CPA exam and licensure requirements for accounting professionals in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania were updated on June 30, 2025, when Governor Josh Shapiro signed Senate Bill 719 (Act 27 of 2025). The Act provides three pathways for individuals to become a CPA instead of two.

Accounting coursework

The coursework required to sit for the CPA exam has not changed. Below are the courses one needs in order to sit for the exam.

• At least 24 credits in accounting and auditing, business law, economics, technology, finance, or tax subjects that are satisfactory to the State Board of Accountancy.
• Additional 12 credits in accounting, auditing, and tax subjects.

CPA Exam Requirements in Pennsylvania

• 150 college credits, one year of relevant work experience and pass the exam
• Master’s degree, one year of relevant work experience and pass the exam

New Option Offered in Pennsylvania

• Bachelor’s degree, two years of relevant work experience and pass the exam

Reference Letters

In most cases, reference letters will not be required for licensure.

Timeline to Complete CPA Exam

CPA candidates will now have 30 months to pass all four sections of the exam. The 30-month timeline will begin on the date that the candidate passes the first section.

Most accounting professionals believe the changes made to the hours of education required to sit for the exam will improve the number of candidates interested in pursuing a CPA license in Pennsylvania. If you are an accounting major and live near our offices in Horsham, PA or Center City Philadelphia, please visit our Intern page or mail your resume and cover letter to:

DISCLAIMER: All communications by Wouch, Maloney & Co., LLP intend to provide general information, as of the date of the communication, and may reference information from reputable sources. Although our firm has made every reasonable effort to ensure that the information provided is accurate, we make no warranties, expressed or implied, of the information provided. Please be aware that this is not a comprehensive analysis of the subject matter covered and is not intended to provide specific recommendations to you or your business with respect to the matters addressed.

If you are planning to upgrade your primary residence in 2025 with energy efficient replacement products, it is important to know how to qualify for the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (EEHIC).

PINS, QM Codes and Qualified Manufacturer

There are specific numbers and codes a homeowner should make certain they receive at the time or purchase or installation if planning to qualify for the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (EEHIC). For energy efficient home improvements in 2025, you will need to include the PIN or QM Code of the products you purchased with your tax return. In addition, it is also important to verify that the specified property you are installing meets the necessary energy efficiency requirements, which can be found on the Energy Star website.

Qualified Product Identification Number (PIN)

A qualified product identification number (PIN) is 17 characters assigned by a qualified manufacturer (QM) to each item of specified property produced by the QM that requires a PIN. For any item of specified property placed in service on or after Jan. 1, 2025, taxpayers must include the PIN of such item on their tax returns.

Qualified Manufacturer Code (QM Code)

The QM code is a unique 4-character code assigned to a QM by the IRS. The QM Code may only be used for 2025 as the IRS has specified that only 17-character PINs will be accepted after January 1, 2026.

What is a qualified manufacturer (QM)?

A qualified manufacturer (QM) under 25C(h)(3) is a manufacturer of qualified property that enters into an agreement with the IRS. Be certain to ask the company you are working with to improve your home if they are a qualified manufacturer and if they have a QMID (qualified manufacturer identification number).

In order for a business to be designated as a qualified manufacturer, they must register through the IRS Energy Credits Online (ECO) portal. The business is not a qualified manufacturer until it receives an acknowledgement from the IRS.

What type of energy efficient item qualifies for the EEHIC?

Qualified energy property must be registered in order for homeowners to qualify for the EEHIC. The IRS provides the following list of the type of products but keep in mind the products must also be Energy Star certified:

• Exterior doors, windows, skylights and insulation materials
• Central air conditioners, water heaters, furnaces, boilers and heat pumps
• Biomass stoves and boilers
• Home energy audits

For a complete list of energy efficient products, visit the Energy Star website.

For more information on the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions page on the IRS website.

As always, should you have questions on this or other matters affecting you or your business, please call 215.675.8364 or email us to speak with a CPA today.

DISCLAIMER: All communications by Wouch, Maloney & Co., LLP intend to provide general information, as of the date of the communication, and may reference information from reputable sources. Although our firm has made every reasonable effort to ensure that the information provided is accurate, we make no warranties, expressed or implied, on the information provided. Please be aware that this is not a comprehensive analysis of the subject matter covered and is not intended to provide specific recommendations to you or your business with respect to the matters addressed.

April is upon us. We want to make certain you are aware of the 2025 quarterly estimated tax payment schedule and other tax related deadlines.

1st Quarter Estimated Tax Payment Due April 15th.

If you make estimated tax payments, you have the option to pay your entire estimated tax by April 15, 2025, or in four equal amounts by the dates shown below:

Deadline to File 2024 Tax Return & Pay Any Tax Owed

The IRS reminds taxpayers the deadline to file a 2024 tax return and pay any tax owed is Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

Deadline to File an Extension

If you are unable to complete your tax return before Tuesday, April 15, 2025, you may need to request an extension. You will need to prepare an Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, IRS Form 4868 on or before April 15^th. Filing an extension will give you until October 15, 2025, to file your return. Keep in mind, an extension is ONLY an extension to file your return. An extension DOES NOT give you more time to pay tax owed.

