State Finances

How Pennsylvania collects and spends taxpayer dollars — budget, taxes, and fiscal health

$50.1B

General Fund Budget

FY 2025-26

$98.5B

Total w/ Federal

State + Federal

0.9%

Revenue Growth

IFO net forecast

5.1%

Spending Growth

Year over year

Budget at a Glance — FY 2025-26

Signed November 12, 2025

General Fund

$50.09B

+5.1% vs. prior year

Structural Deficit

$5.1B

Spending exceeds revenue

Rainy Day Fund

$6.9B

Preserved — no withdrawals

The FY 2025-26 budget was signed after a 135-day impasse past the June 30 deadline. The gap between spending and revenue is covered by one-time sources — $1.5B in lapsed appropriations and $670M from surplus accounts — which will not be available next year. The IFO projects the structural deficit could grow to $8.4B by FY 2029-30 without policy changes.

Where the Money Comes From

State General Fund revenue by source. Personal income and sales taxes together account for over 60% of state tax revenue.

Personal Income Tax
$16.8B33.5%▲ Up

Flat 3.07% rate on all taxable income — wages, investments, business profits

Sales & Use Tax
$14.2B28.4%▲ Up

6% statewide rate (7% Allegheny Co., 8% Philadelphia). Groceries & clothing exempt

Corporate Net Income Tax
$4.5B9%▼ Down

7.99% rate, phasing down to 4.99% by 2031 to attract business investment

Gross Receipts Tax
$1.3B2.6%— Flat

Tax on utility and telecom company revenues

Cigarette & Tobacco Tax
$1.1B2.2%▼ Down

$2.60 per pack of 20 cigarettes plus other tobacco products

Realty Transfer Tax
$0.7B1.4%— Flat

1% state tax on real estate transfers (local rates additional)

Inheritance Tax
$1.4B2.8%▲ Up

0% spouse, 4.5% lineal descendants, 12% siblings, 15% others

Other Taxes & Fees
$3.2B6.4%— Flat

Includes gaming, insurance premiums, motor license fees, liquor profits, and other sources

Federal Funds$49.0B

Nearly half the total budget comes from federal transfers — primarily Medicaid, education grants, and transportation funding. These funds are declining as pandemic-era programs expire.

Where the Money Goes

General Fund spending by category. Human Services and Education together account for over 70% of the budget. Hover or tap a category to see details.

Human Services
$19.6B+5.7%
39.1%
  • Medicaid projected at $54B total (state + federal)
  • Community Health Choices +$622M
  • Childcare and family services expansion
Education
$15.8B+6.2%
31.5%
  • +$920M for K-12 public education
  • $565M in new adequacy funding
  • Universal free breakfast continued
  • Cyber charter reimbursement reform saves $175M
Public Safety & Corrections
$3.8B+3.8%
7.6%
  • Funding for 4 additional State Police cadet classes
  • $80M+ for gun violence prevention
  • Victims compensation program continued
Debt Service & Treasury
$2.4B+9.7%
4.8%
  • General obligation bond payments
  • +$212M increase primarily for debt service
Transportation
$2.9B+2.1%
5.8%
  • $2.3B infrastructure improvement program
  • Transit agencies receive $2.47B from sales tax & driver fees
  • Bridge repair and road resurfacing across 67 counties
Government Operations
$2.2B-1.2%
4.4%
  • Executive offices and administrative functions
  • General Services cut $16M (residence remediation removed)
Environment & Recreation
$1B-12.5%
2%
  • State parks & forests cut 27% ($48M decrease)
  • New Chesapeake Bay watershed funding
  • DEP regulatory and permitting operations
Economic Development
$1.2B+4%
2.4%
  • $500M site development funding continuing
  • $100M for Innovate in PA 2.0
  • $20M for minority-owned businesses (HDBP)
Other
$1.2B+1.5%
2.4%
  • Agriculture, judiciary, legislature, and miscellaneous

Pennsylvania Tax Rates

Corporate Tax Rate Phase-Down

PA is reducing its corporate net income tax rate by 0.5% per year from 9.99% (2022) to 4.99% (2031) to improve business competitiveness.

9.99%
22
8.99%
23
8.49%
24
7.99%
25
7.49%
26
6.99%
27
6.49%
28
5.99%
29
5.49%
30
4.99%
31
Past Current Scheduled

Fiscal Health Indicators

About This Data

Financial figures reflect the enacted FY 2025-26 budget signed November 12, 2025, as reported by the PA Office of the Budget, PA Treasury, and the Independent Fiscal Office. Revenue and spending breakdowns are approximations based on published appropriation documents and may differ from final audited figures.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or tax advice. Consult official sources and qualified professionals for decisions affecting your finances.