Shapiro, U.S. Treasury Secretary Yellen announce Pa. to join IRS Direct File

Aug. 6—WILKES-BARRE — Gov. Josh Shapiro this week joined U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) Secretary Janet Yellen, leaders from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue (DOR), Representative Brendan Boyle, and Representative Mary Gay Scanlon to announce that Pennsylvania will join IRS Direct File for filing season 2025, ensuring people have access to a free, easy-to-use online tool when they file their federal taxes next year.

Direct File will build on myPATH, Pennsylvania's free tool to file state income taxes and apply for tax cuts like the Property Tax/Rent Rebate.

Gov. Shapiro said he believes we need to meet people where they are and make it easier to access government services online. That's why the Shapiro Administration worked with the Treasury to bring this program to Pennsylvania. Direct File has already been proven successful at saving taxpayers' money — in a pilot program across 12 states earlier this year, 140,000 taxpayers claimed more than $90 million in refunds and saved an estimated $5.6 million in filing fees using the free online filing tool.

"Filing your taxes should be free and easy — that's why we're improving our digital services and adopting IRS Direct File here in Pennsylvania," Shapiro said. "Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration's Direct File initiative, Pennsylvanians will be able to save money by filing both their state and federal taxes at no cost on an easy-to-use platform. There should be no wrong door to access government services, and the Shapiro Administration will continue to bring human-centered, user-friendly, reliable, and accessible digital services to every Pennsylvanian to help lower costs and break down barriers."

Secretary Yellen said thanks to President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, more than 1.5 million Pennsylvanians will be able to file their taxes online for free, directly with the IRS in Filing Season 2025.

"Direct File will save Pennsylvania taxpayers time and money and help ensure they receive the tax benefits for which they are eligible," Yellen said. "Direct File is one of the many ways the Biden-Harris Administration is working to lower costs in everyday life, and we are pleased to welcome Pennsylvania as the next state to offer this new free option to taxpayers."

"We know from our experience that many Pennsylvanians spend a lot of time and money every year to ensure their personal income tax returns are filed timely and accurately. That's why we're eager to bring Direct File to Pennsylvania, because it will be a free and simple online filing tool that will relieve stress and a financial burden for many of our taxpayers," said Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne.

Using the Direct File online filing tool, qualifying taxpayers will first be able to complete their 2024 federal tax returns. Following that step, Direct File will direct qualifying taxpayers to Pennsylvania's state income tax filing system, myPATH, where they will be able to file and complete their 2024 Pennsylvania state returns.

Some information, including W-2s and demographic information, will automatically be uploaded to their state return to help save time and ensure folks don't have to input their information twice.

AG DeFoor: Performance audit of PennDOT bridge inspection process shows need for improvements

Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor this week highlighted the need for PennDOT to implement process improvements for its bridge inspections, especially those bridges rated in overall poor condition or in critical or imminent risk of failing.

"I am here to tell you as an auditor that processes matter," Auditor General DeFoor said. "It's important for our safety and the investment of our tax dollars that all bridge inspection reports are consistent, filed on time and the qualifications of the teams doing the inspections are readily available. By implementing the process improvements identified by our auditors, PennDOT can provide consistent reporting that ensures these bridges can be maintained, repaired and replaced without having a major bridge failure."

DeFoor said that a bridge rated in overall poor condition does not mean that it is about to fail and that steps need to be taken to repair or replace the bridge, but it can still be used safely while that process is ongoing.

The audit had three objectives:

—Determine the process for inspecting state-owned bridges identified as having the Overall Condition of Poor;

—Evaluate whether PennDOT complied with applicable laws, regulations, standards, policies and procedures, and guidelines regarding inspecting bridges identified as being in an Overall Condition of Poor; and

—Determine and evaluate compliance with PennDOT's policies and procedures for responding to bridges identified as having the Condition Rating of Critical, Imminent Failure and Failed.

The audit has seven findings and made 24 recommendations. The findings and recommendations focused around ensuring PennDOT consistently followed its policies and procedures regarding the timing, writing and information included in the bridge inspection reports.

"There is a path forward to correct these issues, and for the most part, PennDOT agreed," Auditor General DeFoor said. "PennDOT is working to reduce the number of bridges in poor condition by repairing or replacing them as time and tax dollars allow."

