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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., Feb. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
-- 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.
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.
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