Treasurer McCord Says $232 Million in Property Tax, Rent Rebates to be Issued July 1

Rebate status updates available at www.patreasury.gov

Harrisburg – June 27, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — About $232 million in property tax and rent rebates will soon be headed to nearly half a million Pennsylvania seniors, widows, widowers and people with disabilities, according to State Treasurer Rob McCord.

The state Treasury Department will issue 492,000 payments from the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program on July 1, although eligible citizens may continue to apply through Dec. 31 for rebates on property taxes or rent paid in 2012. Those applications will be reviewed and paid as they are received.

“A lot of Pennsylvanians who receive this rebate count on these dollars to stay in their homes,” said Treasurer McCord. “It’s our job to process these payments in a timely and efficient fashion, so people have a little help making ends meet.”

To view the status of a pending rebate application, visit www.patreasury.gov and click on the banner image near the top of the page, or call 1-888-PATAXES.

For those eligible residents who have not yet applied, Treasurer McCord said a rebate application form (PA-1000) is available at www.revenue.state.pa.us, by calling 1-888-222-9190, or by visiting Department of Revenue district offices, local Area Agencies on Aging, senior centers and state legislators’ offices.

The Treasurer urged future applicants to choose the direct deposit option to receive their rebate faster and in a more secure manner.

“Direct deposit is a safe, secure and convenient choice, and it is a cheaper and faster process for the state, which saves tax dollars,” Treasurer McCord said. “When rebate recipients choose direct deposit instead of a printed check, everyone wins.”

Of the 492,000 rebates to be issued July 1, nearly 340,000 will be in the form of a mailed check. If those checks were to be paid electronically, the Commonwealth could realize significant savings, added the Treasurer.

The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, which is supported by the Pennsylvania Lottery and gaming funds, benefits Pennsylvania residents who are 65 and older; a widow or widower age 50 and older; and those who are disabled age 18 or older. The annual income limit is $35,000 for homeowners and $15,000 for renters. Half of Social Security income is excluded.

Media contact: Elizabeth Foose, 717-787-2991 or