Stack: Property Tax relief Deadline Extended to Dec. 31

HARRISBURG, JUNE 25, 2009 – Homeowners and renters looking to ease their property tax burden will now have until Dec. 31 to apply for the Pennsylvania’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program for seniors and residents with disabilities, according to state Sen. Mike Stack.

The rebate program benefits Pennsylvanians who are 65 years old and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older.  

“Thousands of older Pennsylvanians may see their property taxes greatly reduced or even eliminated this year, but many of those eligible will not even apply for this program,” said Stack.  “I encourage seniors and disabled residents to use this extension to look into whether they qualify for a rebate and apply for assistance.” 

In 2006, the General Assembly approved legislation that increased the income limit for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program from $15,000 to $35,000, a measure that Stack supported.  The legislation also raised the maximum rebate for homeowners and renters from $500 to $650.  Applicants can exclude half of their income earned from Social Security, Supplemental Security income, and Railroad Retirement Tier 1 benefits when applying for a rebate. 

Stack said eligible seniors living in Philadelphia with incomes under $30,000 are eligible for a supplemental property tax rebate of up to $325, on top of standard rebates.  Plus, property tax rebates are increased by an additional 50 percent for senior households in the rest of the state provided those households have incomes under $30,000 and pay more than 15 percent of their income in property taxes.

According to Stack, this additional assistance was inserted into the tax relief legislation because seniors living in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh or Scranton, where local wage/income tax rates are very high, will not benefit from tax shifts approved by voters that are designed to lower taxes on top of the reduction offered by the state funded property tax relief.

Stack said the PTTR Program will benefit nearly 600,000 seniors this year compared to 310,000 before the expansion. 

The Department of Revenue will begin to distribute rebates July 1, but after June 30, distribution occurs as claims are received and processed.

Property Tax/Rent Rebate forms are available at Rebate forms can also be obtained at the senator’s offices, 12361 Academy Road or 8016 Bustleton Ave. or online at www.senatorstack.com

Individuals who already applied for Property Tax/Rent Rebates may check the status of their claim online at www.PaPropertyTaxRelief.com or by calling, toll-free, 1-888-PA-TAXES.

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