School District Property Tax Bills to be Eliminated for 120,000 Senior Homeowners

The deadline to apply for Pennsylvania’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program for older adults and residents with disabilities has been extended from June 30 to Dec. 31.

“Property tax and rent rebates, combined with general property tax relief from slots gaming, provide significant support to older Pennsylvanians and residents with disabilities,” said Secretary of Revenue Daniel Meuser. “Governor Corbett is extending the rebate program deadline because he wants to be sure everyone who is eligible has time to apply for the tax relief they’re owed.”

The rebate program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters, and half of Social Security income is excluded.

The maximum standard rebate is $650, but supplemental rebates for qualifying homeowners can boost rebates to $975.

As of May 27, the Revenue Department had received more than 532,000 rebate applications. More than 600,000 older Pennsylvanians and residents with disabilities are expected to benefit from the program this year.

As specified by law, rebates will begin to be distributed on July 1. After June 30, rebates will be distributed as claims are received and processed.

Applicants may obtain Property Tax/Rent Rebate claim forms (PA-1000) and related information online at www.revenue.state.pa.us or by calling, toll-free, 1-888-222-9190. Forms and assistance also are available at Department of Revenue district offices (listed in the government section of phone directories), local Area Agencies
on Aging, senior centers and state legislators’ offices.

Claimants who already applied for Property Tax/Rent Rebates may check the status of claims online at www.revenue.state.pa.us or by calling, toll-free, 1-888-PATAXES.

The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program is one of five programs supported by the Pennsylvania Lottery. Since the program’s 1971 inception, older and disabled adults have received more than $4.8 billion worth of property tax and rent relief. The expanded portion of the rebate program is paid for with revenue from slots gaming.