When to Expect Your Pennsylvania Rebate

Pennsylvania property tax/rent rebate payments started going out to eligible Pennsylvania homeowners and taxpayers last month. The Commonwealth will continue to distribute payments as new applications are processed. Applications were originally due to close on June 30, but the application deadline has been extended through the end of the year for eligible Pennsylvania residents.

Pennsylvania's Secretary of Revenue Patrick Browne said that the program has already made a “tremendous impact throughout Pennsylvania." 

“Since this program’s inception in 1971, it has delivered more than $8 billion in property tax and rent relief. Browne in a release when Pennsylvania began issuing the rebates last month. 

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Where’s My PA Rebate?

If you have already applied for your Pennsylvania property tax or rent rebate, you can use Pennsylvania’s Where’s My Rebate? tool to track the status. You will need your date of birth and Social Security number. 

Residents who have not yet applied for a rebate can still do so until December 31, 2023. Applications are available online through Pennsylvania's myPATH system. Renters and homeowners may also apply using a paper application. You can choose between receiving your rebate as a paper check or as a direct deposit.

Who Qualifies for a Pennsylvania Rent Rebate? 

Pennsylvanians who don’t qualify for a property tax/rent rebate this year may qualify in the near future (more on that below). To claim a 2023 rebate, residents must have rented an apartment, nursing home, personal care boarding home or similar residence in Pennsylvania in 2022 and have income that does not exceed $15,000. Additionally, renters must meet one of the following criteria to qualify for a PA rent rebate in 2023

• Be 55 years or older
• Be married to someone 55 years of older 
• Be at least 18 years old and permanently disabled
• Be at least 50 years old and a widow or widower

How Much Are Pennsylvania Rent Rebates Worth? The amount of your rent rebate depends on your income. Half of Social Security income can be excluded from the calculation. For example, if you received $20,000 of Social Security, you may count only $10,000 as your income amount to qualify for the rent rebate.

• Renters with an annual income of $8,000 or less will receive a rent rebate of $650.
• Renters with an annual income between $8,001 and $15,000 will receive a rebate of $500.

Who Qualifies for a PA Property Tax Rebate? 

The same age criteria used for Pennsylvania rent rebates applies to property tax rebates. However, homeowners must have owned and resided in their Pennsylvania home in 2022 to receive the property tax rebate in 2023. They must have also paid property taxes during the year. 

How Much Are Property Tax Rebates Worth? PA property tax rebates are also dependent on your annual income. You may exclude 50% of Social Security income when determining your eligibility and rebate amount.

• Homeowners with up to $8,000 in annual income will receive a rebate of $650.
• Homeowners with annual income between $8,001 and $15,000 will receive a $500 rebate.
• Homeowners with annual income between $15,001 and $18,000 will receive a $300 rebate.
• Homeowners with annual income between $18,001 and $35,000 will receive a $250 rebate.

PA Tax Rebate Expansion

If you don’t qualify for a Pennsylvania rebate this year, you may qualify in the near future. That’s because new legislation will increase the amount of Pennsylvania residents who qualify for property tax and rent rebates. 

According to information provided on Gov. Shapiro's website, the newly expanded Pennsylvania tax rebate program will qualify nearly 175,000 more PA residents for rebate checks. Additionally, many Pennsylvanians who already qualify for the payments will see higher payments in the future.

The legislation increases the income threshold to $45,000 for both renters and homeowners. This income cap will automatically increase each year to keep up with inflation. The maximum rebate will increase from $650 to $1,000. The PA rebate expansion will go into effect in 2024.