​Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program Applications Now Available; Rebates are for property tax or rent paid in 2018

Harrisburg, Pa. — Application forms for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program are now available for eligible Pennsylvanians to begin claiming rebates on property taxes or rent paid in 2018, Revenue Secretary Dan Hassell announced today. The deadline to apply for a rebate is June 30, 2019.

“This program helps more than half a million seniors and people with disabilities obtain rebates on the rent or property taxes they paid the previous year,” Hassell said. “We encourage everyone who is eligible to apply.”

Applicants may obtain Property Tax/Rent Rebate claim forms (PA-1000) and related information on the Department of Revenue’s website or by calling 1-888-222-9190.

It is free to apply for a rebate, and free filing help is available at hundreds of locations across the commonwealth, including at Department of Revenue district offices, local Area Agencies on Aging, senior community centers and state legislators’ offices.

Claimants must reapply for rebates every year because rebates are based on annual income and property taxes or rent paid in each year. Spouses, personal representatives or estates may file rebate claims on behalf of claimants who lived at least one day in 2018 and meet all other eligibility criteria.

Rebates will be distributed beginning July 1, as required by law. More than $252.6 million in property tax and rent rebates have been sent to more than 527,000 homeowners and renters across the state for property taxes and rent paid in 2017.

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 its inception in 1971, more than $6.9 billion has been paid to qualified applicants through the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program. The program is funded by the Pennsylvania Lottery and revenue from slots gaming.

How do you check the status of your Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program claim?

The easiest way to check the status of your rebate claim is to visit the dedicated website that the Department of Revenue maintains — Where’s My PA Property Tax/Rent Rebate? You will need your social security number, claim year and date of birth to check the status of your claim.

Please keep in mind that Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program claim forms (PA-1000s) are loaded into the Department of Revenue’s processing system in late April. There will be no information available on your claim until that time.