Deadline Approaching for Senior Citizen Property Tax Rebate

One of the most popular and successful programs for senior citizens in Pennsylvania is the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, and with the June 30 deadline approaching, I want to make sure no one who is eligible gets left behind. The June 30 deadline is for a refund of property taxes paid for 2011.

Pennsylvania’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program benefits people who are 65 or older, widows and widowers 50 or older, and disabled people 18 or older. People who meet the age and income requirements may receive a refund on their property tax or rent paid during the previous year. The program, which is funded by the Pennsylvania Lottery and by gaming revenue, helps more than 600,000 older Pennsylvanians per year.

Here’s how it works. If you have a household income of $35,000 or less, you may qualify for a refund of up to $650 based on the amount of property tax you paid last year. You also may receive an additional property tax refund up to 50 percent of your base rebate if you earn less than $30,000 and your property taxes are more than 15 percent of your income.

You can deduct half of any Social Security—including Medicare premiums—or Railroad Retirement Tier 1 benefits from other income when determining eligibility. This means that a renter or homeowner could have a higher household income and still qualify for the rebate program.

The deadline for filing for a property tax or rent rebate is June 30, unless the deadline is extended by the governor. No matter how soon you apply, no checks are sent out until after July 1 each year. If you have a question about the status of your claim after you file it, you can call 1-888-PATAXES (1-888-728-2937). You should allow at least eight to 10 weeks from the date you mail your claim before you call to inquire about it.

You can receive a property tax or rent rebate only on the primary residence you occupied during the period for which you are claiming a rebate. If you own a residence, you must have paid your property taxes prior to filing for a rebate. Renters need to make certain their landlords paid property taxes on the rental property.

You can file a claim for a deceased individual. His or her name should be entered as the “Estate of.” In addition to the other information on the application, a copy of Letters of Administration or the short certificate must be attached. The deceased individual must have been alive for the entire year.

You must be able to verify that you paid property taxes or rent. Proof can include receipted tax bills for owners and rent certificates or rent receipts for renters. If you are claiming a rebate because you are disabled, you need to submit proof that you are receiving disability benefits from a federal agency or program. If you are not covered by any disability program, you must submit a complete medical report from your family physician.

If you or someone you know might qualify for a property tax or rent rebate, you need to fill out an application form as soon as possible. The application forms are available at my office. My staff can help you fill out the application and answer any questions you might have, but I recommend calling in advance so you know exactly what documents you need to bring in so we can copy them and mail them in with the application.

By allowing my office to help you with your application, we will also be able to track it in case there are any delays with the Department of Revenue. Although some companies try to charge you for filling out the application, my staff and I are happy to assist you for no charge whatsoever. Call my main office at 724-746-3677 and we can schedule an appointment in our , Burgettstown or Canton office to help you!