Holiday Visits are Ideal Time to Discuss Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program as Deadline Approaches

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Families and friends gathering during the holiday season are urged to remind older relatives and friends about Pennsylvania's Property Tax/Rent Program and changes that extend eligibility to more residents.

Applicants have until December 31, the date by which applications must be postmarked, to apply for rebates of up to $975 on property tax or rent paid during 2014. It costs nothing to apply for a rebate.

The Property Tax and Rent 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. Spouses, personal representatives or estates may also file rebate claims on behalf of claimants who lived at least one day in 2014 and meet all other eligibility criteria.

The maximum standard rebate is $650, but supplemental rebates for qualifying homeowners can boost rebates to $975. The Revenue Department automatically calculates supplemental rebates for qualifying homeowners.

Due to program changes enacted last year to ensure claimants are not disqualified from rebates solely because of Social Security cost-of-living-adjustments, homeowners and renters may be eligible for rebates even if their income is greater than these limits. Any homeowner who collected Social Security, received a property tax rebate in 2013 for claim year 2012 and had annual income last year – discounting half of Social Security – up to $36,129 is encouraged to apply for a rebate for claim year 2014. Any renter who collected Social Security, received a rent rebate in 2013 for claim year 2012 and had annual income last year – discounting half of Social Security – up to $15,484, is also encouraged to apply.

Applications and free filing help are available at hundreds of locations across the state, including 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.pa.gov 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.

Last year, more than 588,000 households received more than $279 million in rebates. So far this year, more than 587,000 households have applied for rebates. As of mid-November, rebates totaling $263.9 million have been sent to more than 554,000 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 and disabled adults have received more than $5.6 billion in property tax and rent relief. The expanded portion of the rebate program is paid for with revenue from slots gaming.

MEDIA CONTACT:  Maia Warren, 717-787-6960

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Revenue

Related Links

http://www.state.pa.us