Harrisburg, PA – Since taking office, Governor Josh Shapiro has successfully brought together Republicans and Democrats to cut taxes – delivering real relief for families, seniors, and businesses all across Pennsylvania. These bipartisan tax cuts have helped put money back in people’s pockets while continuing to spur economic growth and job creation in our Commonwealth.

In the 2024-25 bipartisan budget,(opens in a new tab) Governor Shapiro secured a new Employer Child Care Contribution Tax Credit, designed to support both businesses and working families. Employers can claim a tax credit for up to 30 percent of their total contributions to eligible childcare costs, capped at $500 per employee – helping businesses save money and driving even more dollars out to help parents with the high cost of childcare. This year’s budget also raised the Net Operating Loss (NOL) deduction limit to 80% by 2029, supporting small businesses and boosting Pennsylvania’s competitiveness.

The Shapiro Administration has implemented broader efforts to cut costs and taxes over the past two years. Governor Shapiro’s expansion of the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit delivered $132 million in tax credits to over 212,000 Pennsylvania families this year alone, and his expansion of the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program has provided over $304 million in assistance to more than 500,000 Pennsylvania seniors and people with disabilities, helping them stay in their homes and manage rising property taxes and rent.

In the last week, Governor Shapiro visited childcare centers in Reading(opens in a new tab) and Chalfont(opens in a new tab) where he met with children, staff, and business and legislative leaders to highlight his Administration’s work to cut costs for Pennsylvanians. This summer, Governor Shapiro met with seniors across the Commonwealth(opens in a new tab) who received their checks from the expanded PTRR program.

Read what legislative and business leaders, childcare center administrators, parents, and seniors are saying about Govenor Shapiro’s tax cuts supporting Pennsylvanians:

LEGISLATIVE LEADERS:

Senator Judy Schwank: “Every child and parent in Pennsylvania deserves access to high-quality, affordable childcare. Thanks to Governor Shapiro’s leadership, we passed a budget that invests in early childhood education and created the Employer Childcare Contribution Tax Credit to encourage businesses to support their employees’ childcare needs.”

Senator Steve Santarsiero: “I was proud to work with Representative Brian Munroe and Governor Shapiro to enact this expansion of the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit to put money back in the pocket of working families when they need it most. This tax credit will help more parents of young children return to the workforce, bringing more money into both their households and our local economy.”

Representative Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz: "I am proud to support a budget that delivers real, tangible benefits to the people of Berks County. By reducing childcare costs, expanding property tax and rent rebates, and investing in our small businesses and workforce, we are creating opportunities for families to thrive and our local economy to grow. This budget is a testament to what can be achieved when we come together across party lines to prioritize the needs of our communities. I look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the lives of so many in our district."

Representative Brian Munroe: “Being a father to two daughters, my wife and I have firsthand experience with affording childcare. Balancing the costs of childcare with weekly living costs is why the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit is crucial, not just for working families, but for the health and well being of our entire community. I'm committed to making sure that we continue to support the Governor and to support programs that help families save and plan for the future. The financial pressures on working families today are real, and we are prioritizing policies that give them the fighting chance to build a strong and stable future. We need to make sure families aren't just getting by, but that they're getting ahead.”

BUSINESS LEADERS AND CHILDCARE CENTER ADMINISTRATORS:

Modesto Fiume, President of Opportunity House: “By offering quality, affordable childcare, we give parents the ability to seek and maintain permanent, full-time jobs — knowing that children are being cared for in a center that helps them grow emotionally, socially, and developmentally. This legislation will have a tremendous impact on lessening the burden for families throughout the Commonwealth, incentivizing employers through a tax credit program, while increasing the childcare tax credit for families is a win-win for our children and their future. Thank you for seeing a path forward to make this happen.”

Nicole Holahan, Director of La Petite Academy of Chalfont: “We are delighted to welcome Governor Shapiro to La Petite Academy, part of the Learning Care Group family. With over 55 years of experience in the industry, Learning Care Group recognizes the challenges that many working families face in finding high-quality, affordable care. We are proud to do our part to ease the financial burden for the families that we serve. This includes families attending with the support of childcare subsidies, like Child Care Works, through employer-sponsored solutions that help businesses attract and retain their work force while lowering the cost of childcare for their employees, and through off-base military childcare.”

