Harrisburg, PA — In order to ensure as many Pennsylvanians receive the relief they are entitled to, the deadline for older adults and Pennsylvanians with disabilities to apply for rebates on rent and property taxes paid in 2023 has been extended from June 30 to December 31, 2024, Governor Josh Shapiro announced today.
Eligible applicants of the Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) program are encouraged to file their rebate applications online by visiting mypath.pa.gov. This online filing option makes it simple to submit the PTRR application and the supporting documentation needed to verify each applicant's eligibility.
"After hearing from seniors across the Commonwealth that we needed to do more to cut costs and put money back in their pockets, my Administration put in the hard work to expand the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program for the first time in nearly 20 years," said Governor Josh Shapiro. "The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program has long been a lifeline for our seniors and people with disabilities, especially those on a fixed income. This is what it looks like when we work together, put partisanship aside, and get stuff done for Pennsylvania. With higher income limits for renters and homeowners in place this year, we're seeing thousands more Pennsylvanians access this critical program – and now, eligible Pennsylvanians have until the end of the year to apply and take advantage of the Property Tax/Rent rebate."
"So far this year, our agency has already received approximately 445,000 rebate applications. That's roughly 100,000 more applications than we had received at this time last year — and the applicant pool thus far includes nearly 80,000 first-time filers who will be benefitting from the rebate program for the very first time," said Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne. "With today's announcement, we want eligible applicants in all of Pennsylvania's 67 counties to know that they have more time to file their rebate applications. In addition to Department of Revenue district offices, there are a number of places across the Commonwealth where people can find in-person filing assistance."
DOR has already processed and approved 92% of PTRR applications for payment. The remaining claims yet to be approved either have errors or may require more information – if you receive outreach from DOR, Pennsylvanians are encouraged to respond as soon as possible in order to get their application approved so they can receive their rebate in a timely manner.
Eligibility/How to File
The PTRR program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The table below shows how much homeowners and renters who fit this criteria are eligible for, depending on their income:
| INCOME | MAX STANDARD REBATE |
|---|---|
| $0 - $8000 | $1,000 |
| $8,001 - $15,000 | $770 |
| $15,001 - $18,000 | $460 |
| $18,001 - $45,000 | $380 |
Submitting your application through myPATH is easy and does not require you to sign up for an account. Filing online gives you instant confirmation that your claim has been successfully filed. Applicants also will have access to automatic calculators and other helpful features that are not available through the paper application.
It's free to apply for a rebate and assistance is available at hundreds of locations across the state: Department of Revenue district offices, local Area Agencies on Aging, and state legislators' offices. You must reapply for a rebate every year as they are based on annual income and property taxes or rent paid during the prior year.
When Can You Expect Your Rebate?
Rebates that have been approved for payment will be distributed beginning July 1, as required by law. Here is additional information to keep in mind:
- It may take longer to process applications if there is a need to contact applicants to confirm their eligibility, or request further supporting documentation.
- This is especially the case for first-time filers for the program, due to the need to verify their eligibility. This extended processing timeframe for first-time filers is only for this year, due to the expansion of the program resulting in a high number of new applicants.
- If you provide your phone number on your Property Tax/Rent Rebate application form or in the myPATH electronic application, you will receive an automated call from the Department of Revenue when your claim posts to the department's processing system. You will also receive another automated call when your claim is approved.
- 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
About the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program
Governor Josh Shapiro last year signed into law a historic expansion of the Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) program, making good on the commitment he made to Pennsylvania seniors, widows and widowers, and people with disabilities during his campaign and in his inaugural budget address to ease the burden of rising costs.
Thanks to the Governor, more Pennsylvanians qualify and — at the same time — the vast majority who qualified in prior years will see their rebates increase. In fact, nearly 175,000 Pennsylvanians are newly eligible for the program due to the expansion. The expansion also:
- Increased the maximum standard rebate from $650 to $1,000.
- Increased the income cap from $35,000 to $45,000 for homeowners.
- Increased the income cap from $15,000 to $45,000 for renters.
- Automatically increases the income cap to grow with inflation in years to come.