GOVERNOR RENDELL ENCOURAGES OLDER ADULTS TO APPLY FOR 2008 PROPERTY TAX/RENT REBATE

Forms Mailed to Seniors, Residents with Disabilities for Rebates Up To $975

HARRISBURG, PA – February 02, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) – Governor Edward G. Rendell today encouraged eligible senior citizens and residents with disabilities to apply for Property Tax/Rent Rebates of up to $975. Application forms were mailed to more than 708,000 residents who received a rebate last year or may qualify for a rebate in 2009.

“Revenue from the Lottery and slots gaming provided desperately-needed property tax relief to nearly 600,000 seniors last year, and for the first time, about 113,000 homeowners had their school property taxes completely eliminated,” Governor Rendell said. “All residents who received rebates last year should receive new application forms in the mail by mid-February.”

Seniors must reapply for rebates by June 30 every year because the rebates are based on property taxes or rent paid each year and annual income.

So far, more than $272 million in property tax and rent rebates have been sent to more than 571,000 homeowners and renters across the state, and the Revenue Department continues to process applications that came in close to the deadline.

The rebate program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians who are age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The program expansion in 2006 increased the income limit from $15,000 to $35,000 (which excludes half of Social Security income) for homeowners and raises the maximum standard rebate for both homeowners and renters from $500 to $650.  The program expansion also provided for supplemental property tax rebates of up to $325 – on top of the standard rebates – to homeowners in
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Scranton and to those in other parts of the state who pay more than 15 percent of income on property taxes.

Property Tax/Rent Rebate claim forms (PA-1000) and information are available online at www.PaPropertyTaxRelief.com and by calling 1-888-222-9190.  Forms and assistance also are available at Department of Revenue district offices (listed in the government section of local telephone directories), local Area Agencies on Aging, senior centers and state legislators’ offices.

The deadline to apply for a rebate on property taxes or rent paid in 2008 is June 30. Rebates will be distributed beginning on July 1, as specified by law.

The household income limits and maximum standard rebate amounts are:

·   $0 and $8,000                 $650 rebate

·   $8,001 to $15,000            $500 rebate

·   $15,001 to $18,000          $300 rebate

·   $18,001 to $35,000          $250 rebate

The Department of Revenue will automatically calculate supplemental rebates for those who live in areas of particularly high tax burden and therefore qualify for the additional property tax relief.

Renters with incomes between $0 and $8,000 now receive a $650 rebate and those with incomes between $8,001 and $15,000 receive a $500 rebate.

The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program is one of five programs supported by the Pennsylvania Lottery. Since the program’s 1971 inception, more than $4 billion has been paid to seniors and disabled residents. The expanded portion of the rebate program is paid for with revenue from slots gaming.

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The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses.  To find out more about Governor Rendell’s initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit www.governor.state.pa.us.