[VT I Philadelphia, PA January 15, 2026] The Parker Administration on Jan. 15 officially launched the Philadelphia Free Business Tax Preparation Program, a new citywide initiative that provides free local, state, and federal tax preparation assistance to eligible small businesses earning less than $250,000 in annual revenue. The program, administered by the City’s Department of Commerce, will be offered both virtually and in person and will include multilingual services to ensure broad access across Philadelphia neighborhoods.
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker said the new program aligns with the Administration’s broader agenda to make Philadelphia “safer, cleaner, and greener,” while expanding economic opportunity and strengthening support for entrepreneurs. Referencing the PHL Open for Business Executive Order she signed in April 2024, Parker emphasized the City’s push to reduce red tape, speed up permits and licenses, improve resources, and deliver stronger customer service for business owners.
“We said loud and clear that Philadelphia should be a city where it’s easier to start, run, and grow a business,” Parker said. “And in 2026, the momentum continues by helping businesses navigate changes to the City’s tax structure through the launch of our Philadelphia Free Business Tax Preparation Program.”
Budget investment and policy context
City officials noted that the Parker Administration set aside nearly $40 million in the FY2026 budget to expand business programs and initiatives led by the Department of Commerce. During the Jan. 15 event, the Administration also stated that $7.5 million has been allocated specifically to support the Free Business Tax Preparation Program.
The program is designed in part to help businesses impacted by changes in the City’s tax structure, including businesses that are newly required to file following the end of a prior exemption due to legal requirements.
19 vetted tax professionals and multilingual services
Karen Fegely, Acting Director of the Department of Commerce, said helping businesses remain in good standing with their taxes supports long-term growth by improving access to financing and strengthening credibility. She added that the City will continue recruiting tax professionals throughout tax season to expand capacity, particularly in specific areas of need.
The program launches with 19 vetted tax professionals and organizations selected to provide free assistance to approved applicants. Collectively, participating providers offer services in English, Ukrainian, Mandarin, Cantonese, Russian, Spanish, Japanese, Italian, French, Laotian, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic, with language availability varying by provider.
- A+ Tax Experts LLC
- Angie’s Auto Tags LLC
- ASCEND Equity Access
- Campaign for Working Families Inc
- Capstone Strategy Group LLC
- In the Moment Financial Services
- KMM Tax and Accounting Services LLC
- La Petite Tax Dame LLC
- Lee’s Accounting and Business Services LLC
- M Claudio Enterprise LLC
- Mazzola & Company Inc
- MHC Tax Service, Industrious
- Money Honey Financial LLC
- Myriagon
- Parker Tax Services
- Philly Tax Team
- Temple Small Business Development Center
- The Bottom Line Inc
- We Rise Business Solutions
The Department of Commerce is currently seeking additional tax professionals citywide, with a focus on expanding service capacity in Council Districts 6 and 9. Tax professionals offering bilingual services—especially in Haitian Creole, Khmer, and Portuguese—are encouraged to apply. Proposals must be submitted by Jan. 27, 2026.
Revenue Department outreach and extended customer service hours
Kathleen McColgan, Commissioner of the Department of Revenue, said the City has been working to educate businesses about the changes and available resources. Since June 2025, the Department of Revenue and the Department of Commerce have partnered to host virtual and in-person information sessions across zip codes citywide, reaching more than 900 businesses and partner organizations.
McColgan said the Department of Revenue also mailed more than 119,000 informational postcards to businesses that may be affected by the tax changes and issued official notices to over 80,000 registered businesses with lower earnings.
Revenue officials estimate that approximately 50,000 businesses will need to file for the 2025 period even though they did not have a filing requirement previously under the exemption.
To provide additional support during tax season, McColgan announced that beginning Feb. 1, the Revenue Department’s customer service center will extend hours until 7:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
