Pennsylvania Treasury, Secretary Visits Coffee Inclusive for National ABLE Savings Day Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity today visited Coffee Inclusive in Pittston, Luzerne County to celebrate National ABLE Savings Day and promote the PA ABLE Savings Program. PA ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) accounts are a tax-free way for Pennsylvanians with disabilities, and their families, to save without affecting eligibility for important benefits. Frank Bartoli, founder and CEO of PA Inclusive, parent organization of Coffee Inclusive, led a tour of the coffee shop and bakery. Coffee Inclusive employs over twenty people with intellectual disabilities and autism. “The opportunities provided by Coffee Inclusive are life-changing, and their facility is incredible,” Treasurer Garrity said. “I’m always inspired by the people I meet in every corner of the Commonwealth who save with PA ABLE, and I encourage everyone who has a family member or friend with a disability to learn more about what PA ABLE can do for them.” “It was an honor to host Treasurer Stacy Garrity at Coffee Inclusive for National ABLE Savings Day and to learn more about improvements coming to ABLE eligibility,” said Frank Bartoli, Founder and CEO of PA Inclusive. “As a parent of an adult child with Down Syndrome, an ABLE account will allow my daughter, Ellie, to live an even better life.” Since 2021, annual account maintenance fees have been reduced five times for PA ABLE account owners. Currently, to be eligible to save with an ABLE program, a person’s disability must be onset prior to their 26th birthday. Starting in January 2026, ABLE eligibility will be expanded to include those whose disability is onset prior to age 46. This gives more than six million more Americans, including one million Veterans the opportunity to save with ABLE programs. States were authorized to create ABLE programs with the passage of federal ABLE legislation in 2014. PA ABLE was enacted in 2016 with leadership from Senator Lisa Baker; the first PA ABLE account was opened the following year. Since then, the program has grown to be the fifth largest in the nation with nearly $170 million saved and over 11,000 accounts. Under Treasury Garrity’s leadership, PA ABLE account assets have more than tripled. PA ABLE account owners can save and pay for a wide variety of disability-related expenses, like groceries, rent, healthcare, transportation, and longer-term expenses including education and assistive technology. “PA ABLE is a tremendous tool to help our family and friends with disabilities live more independently and plan for a secure future,” Treasurer Garrity said. “Treasury is celebrating National ABLE Savings Day by helping more and more families learn about this great program with a live webinar tonight. Anyone can register to learn more about this empowering program, and I encourage anyone with a family member or friend who can benefit from PA ABLE to attend and learn more.” PA ABLE offers several different savings and investment options, including a checking account. PA ABLE account owners can contribute up to $19,000 per year. Contributions can be deducted on PA state income taxes. To learn more about PA ABLE, the Pennsylvania Treasury will host a free webinar tonight at 6 p.m. with additional webinars slated for September and October. To register for this webinar, or others, please visit paable.gov/webinars. To learn more about program eligibility and how to start saving with PA ABLE, visit paable.gov, email info@paable.gov or call 855-529-2253.
PA Treasury Rep Steve Shope to Visit DACC The Danville Area Community Center (DACC) will host Steve Shope, a representative from Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity’s Office on Wednesday, May 28, from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. to assist local residents in searching for unclaimed property in the state’s archives. The event is free and open to the public, with no reservations or documents required. He will give a brief overview of consumer programs before helping attendees check for unclaimed property in their name. Unclaimed property can include forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance payouts, and more. Statewide, more than $4.5 billion in unclaimed property is waiting to be returned — including over $15 million owed to Lycoming County residents alone. The average claim is worth $1,600, and about one in ten Pennsylvanians is owed money. For more information, contact DACC Director of Community Engagement Mark Giesen 570-275-3001.
