Property/rent tax rebates to be distributed
HARRISBURG — More than 280,000 older homeowners, renters and people with disabilities across Pennsylvania will soon be issued rebates totaling nearly $132 million, according to a news release from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.
The rebates will be distributed to eligible Pennsylvanians who submitted an application through the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program for rebates on rent and property taxes paid in 2022.
“Since this program’s inception in 1971, it has delivered more than $8 billion in property tax and rent relief. This has made a tremendous impact for people in communities throughout Pennsylvania who benefit from this program,” Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne said. “We also want everyone to know that there is still time to apply for rebates on property taxes and rent paid in 2022. If you know of a friend or family member who may be eligible, encourage them to check their eligibility status and file an application prior to the deadline on December 31, 2023.”
As specified by law, rebates cannot be issued prior to July 1. The initial rebate distribution is started in early July. Applicants who submitted their bank account information on their application forms will receive their rebates through direct deposit. Applicants who requested a paper check to be mailed to them should expect to receive their payment in the mail.
After the initial distribution of rebates in July, rebates will be distributed as claims are received and processed.
Shapiro Proposes Major
Expansion of PTRR program
As rebates on property taxes and rent paid in 2022 start going out, Gov. Josh Shapiro is calling for a major expansion of the PTRR program in his 2023-2024 proposed budget.
Under the governor’s proposal, the maximum standard rebate would increase from $650 to $1,000. Meanwhile, the income limits for renters and homeowners would be made equal and both increase to $45,000. Those income limits would also be tied to the cost of living moving forward.
Ultimately, the governor’s proposal would result in nearly 175,000 additional Pennsylvanians qualifying for a property tax or rent rebate. At the same time, the Department of Revenue estimates that 86% of the 430,000 claimants who already qualify will see their rebates increase.
Using myPATH to File Your Rebate Application
Submitting your rebate application online through mypath.pa.gov is easy and does not require you to sign up for an account. Applicants will be asked to provide specific information on their income and rent/property taxes. Applicants should check the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program instruction booklet to learn which information they will need to input/upload to complete the process.
Browne recently signed an order to extend the deadline to apply for rebates on rent and property taxes paid in 2022 to December 31, 2023.
About the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program
The current 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.
Eligible applicants should check the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program page (www.revenue.pa.gov/ptrr) on the Department of Revenue’s website for more information, including detailed instructions on the program, the paper application form and contact information for those with questions. It’s free to apply for a rebate, and applicants are reminded 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.
Applicants 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 and/or estates may file rebate claims on behalf of claimants who lived at least one day in 2022 and meet all other eligibility criteria.
The easiest way to check the status of your rebate is to use the “Where’s My Rebate?” tool. To check on the status of your claim, you will need your:
— Social Security number
— Claim year
— Date of birth