McKeesport – February 11, 2011 – Application forms for rebates on property taxes or rent paid in 2010 are now available in Sen. Jim Brewster’s local district offices.
“I urge all seniors to see if they are eligible for this Lottery-funded rebate program,” Brewster said. “If you are not sure, contact one of my local offices and we will help you determine your eligibility and apply for benefits.”
Brewster said all homeowners and renters who received rebates last year should have received their 2010 application form in the mail by now. He said applications are also available online at www.revenue.state.pa.us or by calling 1-888-222-9190. In addition to his district offices in McKeesport, Monroeville and New Kensington, forms and assistance are available at state Department of Revenue district offices (listed in the government section of local telephone directories), local Area Agencies on Aging and senior centers.
The rebate filing deadline is June 30. Brewster said More than $281 million in property tax and rent rebates were sent to a record 603,098 people statewide last year. He added that if you combine rebates with gaming-generated tax relief, about 120,000 homeowners had school property taxes completely eliminated last year. The rebate program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters. Half of Social Security income is excluded. The maximum standard rebate is $650, but there are supplemental property tax rebates of up to $325 for homeowners in Pittsburgh. Brewster said the supplemental payments also apply to people in other parts of the state who pay more than 15 percent of income on property taxes. The maximum rebate for those homeowners is $975. The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program is one of five programs supported by the Pennsylvania Lottery. Since the program’s inception in 1971, older and disabled adults have received more than $4.7 billion worth of property tax and rent relief. The expanded portion of the rebate program is paid for with revenue from slots gaming. # # #