PA Treasurer Stacy Garrity Announces 500 Military Decorations Returned Treasurer Stacy Garrity today announced that 500 military decorations and memorabilia have been returned to Veterans and their families since she took office in 2021. “As state treasurer, I safeguard every taxpayer dollar, but one of my favorite parts of the job isn’t about the money at all – it’s the work Treasury does to honor and thank our Veterans and their families by returning military medals that become unclaimed property,” Treasurer Garrity said. “Each item that comes to our vault is an important part of someone’s story, and returning each one to the rightful owner who earned it or their family is a way to show our gratitude for their immense sacrifices for our nation’s defense.” The 500 medals and memorabilia returned by Treasurer Garrity include 12 Purple Hearts, three Bronze Stars and one Gold Star Medal. Treasury’s vault in Harrisburg still holds about 500 military decorations, including those from every branch of service and most major conflicts. Items include medals, pins, buttons, ribbons and more. Military decorations most often come to Treasury’s unclaimed property program as the contents of abandoned safe deposit boxes. “The team at Treasury is dedicated to finding the Veterans and families whose medals are in our care,” Treasurer Garrity said. “From cold calls to deep-dive internet searches, and digging through records, they leave no stone unturned in the search for a Veteran. As long as I’m Treasurer, we will never stop searching for the rightful owners. I encourage everyone to help us in the search for these Veterans and their families.” Anyone can help find the owners of the medals in Treasury’s care by visiting patreasury.gov/unclaimed-property/Medals. A few notable military returns include: A Bronze Star and engraved military funeral bullet casing to the family of Frank Musto, a U.S. Army Veteran who served his country during World War II. Musto, from Westmoreland County, enlisted when he was 19, and he was wounded in France. He was also the recipient of the Purple Heart, WWII Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, and European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal. Multiple Medals including the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Korea Medal and Korean War Service 50th Anniversary Medal earned by the late Timothy Marahoris of Harrisburg were returned to the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Marahoris served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He had no living relatives, and his church family accepted his decorations in his honor. A Gold Star Mothers and Widows Pilgrimage Medal was returned to the Morrison family. The medal, presented to Agnes Morrison in 1933 when she visited her son, Joseph William Morrison’s grave in France. Morrison, from Schuylkill County, was a member of the 554th Ambulance Service in World War I. He was killed in action just ten days before the end of the war. He was also the recipient of the Croix de Guerre with palm for his bravery. “As a Veteran myself, every return is near and dear to my heart,” Treasurer Garrity said. “It’s my solemn duty to make sure every medal in our care is returned to the Veteran who earned it or to their family who also made tremendous sacrifices for our country.” Along with the hundreds of military decorations waiting to be reunited with Veterans, Treasurer Garrity is working to return more than $5 billion worth of unclaimed property in Treasury’s care. More than one in ten Pennsylvanians has unclaimed property, and the average value of a claim is $1,000. Unclaimed property includes things like dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, insurance policies, and more. Most tangible unclaimed property comes from abandoned safety deposit boxes and can include things like jewelry, baseball cards, and other collectibles and family valuables. Visit patreasury.gov/unclaimed-property to search for unclaimed property.
Treasurer Stacy Garrity Announces 529 Day Promotion with Awards Totaling More than $33,000 Six regional awards of $5,529 – covers a year’s tuition at a Pennsylvania community college Treasurer Stacy Garrity is encouraging families to save for education with this year’s 529 Day promotion. Families who save with the PA 529 College and Career Savings Program may be eligible to win one of six regional awards based on where in Pennsylvania they live. Each award winner will receive a $5,529 deposit into their PA 529 account. The promotion period starts tomorrow, May 1, and ends May 31, 2025. To be eligible, families must contribute at least $10 to a PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan (GSP) or PA 529 Investment Plan (IP) account between May 1 and May 31, 2025, and the account owner must be a Pennsylvania resident. Visit pa529.com/529day to read promotion rules. “I’m thrilled to announce this year’s 529 Day promotion to help boost savings for more Pennsylvania families,” Treasurer Garrity said. “Every year we celebrate 529 Day, May 29, all month long to recognize the power of saving with a PA 529 plan. It’s never too late to start saving, and our PA 529 program is the perfect way to do it. It comes with big tax advantages, and we have two plans to choose from, including the PA 529 Investment Plan which is ranked as one of the top plans in the entire country!” The PA 529 program has been helping families save and pay for education for more than 30 years. There are two plans to choose from, the PA 529 GSP and the Morningstar Gold-Rated PA 529 IP. The PA 529 GSP lets families save at today’s tuition rates to cover tomorrow’s tuitions costs and PA 529 GSP fees are waived through June 30, 2025. The PA 529 IP has multiple investment options to choose from and returns tied to financial markets. Treasurer Garrity has cut PA 529 fees numerous times, resulting in $17 million in savings for Pennsylvania families. Both plans offer state and federal tax advantages, and PA 529 assets don’t impact a student’s eligibility for Pennsylvania state financial aid. PA 529 accounts can be used for a wide variety of qualifying technical, collegiate, and apprenticeship expenses like tuition, fees, books, equipment, room and board, and more. Families with children born January 1, 2019, or later, already have a $100 Keystone Scholars account to jumpstart their education savings. This automatic deposit is available to every baby born in Pennsylvania, and those adopted by Pennsylvania families. The program uses no taxpayer dollars. Families are encouraged to claim their Keystone Scholars accounts at pa529.com/keystone and open their own companion PA 529 account to continue saving for their child’s future. Visit pa529.com to learn more about saving with PA 529 and pa529.com/529day for 529 Day promotion details and official rules.
