Senior Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program
This program is distinct from the proposed senior volunteer tax rebate that the school board and district would like to reinstate. The volunteer rebate is money awarded to senior citizens who volunteer in the schools. The senior volunteer rebate is not currently active, although it was used in AGSD until 2011 budget cuts. The money for the volunteer program is part of the district's budget. The Senior Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program is a state program funded by earnings from the Pennsylvania Lottery. The Senior tax/rent rebate program is currently active and has been around since 1971. The tax/rent rebate program gives money back to seniors based on how much property tax was paid and income was earned in the previous year.
What are the eligibility requirements?
- Must be at least 65 years old OR a widow(er) who is at least 50 years old OR be disabled and at least 18 years old.
- Annual income must be less than $35,000 for homeowners and less than $15,000 for renters.
- If cost of living adjustments to social security put your annual income just above the cut-off, you may still be eligible.
- Half of social security earnings are deducted when totaling annual income.
- Having a Homestead exclusion DOES NOT render you ineligible for this senior tax rebate program. If you are the property owner and the property is your primary residence, you may apply for both the Homestead exclusion and senior tax rebate.
APPLY HERE! (Note: Forms typically become available for a rebate on the previous tax year in January of the next year and are usually due June 30. However, the application deadline for 2017 has been EXTENDED through December 31, 2017).
What is the potential rebate that can be earned and where does the money come from?
The maximum rebate that can be earned is $650 dollars for homeowners, but can be supplemented up to $975 (more information on that below). The rebate program offers money back on a sliding scale, where those who earn the least amount of money per year are compensated more highly. For example, those who earn between $0 and $8,000 are eligible for $650 refund, while those who earn $18,001 to $35,000 are eligible for $250. A handy chart can be found here. The renter's rebate has only tiers in which those who earn $0 to $8,000 are eligible for $650 rebate and those who earn $8,001 to $15,000 are eligible for $500.
This rebate thresholds can be supplemented if you live in certain cities with high income taxes (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Scranton) OR if you make less than $30,000 a year and pay more than 15% of your income in property tax. If you meet either of those criteria, you are eligible for an additional 50% rebate, which could result in a rebate as high as $975 for those in the lowest earning bracket. The supplemental rebate is typically automatically calculated by the Revenue Department.
This money is separate from the district budget and is a program funded from earnings from the Pennsylvania Lottery, much like the Homestead reduction program.
The rebate is money back based off of your income and property tax bill from the previous year. It does not reduce your tax bill directly. You must apply for the rebate every year to receive a rebate from the previous year's taxes. The due date is typically June 30 of the following year. For example, to receive your rebate for 2017, you'll need to request an application in January/February 2018 and submit it by June 30, 2018). Applying for the rebate is FREE and assistance in filing the application is also FREE.
