Philadelphia’s Department of Commerce launched the 2026 application for its free small-business tax preparation program on July 21st.
The program covers local, state, and federal filings citywide.
City Opens 2026 Free Business Tax Preparation Application
The City opened the 2026 application for the Free Business Tax Preparation program, administered by the Department of Commerce.
Services span local, state, and federal filings and are available virtually or in person through selected tax professionals who speak multiple languages.
The program is free for eligible firms, with services limited to a maximum of $3,000 in value per business and availability contingent on overall funding and demand.
Rental Operators Explicitly Excluded From Eligibility
Landlords and property rental businesses are not eligible for the program.
Eligibility is limited to businesses based in Philadelphia that earned $250,000 or less in revenue in 2024.
Home-based businesses can qualify if they meet the criteria.
New businesses filing taxes for the first time are welcome to apply.
Budget And Compliance Planning For Owners And Managers
Because landlords are excluded, tax preparation remains a direct operating expense for rental housing portfolios rather than a subsidized service.
The $3,000 per-business ceiling for eligible firms indicates the scale of tax prep support that will not offset costs for property owners.
Matching for eligible businesses is scheduled for January 2027, setting the timing for service delivery under the program.
Program availability depends on funding and demand, which could limit access for qualifying non-rental firms.
Timeline And Application Windows To Monitor
New applicants can still apply for the 2025 tax year until October 30th, 2026; after that deadline, only 2026 applications will be accepted.
Back-year support can be provided in the 2026 tax year.
Matching of applicants to tax professionals will occur in January 2027, establishing when participating businesses should expect service initiation.
Filing Mechanics And Documentation Conditions
New applicants apply through the designated portal, and existing applicants log into the Business Portal to complete the 2026 application.
The initial phase takes less than 20 minutes, with business revenue information and expense-tracking details needed at completion.
Tax preparers will provide participating businesses with a copy of the filed return.
Contact information for questions includes an email for the program manager and a phone line for the Mayor’s Business Action Team.