Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced this week that the success of the Board of Finance & Revenue’s (BF&R) new tax appeal and mediated settlement process, which started in 2025.

“This past year was the first that granted a longer timeline for submission and provided an option for mediated settlements to resolve tax disputes, and it was a success for BF&R and Pennsylvania taxpayers,” Garrity said. “These changes remove red tape and make Pennsylvania more business-friendly.”

The new timeline and mediation offering went into effect on Jan. 27, 2025, in accordance with Act 123 of 2024, which amended the Tax Reform Code of 1971.

Due to the increased timeline to file certain personal income tax (PIT) appeals to 90 days (previously 60), as of Dec. 31, 2025, BF&R was able to decide appeals in 154 cases based on merits, rather than dismissing them for jurisdiction reasons. In addition to the more consumer-friendly timeline for filing an appeal, BF&R can grant a 30-day extension if good cause is shown.

The law also extended timelines for filing applicable cases through the Board of Appeals at the Department of Revenue, resulting in BF&R receiving 141 fewer PIT appeals with filing deadline issues.

There were 55 taxpayer requests and BF&R recommendations for mediation as of Dec. 31, 2025. Of these, 45% resulted in an amicable resolution between the taxpayer and the Department of Revenue. Mediated settlement is a no-cost option for taxpayers that increases efficiency.

BF&R has seen an overall reduction in appeals to the Commonwealth Court, from 457 in 2024 to 378 in 2025.

“The improvements from Act 123 are easy to quantify, and it’s a winning solution for taxpayers, businesses, and state government that saves both time and money,” Garrity said.

Act 123 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 goals of Act 123 were to streamline the process of resolving tax disputes in Pennsylvania, provide flexibility to resolve disputes fairly and efficiently, and help job creators avoid costly litigation,” said Luke Bernstein, president and CEO, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry. “The initial results show positive movement in all directions, which has helped to improve Pennsylvania’s competitiveness for business investments. We’re thankful for Treasurer Garrity and her office’s efforts to shepherd these important reforms through completion.”

For information about BF&R and the tax appeal process, visit patreasury.gov/bfr.

Legislation introduced to cap credit card late fees

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-PA; U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-NJ; and U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-WI, this week introduced the Credit Card Fairness Act — legislation that would put into statute the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s popular $8 cap on credit card late fees.

Consumers pay $14 billion in credit card late fees each year, which pads the profits of the biggest banks. The standard $30 to $41 late fee is up to five times the cost to banks of collecting late payments, allowing banks to profit from customers who are struggling to make ends meet.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau previously enacted a rule capping these fees at $8, but it was stalled in litigation brought by the big banks. This legislation would codify the $8 cap in law.

“Big banks profiteering off people by charging $41 for a single late credit card payment is absolutely wrong,” Fetterman said. “At a time when people are struggling to get by, these late fees are only doing more harm. This legislation will protect hardworking Americans from predatory fees, and I’ll work with anyone to get this over the finish line.”

“American consumers shouldn’t be hit with predatory late fees that are three to five times higher than the actual cost of collection,” Booker said.

“As costs continue to skyrocket under this administration — from groceries, to housing, to health care — Wisconsin families are already stretched thin,” Baldwin said. “The last thing they need is big banks and credit card companies gouging them with credit card late fees that make it harder to stay afloat, let alone get ahead.”

The Credit Card Fairness Act is endorsed by Americans for Financial Reform, the Consumer Federation of America, Groundwork Collaborative, the National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), Public Citizen, and Protect Borrowers.

Over $227M in insurance premiums saved

The Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) this week announced that it saved Pennsylvanians $227.9 million after blocking proposed property and casualty (P&C) insurance premium increases from taking effect in 2025.

PID’s actions to prevent excessive increases will help keep insurance more affordable for Pennsylvanians.

“Our rate review process is designed to make sure Pennsylvanians have access to quality insurance products at fair prices,” said Michael Humphreys, Pennsylvania insurance commissioner. “Blocking unfair rate increases takes constant, detailed work, and that’s exactly what PID does. Our team reviews thousands of complex filings each year to make sure consumers are protected and treated fairly. These filings can be thousands of pages long and use a wide variety of variables to price products that may range from past claims history to an insured’s education level, which require detailed review. We won’t stop working to shield Pennsylvanians from unnecessary costs.”

P&C insurance (personal auto, homeowners, renters, and flood insurance) protects individuals and businesses from financial losses arising from property damage, accidents, and negligence claims. Insurance companies must file their proposed rate changes with PID before they take effect.

PID’s work on P&C rates is continuous and year-round. Insurance companies file new or revised rate requests throughout the year, and each filing must be reviewed independently. PID staff examine these filings to see if the proposed increases are justified, accurate, and fair to consumers. PID often works with insurers to revise or resubmit filings, provide additional data, or lower requested increases before approval is considered.

Through the rate review process in 2025, PID saved consumers from:

• $103.6M in title insurance premium increases;

• $91M in personal auto premium increases;

• $16M in homeowners/dwelling fire premium increases;

• $11.2M in personal umbrella premium increases; and

• $6.1M in other types of P&C insurance premium increases.

PID’s rejection of $103.6M in proposed title insurance premium increases will help more Pennsylvanians afford homes by containing growing costs while positively impacting the housing market for years to come.

PID reminds Pennsylvanians to periodically check in with their insurance company or agent to review their coverage. Pennsylvania’s insurance market is competitive with more than 1,200 insurers, so these reviews help consumers explore their options, such as raising their deductible to lower monthly costs or updating their coverage during life changes (like if their driving habits have changed).

Pennsylvanians should keep in mind that it can take up to 60 days after policy issuance for an insurance company to finish underwriting a new policy. PID recommends weighing the pros (such as lower costs or better benefits) and cons (such as losing some protections) before deciding whether to switch or stay with their current plan.

Pennsylvanians with questions about their insurance or who need to submit a complaint should visit pa.gov/consumer, or call 1-866-PA-COMPLAINT (1-866-722-6675).