Lucine Sihelnik, President of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance: “I'm excited about this Administration's bipartisan efforts to invest in education, workforce development, economic development, and infrastructure. These changes can have a direct, positive effect on the business community here in Reading. Governor Shapiro is offering tax credits that will help address the existing gaps in the workforce. I'm proud to speak on behalf of our business community — and GRCA is dedicated to supporting and promoting small businesses, helping to make them successful. I'm confident that the net operating loss deduction and the employer tax credits will support our business community. We're excited for the changes that this Administration is putting forth for our small and Main Street businesses. Thank you, Governor Shapiro, for supporting the necessary tax cuts, for believing in our talented workforce and their childcare needs, and for your continued support for economic development in Reading and in our great Commonwealth.”

Shannon Williams, Senior Vice President of Advocacy at The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia: “I am honored to be here to celebrate the significant progress Pennsylvania has made under Governor Shapiro’s leadership in supporting our children and working parents. Childcare is a workforce imperative – it is fundamental to our community stability and economic growth. Inadequate childcare access can force parents – disproportionately women – to reduce their work hours or drop out of the workforce altogether. Offering support to employees in their childcare costs is a powerful workforce attraction and retention tool. By providing employers with a tax credit for contributing toward their employee’s childcare costs, Pennsylvania is giving businesses the flexibility to offer meaningful support to their employees, easing financial burdens placed on working parents, and helping to close the gaps in childcare access across our communities.”

PARENTS

Jessica Fox, parent at La Petite Academy of Chalfont: “My children have been going to school at La Petite for the past six years, with our newest addition starting this coming January. While we have been extremely fortunate to find such an amazing school for our children, the ever-increasing cost of childcare has presented its own challenges. My husband and I both work full-time and have still had to make many sacrifices in order for our children to attend La Petite. However, for many families, paying for childcare is completely unrealistic. We are thankful for the tax credits being recognized today by Governor Shapiro, and we hope that it helps ease the burden for other families just like ours.”

Jennifer Stepp, parent and lead teacher, Second Street Learning Center: “When I started working at Opportunity House in 2004, I was a 21-year-old single mother of two small children who was lost and had little guidance. Right away, I was able to enroll my children in childcare, and have them close to me, and cared for by a wonderful, caring staff who turned into a second family. I had a safe, happy place for my children to be cared for while I worked. And, with the help of amazing coworkers and friends, I obtained my teaching degree — the first in my family to graduate college.”

SENIORS:

Dauphin County resident Liz Bryant: “It's been a pleasure having the rent rebates as a senior, and before being a senior, I was a disabled person, the rent rebate always came in the middle of summer. It was like Christmas in July – and I think all of the seniors feel the same way. Living on a fixed income is very hard. I had started a part time job last year and I was not eligible for the rent rebate. Governor Shapiro raised the ceiling for the amount that you can make this year – and now I can get the rent rebate, and I thank you for that.”

Lackawanna County resident and first-time PTRR recipient Joann Rinaldi: “I have lived in the Dunmore High Rise for the last ten years. I am grateful that Governor Shapiro and the state legislature raised the income limits and expanded the Property Tax Rent Rebate program. Thanks to the expansion, I qualified for the rent rebate program for the first time this year. I am glad to say that my check is on the way, and many people in this building have received their rebate already. I plan to put the extra money towards my upcoming vehicle inspection, gas, and grocery items. I encourage anyone over the age of 65 who is eligible to apply for this rebate.”

See what Pennsylvanians are reading about Govenor Shapiro’s tax cuts supporting Pennsylvanians: 

The Reading Eagle: Gov. Josh Shapiro touts child care tax credit expansion in Reading(opens in a new tab)

WFMZ: Gov. Shapiro highlights tax cuts during Reading visit(opens in a new tab)

Times Leader: Shapiro highlights tax cuts supporting Pa. families and small businesses(opens in a new tab)

Lehigh Valley Business: Berks business community eyes benefits of Shapiro Administration tax cuts(opens in a new tab)

MyChesCo: Governor Shapiro Celebrates Tax Cuts to Ease Childcare Costs at La Petite Academy(opens in a new tab)

FOX 43: Governor Shapiro announces rollout of Property Tax/ Rent Rebate checks