Pennsylvania To Pay Out $258 Million Rebates on Property Tax, Rent: What To Know
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Homeowners and renters in Pennsylvania may be eligible to receive up to $1,000 through the state's Property Tax/Rent rebate program.
What Is The Property Tax/Rent Rebate?
The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is designed to financially support low-income Pennsylvania homeowners and renters who meet certain age or status requirements. Eligible applicants include residents who are 65 or older, widows and widowers age 50 and older, and people with disabilities who are at least 18 years old. Households must have an annual income of $46,520 or less to qualify for the rebate.
Governor Josh Shapiro expanded the program in 2023, raising the maximum rebate for seniors from $650 to $1,000, the income cap for renters from $15,000 to $45,000 a year, and for homeowners from $35,000 to $45,000 per year. According to the state's Department of Revenue, it opened up the rebate to an extra 175,000 Pennsylvanians.
According to Shapiro's office, 522,434 rebates totaling more than $319 million were sent to Pennsylvanians who submitted a rebate application in 2024.
A man holds U.S. currency and a wallet.
A man holds U.S. currency and a wallet.
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How Much Is The Rebate?
How much you can get is determined by household income. Those earning up to $8,270 can qualify for the full standard rebate of $1,000, while applicants with incomes from $8,271 to $15,510 are eligible for $770.
Residents with incomes between $15,511 and $18,610 may receive $460, and those earning from $18,611 up to $46,520 can receive up to $380.
Some applicants may also qualify for supplemental rebates, which provide an extra $190 to $500 in relief for applicants with the greatest financial need. The additional payments are automatically calculated for property owners earning $31,010 or less whose property taxes exceed 15 percent of their total income, as well as for residents of Philadelphia, Scranton and Pittsburgh.
Combined with the standard rebate, eligible households can receive as much as $1,500.
How To Apply
There are several ways to get your rebate: online, by mail and in person at certain locations. You will need proof of ID, address and income to apply. For full instructions, head to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania website.
What People Are Saying
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro: "The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is a lifeline for Pennsylvanians, and thanks to the historic expansion we passed in my first year in office, more people than ever are getting the help they need. This was the first time in nearly 20 years the program was expanded—and now rebates are going out to hundreds of thousands of seniors and people with disabilities all across the Commonwealth. We worked together to cut costs and put money back in people's pockets, and that's exactly what we're delivering."
What Happens Next
The state government began issuing refunds beginning July 1, but the application window is open until December 31.
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