Pennsylvania Treasury Launches New Employer Tax Credit Program The Pennsylvania Treasury is pleased to announce Pennsylvania’s New Employer Tax Credit for matching contributions to employee PA 529 and PA ABLE accounts. The new employer tax credit encourages Pennsylvania employers to contribute to their employees’ PA 529 and ABLE accounts. Beginning in January 2025, Pennsylvania employers will be eligible to claim a 25% state tax credit against the aggregate amount of all matching contributions to employee 529 and ABLE accounts of up to $500 per employee per tax year. For more information, contact Jolene Miraglia, Regional Program Manager, Pennsylvania Treasury at jmiraglia@patreasury.gov or visit patreasury.gov/consumer. PA 529 New Employer Tax PDF PA 529 College & Career Savings PDF
Treasurer Stacy Garrity Announces Improvements to Pennsylvania Tax Appeal Process Extended time to appeal and new mediated settlement process available for certain state tax appeals. Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity today announced numerous improvements to Pennsylvania’s tax appeals process which will benefit Pennsylvania taxpayers. The changes apply to tax appeals filed on or after January 27, 2025, when Act 123 of 2024, which amended the Tax Reform Code of 1971, took effect. “These are significant improvements which make the tax appeal process more fair for hardworking Pennsylvanians and businesses,” Treasurer Garrity said. “The new law removes unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles – and it will save both the state and its taxpayers time and money. I want to thank Sen. Scott Hutchinson, Rep. Tim Briggs, and every member of the General Assembly who supported these important changes with tremendous bipartisanship.” Pennsylvanians seeking to resolve tax disputes with the Department or Revenue (DOR) for personal income taxes, fiduciary income taxes, employer withholding taxes and pass-through assessments will now have 90 days (previously 60) to file their appeals with the Board of Finance & Revenue (BF&R). BF&R can also grant a 30-day extension for late-filed applications for these types of tax appeals if good cause is shown. In addition, taxpayers filing certain appeals will be able to request a mediated settlement conference at no cost to them. Those requesting a mediated settlement conference have 30 calendar days to do so following the filing of their tax appeal. BF&R also has the discretion to refer an appeal to a mediated settlement conference. This new mediated settlement process will reduce litigation costs for taxpayers and serve as an alternative to formal, lengthy and costly court appeals. Treasury estimates that up to 500 cases annually could be eligible for this new process. Act 123 of 2024 was supported by numerous organizations, including the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, the NFIB, and the Pennsylvania Society of Enrolled Agents. The new law was sponsored by Sen. Hutchinson (R-21) and earned great bipartisan support in the General Assembly. A companion bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Briggs (D-149). BF&R is an independent administrative tax tribunal, administered by the State Treasurer, responsible for the second and final level of administrative appeal (with minor exceptions) before appealing to court. Its Board consists of three members – two are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate; the third is the State Treasurer or her designee and serves as Chair. For further guidance on procedures to request a mediated settlement conference, visit patreasury.gov/bfr.
