First Rebates Sent For PA’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program

Pennsylvania’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) Program for 2023 issued its first payments on Monday.

According to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office, the initial distribution includes over 442,000 rebates, totaling $266 million.

The program, as required by law, will send tax rebates to older homeowners, renters, and people with disabilities who applied across the state.

This year’s distribution marks a substantial increase from the previous year, when 283,468 homeowners and renters received rebates totaling nearly $132 million as part of the initial payout.

Pennsylvanians who provided their bank account information on their application forms will receive their rebates via direct deposit. Those who requested a paper check should expect their payment to arrive by mail, officials said.

According to Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity, a Republican, 56 percent were processed via direct deposit, while 44 percent were paper checks mailed via the U.S. Postal Service.

Following the initial distribution, rebates will continue to be issued as claims are received and processed.

In a recent announcement, Shapiro extended the deadline for older adults and Pennsylvanians with disabilities to apply for rebates on rent and property taxes paid in 2023 to December 31.

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue has processed and approved 93 percent of PTRR applications for payment. The remaining claims, which have errors or require additional information, are under review, according to officials.

Pennsylvanians are encouraged to quickly respond to any outreach from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue to ensure timely approval and receipt of their rebates.

The governor and state legislature recently approved raising the income limits and expanding the Property Tax Rent Rebate program.

Shapiro, a Democrat, has promoted the program in visits across the state, highlighting its benefits and encouraging eligible residents to apply.

At a recent press conference, Shapiro noted that at least 125,000 more Pennsylvanians are eligible for the rebates but have yet to apply.

“I want everyone who is eligible to get this money, so go to pa.gov/PTRR today to apply by December 31,” Shapiro said.

Details on the tax credit’s expansion:

• Increases the maximum standard rebate to $1,000.
• Increases the income cap for both homeowners and renters to $45,000.
• Increases the income cap to grow with inflation each year moving forward.

PTRR 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. Other application resources include:

• An online Spanish application on myPATH for Spanish-speaking applicants.
• Free application and assistance is available at hundreds of locations across the state: DOR district offices, local Area Agencies on Aging, and state legislators’ offices.
• A new lookup tool – created by DOR and the Commonwealth Office of Digital Experience (CODE PA) – on DOR’s website to help applicants find in-person assistance in their communities.
• To check the status of your rebate, use the Where’s My Rebate? tool. To check on the status of your claim, you will need your Social Security number, claim year, and date of birth. 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.

For more information and to access PTRR forms/instructions, visit pa.gov/ptrr or call 1-888-222-9190 for assistance and click here to view the new lookup tool to find in-person assistance.