Tax Information

Tax Assistance

Tax assistance for low to moderate income ($40,000 and below for a family of 4) taxpayers and the elderly is offered at numerous sites in Allegheny and surrounding counties during tax filing season (generally February 1 through the middle of April). Most are part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA).

Options to locate a tax assistance site include:

• Call the United Way Help Line, 412 255-1155, to find a tax help site based on your zipcode. A detailed listing of the area's larger sites including Downtown, East Liberty, Oakland, North Side and South Side is also available.
• The AARP Tax-Aide program has IRS certified volunteers who provide free tax counseling and preparation services to millions of low and middle income taxpayers, especially those ages 60 and older. Visit the AARP Tax-Aide site locator, enter your zipcode and receive location addresses, schedules, and other contact information.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh will have tax return preparation at these locations:

• Hill District Branch, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, 2177 Centre Ave. at Kirkpatrick St., 15219
  VITA site operates on selected Saturdays; Feb. 4 - Apr. 14; 11:30 am - 3:00 pm; by appointment; 412 281-3753
• Homewood Branch, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, 7101 Hamilton Ave., 15208
  VITA site operates on Saturdays; Feb. 4 - Apr. 7; 11 am - 1:30 pm; by appointment; 412 731-3080.
• Squirrel Hill Branch, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, 5801 Forbes Ave., 15217
  AARP site operates Feb. 2 - Apr. 14; Tuesdays 12 pm - 3 pm; Thursdays 12 pm - 3 pm; Saturdays 10 am - 3 pm; by appointment; 412 422-9650.


Federal, state and city employees offer tax assistance at the following sites:

• City County Building, 2nd floor, Ross Street side (Downtown)
  VITA site; family income under $40,000, elderly, disabled; federal and state returns as well as PACE and property tax/rent rebate; City of Pittsburgh employees complete city tax returns; operates Feb. 1 - Apr. 18; Mon.- Fri., 9 am - 3 pm (no returns started after 2:15 pm); first come first served, walk-ins only.
• Federal Building, 1000 Liberty Ave., 1st floor (Downtown)
  IRS employees will complete federal and state returns; Tues., Wed. and Thurs., starting Jan. 31, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm; by appointment which must be made in person; appointments run from 10 am - 3:30 pm; picture id needed to enter the Federal Building.
• Chamber of Commerce Building, 411 7th Ave. (Downtown)
  PA Dept. of Revenue employees will complete state returns and property tax/rent rebates, Mon. - Fri. 8:30 am - 4 pm; walk-ins only.

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Tax Forms

Downtown & Business participates in the federal Tax Forms Outlet Program (TFOP) and provides forms, instructions and several of the most-requested IRS publications such as Pub. 17, Your Federal Income Tax. Well written and easy to understand, this is a good starting place to find answers to the most frequently asked tax questions.

Pennsylvania and City of Pittsburgh forms and instructions are, or will be, available at Downtown & Business. For availability of forms at other library locations, please contact your library.

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United States - Federal Taxes

At 1040 Central find what you need to file your federal taxes:

• Do you qualify for free e-filing? Check the IRS Free File providers or go to I Can! E-file, a web site created by the non-profit Legal Aid Society of Orange County (CA).
• Are you eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit?
• Check the status of your return or refund.
• Download or order forms and publications.

Useful Hotline numbers for federal forms and tax help:

• 1-800-829-1040  -  IRS Tax Help Line for Individuals
• 1-800-829-4933  -  IRS Tax Help Line for Businesses
• 1-800-829-3676  -  IRS Forms and Publications Ordering
• 1-800-829-1954  -  IRS Refund Hotline
• 1-800-796-1074  -  IRS Extension to File
• 1-877-777-4778  -  National Taxpayer Advocate Help Line
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Pennsylvania - State Taxes

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue's e-Services web page includes links to:

• Use Pa.direct.file - free e-filing of PA state tax return.
• Check the status of your return or refund.
• Download or order forms and publications.
• Get information on various individual and business taxes.

Useful Hotline numbers for state forms and tax help:

• 1-888-728-2937  -  PA Tax Fact and Information Line (automated) - check status of return; order forms and publications
• 1-717-787-8201  -  PA personal income tax questions
• 1-717-787-1064  -  PA business tax questions
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Local Taxes

• Beginning January 2012 all employers are required to withhold local earned income tax from their employees, according to Act 32, Local Earned Income Tax Collection Reform Act. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development provides information on local taxes.
• Local Earned Income Tax Residency Certification Form is the form that taxpayers must submit to their employer.
• Find the EIT rates and PSD codes that correspond to your own and your employer's school district and municipality.
• Jordan Tax Service, the municipal tax collector for the City of Pittsburgh and other localities, offers information on Act 32 for both taxpayers and employers.
• City of Pittsburgh Department of Finance has forms and information for residents and businesses within the city limits.
  
• Call 412-255-2524 for forms and 412-255-8822 for tax questions.
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Related Tax Links

• Tax and Accounting Sites Directory is a comprehensive index of web-based tax and accounting resources. The directory is designed to be a starting point for people who are searching for tax and accounting information, products, and services.
• Tax Analysts Tax History Project is a website that traces the history of American taxation, a non-profit, non-partisan organization fostering open debate on federal, state, and international tax policy.
• The Internal Revenue Service provides many different Tax Statistics for individual and business taxpayers, tax exempt organizations and more.
• The Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) is a data gathering, data research and data distribution organization associated with Syracuse University. TRAC provides the American people -- and institutions of oversight such as Congress, news organizations, public interest groups, businesses, scholars and lawyers -- with comprehensive information about federal staffing, spending, and the enforcement activities of the federal government.
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Tax resources are available year round at Downtown and Business.

Don't forget to check the Catalog for an up-to-date selection of books, cds and dvds dealing with all aspects of taxation. Choose the Keyword option and use "income tax" as your search terms.

Last updated Monday January 30 2012.