Pennsylvania has the third-largest number of bridges in the nation and PennDOT is responsible for the inspection of roughly 25,400 state-owned bridges. State-owned bridges are on average more than 50 years old.

During the audit period from July 1, 2020, through May 10, 2023, nearly $1.2 billion dollars of taxpayer dollars were allocated to rehab and replace them.

Pa. invests more than $30M in municipal traffic signal upgrades

Gov. Josh Shapiro and Department of Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll this week announced that 73 municipalities will receive more than $30 million to support traffic signal upgrades, increasing safety and mobility across Pennsylvania's communities through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's (PennDOT's) "Green Light-Go" program — increasing safety and mobility across Pennsylvania's communities by relieving congestion and improving traffic flow.

Many Green Light-Go grants help municipalities improve congestion and traffic flow by upgrading to newer technologies in detection — which in turn allow traffic signals to respond to real-time traffic demand.

"Gov. Shapiro has made clear that state government's top priority should be serving the people of our Commonwealth and improving the services we provide that make a difference in Pennsylvanians' lives," said Secretary Carroll. "The safety improvements supported by the Green Light-Go program will help municipalities relieve congestion and traffic flow and keep Pennsylvanians moving safely and efficiently. I'm proud that the Department of Transportation will continue to help our communities improve mobility for Pennsylvanians as we continue to deliver real results across the Commonwealth."

Green Light-Go grants are provided as reimbursement to municipalities for updates to improve the efficiency and operation of existing traffic signals. These projects will be funded through the appropriation for fiscal year 2024-25.

Grant funding through the Green Light-Go program may be utilized for a range of operational improvements including, but not limited to: light-emitting diode (LED) technology installation, traffic signal re-timing, developing special event plans and monitoring traffic signals, as well as upgrading traffic signals to the latest technologies.

In Luzerne County, Butler Township will receive $26,400 for a left turn phase warrant study, design and left turn signal installation at Route 309 & Corporate Dr. intersection.

Rep.Kosierowski to host license plate replacement event Aug. 10

State Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski, D-Waverly, will host a license plate replacement event on Aug. 10, to help motorists learn whether they need a new license plate and, if so, to help them apply for a free replacement.

The free event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 10, at Northeast Title & Tag, 215 South State St. in Clarks Summit.

"We're teaming with the Pennsylvania State Police to help people address an important but sometimes overlooked issue," Kosierowski said. "State law prohibits driving with a license plate that is illegible — meaning that it's blistered, peeling or discolored; has lost reflectivity; or has at least one number or letter that can't be recognized from 50 feet away. Plates with any of these problems qualify for free replacement, and our event will make the whole process easier."

Motorists must bring their unexpired PA driver's license and current vehicle registration card in order to apply for a replacement plate.

Residents are encouraged to call Kosierowski's office at 570-562-2350 to pre-register or learn more about the event.

Sen. Casey, colleagues push for legislation to protect refinery jobs, energy security

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, this week led a bipartisan group of his colleagues to urge the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) and U.S. House Committees on Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, and Natural Resources to protect oil refinery union jobs and energy security by taking up the Safeguarding Domestic Energy Production and Independence Act.

Casey's legislation would bring down runaway compliance costs associated with the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and ensure that Pennsylvania's independent oil refineries can afford to continue production. The Members urged the Committees to combat volatile prices of Renewable Identification Number (RIN) credits to protect jobs and energy security.

The legislators wrote:

"Refineries in the Philadelphia region are struggling under the heavy burden of RINs compliance and costs. Collectively, these refiners directly employ thousands of hardworking men and women in our energy industry and support the employment of tens of thousands more through the supply chain. The Safeguarding Domestic Energy Production and Independence Act is a commonsense compromise that would support the transition to renewable fuels while restoring long-term certainty for domestic refiners and protecting our energy security, which is why it is supported by dozens of unions, business groups, and the National Wildlife Federation."

The Safeguarding Domestic Energy Production & Independence Act will reduce the cost of the RFS compliance for independent refiners without adversely impacting ethanol consumption. Specifically, this bill would direct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue and sell "conventional biofuel waiver credits" at a low, fixed price for refiners to use for RFS compliance if they are unable to obtain RINs cost effectively in the marketplace. The program would operate similarly to EPA's waiver credit program for cellulosic biofuel.

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.