Harrisburg, PA — Approximately 416,000 older homeowners, renters and people with
disabilities across Pennsylvania will be issued rebates totaling roughly $196 million, the Department of Revenue announced. The rebates will be distributed through the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program.
“Last year this program helped more than half-a-million older adults and other eligible Pennsylvanians obtain rebates for property taxes and rent paid in 2017,” Revenue Secretary Dan Hassell said. “The department also recently extended this year’s application deadline to December 31 so that applicants have more time to apply for rebates on property taxes and rent paid in 2018. We encourage everyone who is eligible to take advantage of the program.”
As specified by law, rebate distributions cannot begin until July 1. Applicants who requested a paper check to be mailed to them should expect to receive their payment in the mail in early July. As a reminder, applicants are required to submit their bank account information on their application forms in order to receive their rebates through direct deposit.
After the initial distribution of rebates in early July, rebates will be distributed as claims are received and processed.
It costs nothing to apply for a rebate, and the department reminds applicants that free assistance is 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.
Claimants who already applied for rebates may check Property Tax/Rent Rebate
Status online or call, toll-free, 1-888-PATAXES.
Visit the department’s Online Customer Service Center to find helpful tips and answers to commonly asked questions about the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program.
Applicants may obtain Property Tax/Rent Rebate claim forms (PA-1000) and related
information on the Department of Revenue’s website or by calling, toll-free, 1-888-222-9190.
About the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program:
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 certain qualifying homeowners can boost rebates to $975. The Department of Revenue automatically calculates supplemental rebates for qualifying homeowners.
Since the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program’s 1971 inception, older and disabled
adults have received more than $6.9 billion in property tax and rent relief. The
program is funded by the Pennsylvania Lottery and revenue from slots gaming.
The Department of Revenue is reminding Pennsylvanians to be cautious of a scam
targeting people who receive rebates through the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program. The department recently received information that the scam consists of unsolicited
telephone calls from a person claiming to work for the Department of Revenue.