Extended Deadlines Due To Natural Disasters

Hurricane Helene

After Hurricane Helene, the IRS issued IR-2024-253 to postpone various federal individual and business tax return deadlines and tax payment deadlines to May 1, 2025, for part of or all of the following states:

• Alabama
• Florida
• Georgia
• North Carolina
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Virginia

California Wildfires

Victims of the California wildfires have various deadlines postponed, including filing federal individual and business tax returns and making tax payments, to October 15, 2025. To learn more, click here.

State Tax Filing Deadlines

In Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Florida, the state tax filing deadline is the same as federal tax returns, April 15, 2025. Delaware’s state tax is due on April 30^th.

As always, should you have questions on this or other matters affecting you or your business, please call 215.675.8364 or email us to speak with a CPA today.

DISCLAIMER: The WM Update, WM Wednesday Wisdom, WM Daily Update, and other related communications are intended to provide general information, as of the date of this communication, and may reference information from reputable sources. Although our firm has made every reasonable effort to ensure that the information provided is accurate, we make no warranties, expressed or implied, on the information provided. As legislative efforts are still ongoing, we expect that there may be additional guidance and clarification from regulators that may modify some of the provisions in this communication. Some of those modifications may be significant. As such, be aware that this is not a comprehensive analysis of the subject matter covered and is not intended to provide specific recommendations to you or your business with respect to the matters addressed.

As 2025 begins, we at Wouch Maloney are continually grateful for the opportunity to serve you. We hope that you enjoyed the holiday season and had a chance to spend time with family and friends. As always, as your trusted business advisors, we are here to assist you with navigating the ever-changing tax laws.

Items of Note

There are a few items specific to 2024 that could impact your tax filing including:

Retirement Plans: 401(k)s, IRAs, and More

The beginning age for taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) remains at 73 for owners of traditional IRAs, 401(k)s and other workplace retirement plans. If you turned 73 in 2024, you must take your first RMD by April 1, 2025. People who work past 73 can generally delay taking RMDs from their current employer’s 401(k) until they retire.

There is a penalty for people who fail to take their RMD, but that penalty is lower than in past years. Starting in 2023 and continuing to 2024, the excise tax for such failures is 25% of the missing RMD amount, which is down from 50%. Additionally, the penalty goes down to 10% for failures that are corrected in a timely manner.

Energy-efficient Home Improvement Credit

The credit was overhauled for 2023 through 2032. First, the credit percentage increases to 30% of the cost of certain types of insulation, boilers, air-conditioning systems, windows, doors, etc. added to your residence. Second, the $500 lifetime limit is replaced with a $1,200 annual limit. This $1,200 annual limit is lowered to $500 in the aggregate for exterior doors and $600 for exterior windows and skylights and other items. The annual limit increases to $2,000 for a biomass stove or hot water boiler, or an electric or natural gas heat pump put in the home. Third, a credit of up to $150 for the cost of a home energy audit is now available.

Tax Filing Deadline

Tax season usually starts at the end of January and you should see a W-2 from your employer in the mail or electronically. Now is a great time to gather your receipts if you plan on itemizing your deductions.

Still Waiting for Status of Last Year’s Tax Return?

For our clients who are still waiting for confirmation that last year’s tax return processed or for a tax year 2023 refund, the IRS now has a webpage devoted to processing status for tax forms. The IRS is claiming that electronically filed 1040s are processed within 21 days. This does not include those returns that may be delayed due to mistakes or missing information or paper returns which generally take longer to process.

Tax Guide (Facts) Chart

To start out the new year, we have included the 2025 Tax Guide on our Resources Page. The chart lists the various federal, state, and local tax rates and limits for payroll taxes, individual income taxes and other tax-related data.  If you would like this chart in print format, please let us know and we will gladly send you a copy.

Resources Page

Other items on the Resources page include the 2025 earned income and business privilege tax rates by county and 2025 income tax due dates. As additional information for 2025 is made available, we will continuously update the Resources Page on our website.

Keeping Up To Date

Please continue to visit our website and opt-in for our weekly updates for breaking news or important tax law changes. Also, if you are on social media, please follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or X.

Should you have questions on any matters affecting you or your business, please call 215.675.8364 or email us to speak with a CPA today.

We wish you all the best for a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

DISCLAIMER: The WM Update, WM Wednesday Wisdom, WM Daily Update, and other related communications are intended to provide general information, as of the date of this communication, and may reference information from reputable sources. Although our firm has made every reasonable effort to ensure that the information provided is accurate, we make no warranties, expressed or implied, on the information provided. As legislative efforts are still ongoing, we expect that there may be additional guidance and clarification from regulators that may modify some of the provisions in this communication. Some of those modifications may be significant. As such, be aware that this is not a comprehensive analysis of the subject matter covered and is not intended to provide specific recommendations to you or your business with respect to the matters addressed.