More than $230 Million in Property Tax/Rent Rebates to be Distributed Starting July 1 to Older Adults, Residents with Disabilities

Deadline to Apply for Rebate Program Extended to Dec. 31

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nearly 500,000 senior homeowners, renters and people with disabilities will be issued rebates starting July 1 totaling $232.3 million through the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program. Approximately 24,000 more rebates will be issued this July 1 than were one year ago.

"Property tax and rent rebate checks should begin to arrive in mailboxes later this week," said Secretary of Revenue C. Daniel Hassell, who noted that, by law, rebates are distributed beginning July 1. "Homeowners and renters who opted to have rebates directly deposited into bank accounts – about 107,000 – will receive their money tomorrow." 

As of June 28, the Revenue Department had received more than 566,000 rebate applications. About 600,000 seniors are expected to benefit from rebates this year, compared to 310,000 before the program's expansion in 2006.

An estimated 120,000 senior homeowners will have school property taxes completely eliminated when rebates combine with $772.5 million in slots gaming-funded general property tax relief that all homeowners will see itemized on school district property tax bills this summer.

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. A 2006 program expansion increased the income limit for homeowners from $15,000 to $35,000 (which excludes half of Social Security income) and raised the maximum standard rebate for homeowners and renters from $500 to $650. The income limit for renters is $15,000.

The program expansion also provides for supplemental property tax rebates of up to $325 – on top of the standard rebates – to homeowners in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Scranton; and to those in other parts of the state who pay more than 15 percent of income on property taxes. The Revenue Department automatically calculates supplemental rebates for qualifying homeowners.

The deadline to apply for the rebate program was extended to Dec. 31; rebates will continue to be distributed as claims are approved through the rest of the year.

Obtain Property Tax/Rent Rebate claim forms (PA-1000) and related information online at www.PaPropertyTaxRelief.com or by calling 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.PaPropertyTaxRelief.com 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, more than $4.5 billion has been paid to eligible older adults and residents with disabilities. The expanded portion of the rebate program is paid for with revenue from slots gaming.  

Media contact: Stephanie Weyant, 717-787-6960

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Revenue