It pays to serve as a volunteer firefighter in Falls Township.
Beginning in January 2024, volunteer firefighters may claim up to a $500 Earned Income Tax (EIT) credit as part of the township’s newly enacted Volunteer Service Tax Credit ordinance.
Township attorney Lauren Gallagher told the Falls Supervisors during Tuesday’s meeting that she worked with Fire Marshal Rich Dippolito in crafting the ordinance and determining eligibility.
In order to receive the tax credit, volunteers of Falls Fire Co. No. 1, Fairless Hills Fire Department and Levittown Fire Co. No. 1 must either respond to a minimum of 10 percent of the calls for emergency service to which the volunteer fire company responds; or accrue a minimum of 25 hours of service attained by participating in a combination of emergency response calls, formal training and drills, administrative and support services, fundraising, or other sanctioned firehouse events.
For 2024 and all subsequent years, the eligibility period runs from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31. Volunteers who have met the minimum criteria of the Volunteer Service Credit Program can sign and apply for certification from their chief or supervisor. From there, the application is forwarded to the Falls Township manager’s office for certification. All submissions are required to be sent to the manager’s office on or prior to April 1 each year.
Each active volunteer who has been certified under the Volunteer Service Credit Program shall be eligible to receive a tax credit of up to $500 for the Falls Township portion of the EIT. An active volunteer with a tax credit certificate may file a claim for the tax credit on their township earned income tax liability when filing a final local return for the preceding calendar year.
