Homeowners and renters are missing out on millions of dollars in tax relief. Use the resources below to learn more.
Pennsylvania
You may be eligible to receive money back
Pennsylvania Program Overview
Property Tax-Aide features the Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) Program in Pennsylvania.
Property Tax / Rent Rebate (PTRR) Program
The rebate program benefits eligible Pennsylvania homeowners and renters 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. Spouses, personal representatives or estates may also file rebate claims on behalf of claimants who lived at least one day in the claim year and meet all other eligibility criteria.
The maximum standard rebate is $650, but supplemental rebates for qualifying homeowners can boost rebates to $975.
For homeowners, the rebate is based on property taxes paid on the homeowner’s primary residence. For renters, the rebate is based on 20% of rent that is considered to be for property taxes.
In addition, the law gives the following relief to seniors in most need:
• Seniors who live in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh or Scranton, where local wage/income tax rates are very high, will not benefit from a local tax shift to lower taxes on top of the reduction offered by the state funded property tax relief. To ensure that seniors in these communities receive significant property tax relief, each senior household with income under $30,000 has its property tax rebate increase by an additional 50 percent.
• In addition, property tax rebates are increased by an additional 50 percent for senior households in the rest of the state, so long as those households have incomes under $30,000 and pay more
The maximum standard rebate is $650, but supplemental rebates for qualifying homeowners can boost rebates to $975.
For homeowners, the rebate is based on property taxes paid on the homeowner’s primary residence. For renters, the rebate is based on 20% of rent that is considered to be for property taxes.
In addition, the law gives the following relief to seniors in most need:
• Seniors who live in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh or Scranton, where local wage/income tax rates are very high, will not benefit from a local tax shift to lower taxes on top of the reduction offered by the state funded property tax relief. To ensure that seniors in these communities receive significant property tax relief, each senior household with income under $30,000 has its property tax rebate increase by an additional 50 percent.
• In addition, property tax rebates are increased by an additional 50 percent for senior households in the rest of the state, so long as those households have incomes under $30,000 and pay more
Eligibility
You are eligible if,
- you are 65 and older
- or your spouse is over 65
- or you are a surviving spouse 50 and older as of December 31, 2022
- or you have disabilities and are 18 and older.
- Proof of age needs to be submitted initially.
There is a maximum income for both the homeowners and renters. Income excludes one-half your social security benefits, one-half state supplementary payment benefits and one-half any Railroad Retirement Tier 1 benefits.
- For property owners, the total annual household income, including that of your spouse who lives with you was $35,000 or less in 2022.
- For renters, the total annual household income, including that of your spouse who lives with you was $15,000 or less in 2022.
Application Deadline
2022 applications must be postmarked by June 30
Required Documentation
- Proof of age includes birth certificate; Pennsylvania driver’s license or state ID card, passport, Blue Cross 65 Special Card; church baptismal records.
- Proof of disability in the copy of the award letter issued by Social Security, Veterans Administration, Federal Civic Service
- Income is total household. Proof of income includes federal or state income tax returns or the documents used for determining income, such as W-2 and Interest and dividends, gain or loss on sale or exchange of property, net rental income or less, salaries, wages, bonuses, commissions and estate and trust income, gambling and lottery winnings, value inheritance, alimony and spousal support.
- Homeowners need to provide proof that taxes were paid. Proof includes receipted tax bills.
- Renters must provide proof of the rent and a PA Rent Certification for each place you resided during the year. The certification must be signed by landlord. If the certificate is not available, you can submit either a notarized statement or rent receipts.
Contact Details
Information on this program along with additional resources can be found on the official Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program website and the Program Brochure
Applications can be filed online at myPATH https://mypath.pa.gov/. Be advised that the application might not be accepted online as the deadline has passed for this year.
Your Resources
Your state accepts digital and mailed applications
Property Tax-Aide has independently selected the property tax relief programs featured on this website that we think are the most relevant and beneficial to older adults. It is not an exhaustive list of all property tax relief programs available in each state. Please consult your local tax agency for a comprehensive listing of property tax relief programs in your area.