In preparation for Tax Day on April 15, 2026, Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF) hosted the Resources for the 2026 Tax Season webinar, which provided information and tips on how to access safe and free tax services. The webinar also provided key features and benefits of having a Bank On account for those who are unbanked during tax season. Guest speakers included Emily Schmidlapp, Manager of Moving to Financial Stability of United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, and Will Hall, Chief Executive Officer of PATF.
Tax refunds may be the single largest payment a household receives in a year. This is especially important for people with disabilities who are more likely to live in poverty. During the webinar, Emily highlighted federal tax credits that can significantly increase refunds, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC), as well as the new PA state Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit.
As Emily explained, there is free, IRS-certified tax preparation available for income-eligible individuals and families called the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. VITA programs operate across Pennsylvania and nationwide, helping taxpayers avoid costly preparation fees and ensure taxpayers receive all the eligible credits. Many VITA sites provide accessible services, including accommodations for people with disabilities and virtual tax preparation for those who are unable to file their taxes in person.
Interested in learning more? Below are the links for recordings of the webinar and a PDF of the PowerPoint Presentation. One recording is in English with captioning and ASL interpretation, and the other recording has Spanish language interpretation.
English recording and ASL interpretation
Spanish language interpretation