Norfolk Southern, the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and HD Growth Partners are partnering to host a series of tax information sessions, the first was held on Saturday.

These meetings are meant to show how financial assistance from the railroad is going to impact a person's tax returns.

Norfolk Southern has paid more than $21 million to more than 4,500 households in East Palestine for reimbursements and support.

As it stands right now, those payments from Norfolk Southern may be taxable under current law. 

"The most important thing we're trying to educate people about is how to file their taxes if this legislation doesn't pass," HD Growth Partners CEO Tim Petrey told 21 News. "A lot of the income that was received and reported in the 1099 will not end up being taxed, but there is a specific way it needs to be reported so that they can avoid getting letters or corrections to their tax returns."

Congress is still working out how these monies will impact tax law.

President Biden called for that recovery money to not be taxed during his visit to East Palestine on Friday.

Two more consultations will be held next week at the American Legion Post 31:

  • Wednesday, February 21st - 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
  • Thursday, February 22nd - 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Another meeting will be held in Darlington, Pennsylvania at the Township Municipal Building on Monday, February 19, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.