Pennsylvania Revenue Department Extends Hours to Help Late-Season Tax Filers, Reminds Taxpayers of Benefits of Electronic Filing

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 8, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With the end of filing season approaching on April 18, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue is extending service hours for taxpayers to get help by phone, the department announced today.

The Taxpayer Service and Information Center will be open 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays from Monday, April 11 through Monday, April 18 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 16. Taxpayers can speak to a department representative by calling 717-787-8201. Assistance is also available through the Online Customer Service Center at www.revenue.pa.gov.

Taxpayers can get answers to specific questions about their 2015 personal income tax return and the department's electronic filing, or e-filing, options. E-filing offers advantages not available to taxpayers filing by paper, including error-reducing automatic calculators, instant confirmation of successful filing, faster refund processing and direct deposit options. E-filing is also more cost-effective for the department because electronically filed returns are less expensive to process and don't require department printing or mailing.

Electronic filing options include:  

• Padirectfile, a state-only personal income tax filing system available for free through the Department of Revenue's website at www.revenue.pa.gov
• PA Free File, available to filers with federal adjusted gross income of $62,000 or less. Software from reputable vendors allows qualifying taxpayers to file state and federal personal income tax returns simultaneously for free. Details about each company's free offer and links to the software are available at www.pafreefile.com.
• The Fed/State e-file program, available to those who prefer electronically filing state and federal tax returns for a fee, using software available from reputable vendors.

Taxpayers have until midnight, Monday, April 18, to file state and federal income tax returns.

Help at Revenue District Offices
In addition to assistance by phone and online, taxpayers can visit a Revenue district office, listed in the government pages of local phone directories, for basic state personal income tax filing assistance. Assistance at district offices is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and taxpayers are encouraged to bring their Social Security cards with them to facilitate tax filing.

MEDIA CONTACT: Kevin Hensil, 717-787-6960

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Revenue

Related Links

http://www.state.pa.us