Who must file a Personal Income Tax return?
If you are a PA resident, nonresident or a part-year PA resident, you must file a PA tax return if:
- You received total PA gross taxable income in excess of $33, even if no tax is due with your PA return; and/or
- You incurred a loss from any transaction as an individual, sole proprietor, partner in a partnership or PA S corporation shareholder.
Did you have interest or dividends or any other small income. $33 is a small threshold.
You are correct that PA does not tax your pension.
Pennsylvania is one of only two states to exclude virtually every type of retirement income from taxation according to Kiplinger. Public and private pensions, railroadretirement benefits and all Social Security income are excluded from taxable income for tax purposes within the state.