Families, Friends Urged to Discuss Pennsylvania's Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program as Deadline Approaches

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Holiday gatherings are a great opportunity to remind older friends and relatives about Pennsylvania's Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, according to the Department of Revenue.

Eligible older adults and residents with disabilities have until Dec. 31, 2013 to apply for rebates of up to $975 from the program.

"When families and friends gather during the holiday season, I urge our residents to explore eligibility for property tax or rent rebates," Secretary of Revenue Dan Meuser said today. "The deadline to apply is approaching, but older residents and those with disabilities still have more than a month to submit claims for rebates."

It costs nothing to apply for a rebate. Free filing help is available at hundreds of locations across the state. Application forms and assistance are available at no cost from Department of Revenue district offices, local Area Agencies on Aging, senior centers and state legislators' offices.

Property Tax/Rent Rebate claim forms (PA-1000) and information are also available online at www.revenue.state.pa.us and by calling, toll free, 1-888-222-9190, between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

To speed processing, claimants are reminded to provide all required income, property tax or rent information. Applications must be postmarked by Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013.

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.

Pennsylvania is providing $778 million in property tax relief this year, including expanded rebates from the state's Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program and general property tax relief for all homeowners distributed through school districts last summer.

Last year, more than 598,000 households received more than $283 million in rebates. So far this year, more than 604,000 households have applied for rebates. As of mid-November, rebates totaling $272.3 million have been sent to almost 574,000 homeowners and renters.

The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program is one of five programs supported by the Pennsylvania Lottery. Since the program's 1971 inception, older adults and adults with disabilities have received $5.4 billion in property tax and rent rebates. The expanded portion of the rebate program is being paid for with revenue from slots gaming.

Media contact:  Maia Warren, 717-787-6960

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Revenue

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