Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program Application Deadline Extended to End of Year

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 6, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program deadline for older adults and residents with disabilities to apply for rebates of rent and property taxes paid in 2015 has been extended from June 30 to Dec. 31, 2016.

"The deadline has been extended again this year for eligible seniors and people with disabilities to apply for relief of property tax or rent relief," said Revenue Secretary Eileen McNulty. "Last year, nearly 600,000 people benefited from the program. Distribution of rebates starts July 1, so eligible Pennsylvanians are encouraged to apply soon."

Each year the department evaluates the program as the statutory June 30 application deadline approaches to determine if funds are available to extend the deadline. To date, funding has been available to allow all who qualify to take advantage of this tax relief.

As of May 27, the Revenue Department had received 468,933 rebate applications. As specified by law, rebate distribution begins July 1. Payment for processed applications of direct deposit recipients will occur that day. Applicants requesting a paper check can expect to receive their payment by mail over the next several days. After June 30, rebates will be distributed as claims are received and processed. Applications take 4-6 weeks to process.

Applicants may obtain Property Tax/Rent Rebate claim forms (PA-1000) and related information online at www.revenue.pa.gov or by calling, toll-free, 1-888-222-9190.

It costs nothing to apply for a rebate, and the department reminds residents that free application assistance is available at hundreds of locations across the state, including Department of Revenue district offices, local Area Agencies on Aging, senior centers and state legislators' offices.

Claimants who already applied for rebates may check the status of claims online at www.revenue.pa.gov or by calling, toll-free, 1-888-PATAXES.

About the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program:

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.

Some applicants who previously received rebates may continue to qualify despite Social Security cost-of-living adjustments that may have pushed their income past the eligibility limits. This is explained in the instructions for the claim form.

The maximum standard rebate is $650, but supplemental rebates for certain qualifying homeowners can boost rebates to $975. The Revenue Department automatically calculates supplemental rebates for qualifying homeowners.

Since the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program's 1971 inception, older and disabled adults have received more than $5.9 billion in property tax and rent relief. The program is funded by the Pennsylvania Lottery and revenue from slots gaming.

Media contact: Kevin Hensil, 717-787-6960

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Revenue

Related Links

http://www.revenue.pa.gov