Treasurer Stacy Garrity: First Money Match Letters Being Sent to Pennsylvanians This Week Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced today that more than 8,000 Pennsylvanians will receive letters this week indicating that unclaimed property will be automatically returned to them. This marks the first step in the new Pennsylvania Money Match program, which was approved unanimously by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor in July. “This is a truly historic day,” Treasurer Garrity said. “For the first time ever, we’re returning unclaimed property to hardworking Pennsylvanians without requiring them to file a claim or submit any paperwork at all. We truly cut red tape out of state government – and how often does that happen? If you receive a Money Match letter, read it and keep it! About 45 days later, your unclaimed property will arrive in the form of a check from the Pennsylvania Treasury Department.” The first batch of letters include 8,366 claims totaling over $2 million worth of unclaimed property being returned to its rightful owners. The first Money Match checks are scheduled to be sent out in about 45 days. Pennsylvania Money Match authorizes Treasury to automatically return single-owner properties valued up to $500 after a thorough identification and verification process. At least 14 other states have successfully implemented similar programs. “This Saturday is National Unclaimed Property Day, and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than by sending out the first Money Match letters,” Treasurer Garrity said. “But even if you don’t get a letter, it’s still easy to see if you have any unclaimed property available! Just visit our website and search for your name.” Pennsylvania Money Match was signed into law last year after Senate Bill 24, sponsored by former Sen. John DiSanto, was passed unanimously by both the Senate and House. Similar legislation, House Bill 2092, introduced by Rep. Ryan Bizzarro (D-3), also unanimously passed the House. Treasury plans to send a total of at least three batches of Money Match letters and checks in 2025. “This will be an ongoing effort,” Treasurer Garrity said. “This money doesn’t belong to the state. It belongs to Pennsylvania families, and I want to get it back to them!” Pennsylvania Money Match will not affect claims for properties valued above $500 or those that have multiple owners or other complexities. Those claimants will still need to file a claim and provide any required supporting documentation. More than one in ten Pennsylvanians is owed some of the $4.5 billion in unclaimed property being safeguarded by Treasury. The average value of a claim is about $1,600. Since taking office, Treasurer Garrity has returned more than $700 million in unclaimed property and has implemented multiple improvements to the unclaimed property program, all designed to make the process easier and faster, including: Completing a total system upgrade for the first time in more than 15 years; Implementing a fast-track process for many claims; and Allowing direct deposit payments for many claimants. More information about Pennsylvania Money Match is available at patreasury.gov/MoneyMatch.
Pennsylvania Treasurer Thanks Governor for Signing Tax Reform Bill New law will streamline and improve the process of resolving tax disputes in PA Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity today applauded Governor Josh Shapiro for signing Senate Bill 1051, pro-taxpayer legislation sponsored by Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-21) and supported by overwhelming bipartisan majorities in the General Assembly. A companion bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Tim Briggs (D-149). The new law will streamline and improve the process of resolving tax disputes with the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue (DOR) by allowing the Board of Finance and Revenue (BF&R) to accept late-filed personal income tax appeals in certain circumstances and to create a new independent settlement process for taxpayers as an alternative to the formal and lengthy court appeals process. “This law will make tax appeals more fair for Pennsylvania families and businesses by removing silly bureaucratic obstacles and implementing a strong settlement process,” Treasurer Garrity said. “I’m grateful to Governor Shapiro for signing this bill into law, and to Senator Hutchinson and Representative Briggs for their hard work to create an even playing field for Pennsylvania taxpayers.” SB 1051, now Act 123 of 2024, was supported by numerous organizations, including the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, the NFIB, and the Pennsylvania Society of Enrolled Agents. Act 123, which goes into effect in 90 days, will allow BF&R to accept late-filed personal income tax appeals if cause is shown by the taxpayer. When the new law becomes effective, taxpayers who disagree with a final decision made by DOR involving personal income tax assessments have a 90-day deadline to appeal the decision to BF&R. It was previously only 60 days. That strict timeline led to cases being dismissed on a technicality rather than being decided on their merits. On average, of the approximately 4,200 appeals BF&R receives annually, only about 13 percent of eligible appeals are resolved through settlement prior to an appeal being filed before the Commonwealth Court. The new law also empowers BF&R for the first time to direct parties through an independent settlement process, which is intended to facilitate the amicable resolution of more tax disputes, thus reducing litigation costs for taxpayers. Treasury estimates that up to 500 cases annually could be eligible for this new process. BF&R is an independent administrative tax tribunal, administered by the State Treasurer, responsible for the second and final level of administrative appeal (with minor exceptions) before appealing to court. The Board consists of three members – two are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate; the third is the State Treasurer or her designee and serves as Chair.
