HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue has launched a new online tool designed to help those seeking assistance with their Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) applications. This innovative lookup tool provides a user-friendly way for older Pennsylvanians and individuals with disabilities to find in-person help within their communities.
Developed by the Commonwealth Office of Digital Experience (CODE PA), the tool allows users to enter their zip code and receive information on nearby locations where they can receive aid for filing their PTRR application. These locations include Department of Revenue district offices, Area Agencies on Aging, and state legislators’ offices.
Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne underscored the importance of this tool, stating, “As Governor Shapiro has said, there is a tremendous network of people who work together every year to ensure that PTRR applications are filed accurately with our agency. With the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program expanding to nearly 175,000 additional Pennsylvanians thanks to Governor Shapiro’s efforts, we are working to make sure that we provide as much support as we can to the people who are counting on their rebates.”
The PTRR program offers essential financial relief to hundreds of thousands of older Pennsylvanians and people with disabilities. Bry Pardoe, Executive Director of CODE PA, emphasized this point, explaining, “Our goal with developing the new lookup tool was to make sure these people have an easy way to find the face-to-face customer support that they may need.”
The PTRR program is available to eligible Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older, widows and widowers aged 50 and older, and people with disabilities aged 18 and older. Applicants must apply for rebates annually, as they are based on income and property taxes or rent paid during the previous year. For 2024, the application deadline is June 30.
The Department of Revenue has already received nearly 45,000 PTRR applications this year and has approved 82 percent for payment. Rebates will begin distribution on July 1, 2024, as mandated by law. New or first-time applicants should anticipate additional processing time for their rebates.
The recent expansion of the PTRR program, signed into law by Governor Josh Shapiro, marks a historic moment for Pennsylvania. The reform increases the maximum standard rebate to $1,000 and raises the income cap for homeowners and renters to $45,000. Notably, the income cap will adjust annually with inflation. This expansion is the first since 2006 and will result in increased rebates for the majority of those who qualified in previous years.
Since its inception in 1971, the PTRR program has provided more than $8 billion in property tax and rent relief to some of Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable residents. Supported by the Pennsylvania Lottery and funded by gaming, the program is a vital lifeline for many Pennsylvanians.
The launch of the new lookup tool exemplifies the Shapiro administration’s effort to streamline access to vital resources. By making it easier for eligible individuals to locate in-person assistance for their PTRR applications, the Department of Revenue is helping to ensure that more Pennsylvanians can take advantage of this crucial financial relief program. This step forward supports Pennsylvania’s older residents and those with disabilities. Click here to view the new lookup tool.
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