December 21 2010 (Shirley Allen)
Pennsylvania is providing $772.5 million in property tax relief this year, including expanded rebates for eligible elderly and handicapped residents from the state’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate program, but those programs are due to expire at the end of the year.
Eligible older adults and residents with disabilities have until Dec. 31 to apply for rebates of up to $975 from Pennsylvania’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate program, but tens of thousands of those eligible may not be aware of the program.
Secretary of Revenue C. Daniel Hassell stated, “We need to spread the word that about 88,000 Pennsylvanians who qualify for Property Tax/Rent Rebates have not yet applied. Time remains for residents to review the program’s requirements to see if they could benefit, just like the more than 592,000 people who already received rebates this year.”
Applications are available online at www.papropertytaxrelief.com; forms and free assistance are available at Revenue district offices, legislators’ offices, area agencies on aging, and senior centers. Assistance is also available by calling, toll-free, 1-888-222-9190, Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. State offices will close at 3 p.m. on Dec. 23 and reopen at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 27.
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.
The maximum standard rebate is $650, but supplemental rebates for qualifying homeowners can boost rebates to $975.
The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program is one of five programs supported by the Pennsylvania Lottery. Last year, 592,000 seniors received $277 million in rebates. So far this year, more than 619,000 people have applied for rebates, and as of Dec. 10, rebates totaling $275.9 million have been sent to more than 592,000 homeowners and renters.
Last year, school property tax bills were completely eliminated for about 120,000 residents this year.
Tags: elderly/handicapped rebate program, property tax relief, rebate program, seniors, homeowners, renters
