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

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

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 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/Rent Rebates, combined with general property tax relief from slots gaming, will completely eliminate school property taxes for about 120,000 residents this year," said Secretary of Revenue C. Daniel Hassell. "Governor Rendell is extending the rebate program deadline again this year because he wants to be sure everyone who is eligible has time to apply for the relief they're owed."

The rebate program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians who are 65 and older; widows and widowers 50 and older; and people with disabilities 18 and older. A 2006 program expansion increased the income limit from $15,000 to $35,000 (which excludes half of Social Security income) for homeowners 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. As a result, the maximum rebate for those homeowners is $975.  

As of May 28, the Revenue Department had received more than 533,000 rebate applications. Nearly 600,000 older Pennsylvanians and residents with disabilities are expected to benefit from the program this year, as compared to 310,000 before the 2006 program expansion.  

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.  

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