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Invest in Pennsylvania
A short guide for companies expanding into Pennsylvania: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Pennsylvania at a glance
PopulationEstimate
13.1 million
Pennsylvania had 13,059,432 people as of July 1, 2025.
Source: Census Bureau, state population estimates, July 1, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP
US$1.06 trillion
Pennsylvania's GDP was US$1,056,488.2 million in 2025, in current dollars.
Source: BEA, GDP by state, 2025 (annual update, September 2026) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per personEstimate
US$80,899
GDP per person was US$80,898.5 in 2025, in current dollars, computed from BEA's GDP and the Census Bureau's population estimate.
Source: BEA, GDP by state, 2025 (annual update, September 2026) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growth
1.8%
Real GDP grew 1.8 percent in 2025, as BEA publishes it.
Source: BEA, GDP by state, 2025 (annual update, September 2026) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Currency and inflation: see the United States at a glance
2. Before you set up
The body that handles foreign investment, any one-stop route and the zones, as the guide found them.
The Department of Community and Economic Development is the state economic development organization that SelectUSA lists for Pennsylvania.
Source: SelectUSA, state economic developers list, Pennsylvania (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
The Business One-Stop Shop guides registration; entity filings go to the Department of State's system and tax accounts to a separate myPATH form.
Source: Business One-Stop Shop, basic business registration (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
The Foreign-Trade Zones Board's 2024 annual report lists 8 foreign-trade zones in Pennsylvania.
Source: Foreign-Trade Zones Board, annual report, 2024, Appendix D (opens in a new tab) · as of 2024
This guide does not cover the activities reserved for nationals. Before you apply, ask the body named above that handles foreign investment which activities are reserved.
Investment rules across the United States: see Invest in the United States
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in Pennsylvania
- File a foreign registration statement with the Department of State to do business in Pennsylvania as a foreign corporation.Pennsylvania Department of StateUS$250Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Department of State, business fees and payments (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Register for state tax accounts, such as sales and use tax and employer withholding, through the myPATH tax registration form.Pennsylvania Department of RevenueOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Business One-Stop Shop, basic business registration (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- If you will have employees, register for an unemployment compensation tax account with the Department of Labor and Industry.Pennsylvania Department of Labor and IndustryOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Department of Labor and Industry, UC tax services page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- File the annual report with the Department of State each year; registered foreign associations are included.Pennsylvania Department of StateUS$7 for business corporations and limited liability companiesOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Department of State, annual reports page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Show 1 more set-up step
- Check whether staff in a regulated profession need a Pennsylvania license, and apply through the licensing portal.Pennsylvania Bureau of Professional and Occupational AffairsOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Department of State, professional licensing page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Steps that apply across the United States: see Invest in the United States
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with DCED. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
- Get advice
State economic development agency
DCED
Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
Runs the state's incentive programs, including site funding, low-interest loans and tax credits for companies that invest in Pennsylvania.
Visit DCED (opens in a new tab)Source: BusinessPA, Sites and Incentives page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Meet requirements
Business registry office
Department of State
Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations
Registers business entities and foreign associations, takes annual reports and sets the filing fees for businesses in Pennsylvania.
Visit Department of State (opens in a new tab)Source: Department of State, business filings page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Show 1 more organization
- Meet requirements
State labor agency
L&I
Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry
Registers employers for unemployment compensation tax accounts and collects quarterly wage and tax reports.
Visit L&I (opens in a new tab)Source: Department of Labor and Industry, UC tax services page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
State tax authority
Department of Revenue
Pennsylvania Department of Revenue
Administers state business taxes and runs myPATH, the online portal for registering tax accounts, filing returns and making payments.
Visit Department of Revenue (opens in a new tab)Source: Department of Revenue, myPATH tax portal page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Meet requirements
Port authority
PhilaPort
Philadelphia Regional Port Authority
Manages and markets the port facilities of the Port of Philadelphia on the Delaware River in Pennsylvania.
Visit PhilaPort (opens in a new tab)Source: PhilaPort, about page (opens in a new tab) · as of June 1, 2026
Show 1 more organization
- Meet requirements
Port authority
Erie Port Authority
Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority
Runs Pennsylvania's only Great Lakes port at Erie, which handles domestic and international goods.
Visit Erie Port Authority (opens in a new tab)Source: Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
State chamber of commerce
PA Chamber
Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry
Represents Pennsylvania employers on state policy and offers compliance education on environmental, workplace safety and human resources rules.
Visit PA Chamber (opens in a new tab)Source: Pennsylvania Chamber, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Get advice
State manufacturers association
PMA
Pennsylvania Manufacturers' Association
Monitors state policy issues for Pennsylvania manufacturers and publishes bulletins on them.
Visit PMA (opens in a new tab)Source: Pennsylvania Manufacturers' Association, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Business income tax
The corporate net income tax rate is 7.49 percent for 2026 and steps down to 4.99 percent from 2031; the capital stock tax ended in 2016.
What to do: Confirm the rate for your tax year with the Department of Revenue before you model a project.
Source: Department of Revenue, corporation tax rates (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Annual reports
Since 2025, registered foreign associations file an annual report with the Department of State; the fee is US$7 for business corporations and limited liability companies.
What to do: Check the filing window for your entity type and calendar it after you register.
Sources: Department of State, annual reports page (opens in a new tab); Department of State, business fees and payments (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Local sales tax
The state sales tax rate is 6 percent, with 1 percent more in Allegheny County and 2 percent more in Philadelphia.
What to do: Check the local rate for each site before you price taxable sales.
Source: Department of Revenue, sales, use and hotel occupancy tax (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
State revenue
The Independent Fiscal Office reports General Fund revenues of US$4.06 billion in October 2026, up 17.2 percent from October 2025.
What to do: Read the office's monthly updates before you rely on state revenue trends in a financial model.
Source: Independent Fiscal Office, October 2026 revenue update (opens in a new tab) · as of November 2, 2026
Across the United States: see Worth knowing in Invest in the United States
6. How Promote:Global helps
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Promote:Pennsylvania is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of November 3, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.