122,000 working families, tradespeople, caregivers, gig workers, and creative entrepreneurs are facing a massive tax increase in 2026 and beyond.
We are the individuals and organizations working together to change that.
— Councilmember Mike Driscoll"This BIRT problem has become a pressure point with small mom-and-pop businesses.
This could be the difference between those businesses being open or closed."
Starting in 2026, all businesses in Philadelphia are about to be hit with a new—and probably surprise—tax bill.
For the last 10 years, the smallest businesses in Philadelphia had a shield from the regressive Business Income and Receipts Tax, lovingly known as BIRT.
That shield allowed them to start and grow into a business that could support themselves, their family, their community, and employ other Philadelphians.
In 2026, that shield is gone.
While this information is public, most people don't realize the scale of the impact it's about to have on Philadelphians who run a small business as a way to simply survive.
If in 2025 you earned $50,000 and you are a:
That's between 1 and 3 months' rent for many Philadelphians—and they simply can't afford it.
Philadelphia's two-class tax system treats every corporation and non-corporation the same: whether you're a solo freelancer, a 50-person partnership, or a large corporation like Comcast.
This means individual business owners face double taxation on income already captured by the Net Profits Tax, while corporations do not.
"We are taxing working families out of their homes."
— Council Member Kendra Brooks, a former small business owner"We're going to see many businesses that have never filed taxes before trying to figure out how or where to file these taxes...I don't even know how many of them will know this is happening."
Fix the system. Create a tax class for Laborers (Independent Contractors), Individual Enterprises & Family Enterprises (Individually owned LLCs).
Removes BIRT for the LIFT class completely.
This isn't a free ride.
Meets Pennsylvania Constitution's Uniformity Clause requirements. Confirmed by Philadelphia Law Dept.
Every dollar retained by a Philadelphian becomes three dollars in local spending.
— Mayor Cherelle Parker, Inaugural Address, January 2, 2024"I'm not talking about incremental change.
I'm talking about bold, transformative steps..."
These are your neighbors, the people who power your community.
Get updates on our efforts, actions you can take, how to spread the word, and other ways to ensure we protect Philly's economic wellbeing.
Committed individuals & organizations coming soon
"The tragedy of life is often not in our failure, but rather in our complacency..."— Dr. Benjamin E. Mays