Treasurer Stacy Garrity Commends House for Passing Legislation to Strengthen PA 529 and PA ABLE Treasurer Stacy Garrity today commended members of the Pennsylvania House for unanimously approving House Bill 1745, sponsored by Rep. Paul Friel (D-26), which will provide a tax credit for employers who contribute to PA 529 College and Career Savings Program accounts owned by their employees. The bill includes an amendment sponsored by Rep. Joe Emrick (R-137) to extend the same benefit to employers who contribute to employees’ PA ABLE Savings Program accounts. PA ABLE is a savings program for Pennsylvanians with disabilities. “PA 529 and PA ABLE accounts are helping people all across Pennsylvania, and both have seen exceptional growth over the past three years,” Treasurer Garrity said. “I applaud the House for advancing this bill to strengthen both programs with tremendous bipartisan support. Creating tax credits will encourage employers to contribute to employees’ PA 529 and PA ABLE accounts, which will be a huge benefit for hardworking families as they save for the future.” “The PA 529 program has helped hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania families save for their child’s or grandchild’s future education,” Rep. Friel said. “I’m pleased that the PA 529 tax credit bill passed the House unanimously. We’re coming together to improve college access and make education more affordable by reducing the financial burden on Pennsylvania’s students and their families.” “Addressing the skills gap and strengthening our workforce starts with access to education,” said Rep. Kristin Marcell (R-178), a strong supporter of the legislation. “By encouraging employers to invest in their employees’ futures, HB 1745 not only supports Pennsylvania families but also contributes to building a more skilled and educated workforce.” HB 1745 would establish a 25 percent tax credit on employer contributions of up to $500 per participating employee per year. It would apply to contributions made to any PA ABLE account and any 529 account owned by a Pennsylvania resident. Incorporating a tax credit for Pennsylvania employers who provide contributions to PA 529 accounts was recommended by the Tuition Account Program Advisory Board in the program’s most recent annual report. Seven other states – Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Nebraska, Nevada and Wisconsin – provide a similar credit. HB 1745 now moves to the Senate for consideration. Treasurer Garrity thanked Rep. Friel, Rep. Marcell, Rep. Emrick, Rep. Peter Schweyer (D-134), and Rep. Jesse Topper (R-78) for their key roles in advancing the legislation in a bipartisan fashion. The PA 529 College and Career Savings Program helps families steadily and strategically save for future educational expenses like tuition, fees, books, equipment, room and board and more at qualifying technical, collegiate and apprenticeship programs. PA 529 plans also offer significant state and federal tax advantages and saving with PA 529 does not impact Pennsylvania state financial aid eligibility. There are two options to invest with PA 529: the PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan, which allows families to save at today’s tuition rates to meet tomorrow’s tuition costs, and the PA 529 Investment Plan, which allows families to choose from a variety of investment options and received a Gold Rating from Morningstar in 2023, making it one of the top two 529 plans in the nation. The PA 529 program has been helping families save and pay for education for more than 30 years. There are currently almost 300,000 PA 529 accounts with assets of nearly $7.5 billion. Visit pa529.com to learn more about the PA 529 College and Career Savings Program. PA ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) accounts are a tax-free way for Pennsylvanians with disabilities, and their families, to save without affecting eligibility for important benefits. Treasurer Garrity recently announced the program’s fourth fee reduction in the past three years, resulting in annual savings of more than $80,000 for PA ABLE account owners. To learn more about program eligibility and how to start saving with PA ABLE, visit paable.gov.
Pennsylvania Treasury Department Warns for Scam Alerts Treasurer Stacy Garrity today warned the public that scammers are imitating the Pennsylvania Treasury Department with sophisticated phishing emails targeting Pennsylvanians. “I urge everyone to always be on guard for scams and suspicious messages,” Garrity said. “We know these criminals will pull out all the stops to commit fraud, but Treasury will always fight back. If you have doubts about an email claiming to be from the Pennsylvania Treasury Department, here’s the most important tip: Do not click any links, and do not share any personal information. And always remember: Treasury will never seek personal information through an unsolicited email.” The scammers’ phishing emails are designed to look like they have been sent from the Pennsylvania Treasury Department and include a link that leads to a fake version of Treasury’s website. Anyone who clicks on the link is then prompted to enter login credentials. Do not do this! Treasury will never use unsolicited emails or texts to request personal information for any if its programs. If you’ve received one of these messages, or have any other questions, please contact Treasury by visiting patreasury.gov/contact.
