-filing system.

“Our Fast File initiative reflects that commitment and our belief that it should be easy for Pennsylvanians to handle their tax-filing obligations,” said DOR Secretary Pat Browne.

Who is eligible for Fast File?

• Single taxpayers who were full-time residents of Pennsylvania in the prior year.

• Taxpayers with only one W-2 income source (wages, etc.) from the same employer in the prior year.

• Taxpayers whose employer has filed the corresponding W-2 with the Department of Revenue.

• Taxpayers not claiming deductions, credits, or carry forwards.

• Taxpayers who did not make estimated payments in the prior year.

About Fast File

Fast File is launching this year as a pilot program as the Department of Revenue explores new ways to simplify and modernize the tax-filing process.

A key goal of the initiative is to encourage Pennsylvanians who have traditionally filed paper returns to transition to online filing. Moving more returns online reduces processing time, lowers taxpayers’ costs, and helps the Department operate more efficiently — ultimately saving taxpayer dollars.

April 15 deadline

All taxpayers who received more than $33 in total gross taxable income in calendar year 2025 must file a Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax (PA-40) return by midnight, Wednesday, April 15.

Tax returns can help military, veterans

Pennsylvanians filing their 2025 state income tax returns can help Pennsylvania’s military personnel, veterans, and their families by donating any amount of their refund to the state’s Military Family Relief Assistance Fund and/or Veterans’ Trust Fund (VTF).

Both trust funds are administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), which provides resources and assistance to veterans, military members, and their families across the commonwealth — 100% of the tax refund donations received go to the recipients of these trust funds.

Pennsylvanians interested in donating should refer to the 2025 Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax Return Instructions (PA-40 IN).

“Year after year, Pennsylvanians demonstrate their deep commitment to our veterans, active military, and their families through the generous donations made to support DMVA’s grant programs,” said Maj. Gen. John Pippy, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the DMVA.

Military Family Relief Assistance Program (MFRAP)

The MFRAP helps Pennsylvania service members and their families by providing financial assistance to those with a direct, immediate financial need resulting from circumstances beyond their control.

Examples of how MFRAP grants helped service members in 2025 include the following:

• A service member was on active duty overseas when their home sustained major fire damage. With assistance from the Red Cross, the service member returned home. Their partner and two adult children with disabilities remain in a local hotel while awaiting an insurance determination. A $5,000 grant was approved to help cover living expenses during this period.

• A service member experienced financial hardship due to recent medical expenses that were not fully covered by health insurance. A $5,000 grant was approved to help offset these additional costs.

• While a service member was on active duty overseas, their spouse faced a major sewer repair at the family home. A $5,000 grant was approved to assist with the repair expenses.

• A service member encountered significant financial hardship due to a complex clerical error during the transition to a new military pay system, resulting in no pay for more than eight months and accumulation of overdue bills. A $5,000 grant was approved to assist with past-due expenses.

Reserve component service members (including Pennsylvania National Guard members) and their families may be eligible for a grant for a period of up to three years after release from a qualifying active-duty tour.

Veterans’ Trust Fund

The VTF provides funding to assist and support Pennsylvania veterans and their families. The VTF issues grants to statewide charitable organizations that assist veterans, veterans’ service organizations, and county directors of veterans affairs.

Since the VTF grant program began in 2013, $18.6 million has been awarded to veterans and veterans’ organizations across Pennsylvania.

Private donations can be made at www.donate.dmva.pa.gov.

Legislation to reform pharmacy benefit managers

Sen. Wayne Langerholc, Jr., R-35, Sen. Judy Ward, R-30, and Sen. Pat Stefano, R-32, this week announced their intent to introduce legislation to substantially reform pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to better serve Pennsylvania residents.

PBMs are third-party companies that act as intermediaries in the prescription drug supply chain, managing drug benefits on behalf of health insurers, employers, government programs, and others.

Act 77 of 2024 started the process of reigning in PBMs that were harming local pharmacies and jeopardizing the health and safety of commonwealth residents. While those reforms were an important step forward, additional action is needed to protect access to essential medical care.

The proposed legislation would grant the Office of the Attorney General authority to review all contractual renewals and terminations between pharmacies and PBMs to assess their impact on local communities. It would also provide the Attorney General with statutory authority to pursue legal remedies against PBMs on behalf of the commonwealth and its residents, a power the office currently lacks.

Additionally, the legislation would require PBMs to appear in Pennsylvania courts for any cause of action arising from conduct within the commonwealth. This provision would prevent PBMs from forcing Pennsylvania residents to travel across the country to defend their access to essential medical care.

To improve government efficiency, the bill would require the state Board of Pharmacy to automatically notify PBMs of any disciplinary action taken by the board or the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) against a pharmacy. It would also prohibit PBMs from holding a pharmacy license in Pennsylvania.

Finally, the legislation would expand contractual limitations established under Act 77 of 2024 by ensuring that terminations cannot occur solely on the basis of the successful completion of corrective action plans, along with other measures designed to protect fair business practices and patient access to care.

“While productive conversations have taken place, it is now clear that further legislative action is necessary,” Langerholc said. “The residents of the commonwealth should not have their essential prescriptions held hostage due to a contractual dispute.”

“By allowing the Office of Attorney General to provide oversight to pharmacy benefit managers, we can ensure there is transparency and accountability to pharmacies across the commonwealth,” Ward said. “Many pharmacies, especially community pharmacies, have closed their doors because of unfair PBM practices, which have left many individuals and communities without a local pharmacy.”

“Across our rural communities, we have consistently heard from constituents and businesses about the serious challenges that pharmacies are facing,” Stefano said.