Pennsylvania’s Department of Revenue has put $950,000 into free low-income taxpayer clinics that help residents fight state tax problems, and says another $400,000 will be paid out before June 2027. The Oct. 20 announcement puts total support above $1.3 million. The clinics sit in six counties: Allegheny, Delaware, Lycoming, Philadelphia, Washington and York.
What can a clinic actually do about a state tax bill?
The clinics offer free legal help on state tax matters, including pro bono representation in disputes with the department. The department lists audits, appeals, collections, liens, litigation, denied and delayed refunds, identity theft and preparer fraud, innocent and injured spouse claims, and worker misclassification. Staff include attorneys, accountants, tax professionals and tax law students.
One limit is stated plainly: the clinics do not prepare tax returns. They also teach taxpayers their rights and responsibilities, and they work with the state’s Office of Taxpayers’ Rights Advocate. Interpreters are available for people who do not speak English, and the clinics also help survivors of domestic violence correct fraudulent filings and clear debts from joint returns.
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Which clinic covers which county?
The department’s low-income taxpayer clinic page lists eight clinics across the six counties, and says many serve taxpayers well beyond their home county:
- University of Pittsburgh School of Law clinic, Allegheny County: 412-648-1300
- Villanova Tax Clinic, Delaware County: 610-519-4123, with a Spanish line at 866-655-4419
- Susquehanna Legal Aid for Adults and Youth, Lycoming County: 570-392-3025
- Campaign For Working Families, Philadelphia: 215-454-6483
- Philadelphia Legal Assistance Taxpayer Support Clinic: 215-981-3800
- Temple Law School clinic, Philadelphia: 215-204-8948
- Summit Legal Aid, Washington County: 800-846-0871 or 724-225-6170
- MidPenn Legal Services, York County: 844-675-7829
Language help varies by clinic. The Pittsburgh and Summit clinics say they serve all languages through interpreters, Campaign For Working Families and Temple offer in-person Spanish, and the others list Spanish and other languages through interpreters. Taxpayers in a county with no clinic, such as Erie or Centre, can still call the closest one, since the page says many serve people statewide.
Is there an income limit to get in the door?
Neither the announcement nor the clinic page gives a dollar figure. Both describe the clinics as serving low-income taxpayers and “qualifying Pennsylvanians,” meaning people who cannot afford an attorney or tax professional, and tell readers to call a clinic to find out whether they qualify. Anyone with a notice in hand should have it ready for that first call.
The federal version of the program works on similar terms, though some federal clinics charge a small fee. The IRS says low-income taxpayer clinics can represent people before the IRS or in court on audits, appeals and collection matters, that a taxpayer’s income generally must be below a set threshold, and that services are provided “for free or for a small fee.” It adds that the amount in dispute is usually under $50,000. That page was last updated April 2, 2026, and speaks to federal disputes; Pennsylvania’s money is aimed at state tax problems, which the department describes as free legal aid.
What does a case look like from the inside?
The department’s announcement tells the story of Heriberto Rodriguez Jr., who moved to Pennsylvania from New Jersey. He needed to appeal penalties tied to a withholding issue and delinquency notices that had gone to an old address. Villanova’s clinic helped him gather W-2s, 1099s and his New Jersey return, then submitted his case to the Office of Taxpayers’ Rights Advocate, and his account returned to good standing.
“The representatives at the clinic truly listened to me,” Rodriguez said. Revenue Secretary Pat Browne said in the announcement that the department is “very proud to partner with the LITCs because of the critical support that they provide to people in their communities.”
The announcement does not say how the $950,000 was split among clinics, and it does not name the program the money comes from. It calls the effort an initiative of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration.
Got a Pennsylvania tax notice and nobody to call?
A state tax notice that sits unanswered can turn into a lien or a collection case, and the clinics can only help once someone makes the call. Even a settled dispute leaves the next year’s bill to deal with.
A clinic fights the notice already in hand; “The Keep-It Starter Bundle” goes after the next one. It is nine short guides in one download, one per money leak, including how to cut the tax bill with the senior deduction, RMDs, QCDs and the Roth window, plus a guide to claiming every benefit that includes a state program that may pay a $202.90 Medicare premium.
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This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.
Warren Cohen is a finance writer based in Phoenix, Arizona, covering personal finance topics including credit, banking, and beginner investing. He earned his degree in business administration from Arizona State University and began his career working in consumer finance, where he gained direct experience with lending and credit systems. He now writes for personal finance websites and fintech platforms, focusing on clear, practical content that helps readers make informed financial decisions.
