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Pennsylvania · Property tax exemptions · Updated Oct 2026

Pennsylvania property tax exemptions

Here are Pennsylvania's property tax breaks for homeowners, seniors, veterans and people with disabilities, and how to apply.

Checked against official sources: Oct 23, 2026

See the ruleshomestead exemption
Yessenior break
See the rulesdisabled veterans
March 1homestead deadline
1.30%median tax rate

Get your checklist ↓ See which breaks fit you ↓

Exemptions by group

Every break for one group on one page, with step-by-step instructions and the tools set for that group.

Seniors

2 breaks

Senior Citizen Real Estate Tax Freeze (Philadelphia only), Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program

Veterans

1 break

Disabled Veterans' Real Estate Tax Exemption

Disability

1 break

Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program

Surviving spouses

2 breaks

Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, Disabled Veterans' Real Estate Tax Exemption

Where to apply in Pennsylvania

Your county assessment office takes applications for the homestead exclusion, and your school district (and in some places the county or city) sets how much it is worth. In Philadelphia, the city Department of Revenue runs the homestead exemption. Disabled veterans apply through their County Director of Veterans Affairs; the Property Tax/Rent Rebate is run by the PA Department of Revenue.

Official exemptions page

Find your county office in Pennsylvania

The office that handles property in each Pennsylvania county, with its phone number. In some places another office takes exemption applications; the “Where to apply” box above says which.

County pages

Counties with their own local exemption rules have a page:

Show all 67 county pages
Show all 67 counties and their offices
CountyOfficePhone
Adams CountyAdams County Tax Services (Assessment)717-337-9837
Allegheny CountyAllegheny County Office of Property Assessments412-350-4636 (option 2)
Armstrong CountyArmstrong County Assessment Office724-548-3336
Beaver CountyBeaver County Assessment Office724-770-4480
Bedford CountyBedford County Tax Assessment & Claims814-623-4842
Berks CountyBerks County Assessment Office (Homestead Office)610-478-6262
Blair CountyBlair County Assessment Office814-693-3110
Bradford CountyBradford County Assessment Office570-265-1714
Bucks CountyBucks County Board of Assessment215-348-6219
Butler CountyButler County Assessment Office724-284-5316
Cambria CountyCambria County Tax Assessment Office—
Cameron CountyCameron County Assessment Office814-486-0723
Carbon CountyCarbon County Tax Assessment Office570-325-5254
Centre CountyCentre County Tax Assessment Office814-355-6721
Chester CountyChester County Assessment Office610-344-6105
Clarion CountyClarion County Assessment Office814-226-4000
Clearfield CountyClearfield County Assessment Office—
Clinton CountyClinton County Assessment Office—
Columbia CountyColumbia County Assessment Office570-389-5642
Crawford CountyCrawford County Assessment Office814-333-7302
Cumberland CountyCumberland County Assessment Office717-240-6350
Dauphin CountyDauphin County Tax Assessment Office717-780-6101
Delaware CountyDelaware County Board of Assessment (Homestead Coordinator)610-490-1300
Elk CountyElk County Assessment Office814-776-5340
Erie CountyErie County Assessment Office814-451-6225
Fayette CountyFayette County Tax Assessment Office724-430-1350
Forest CountyForest County Assessment Office814-755-3532
Franklin CountyFranklin County Tax Assessment Office717-261-3801
Fulton CountyFulton County Assessment Office717-485-3208
Greene CountyGreene County Assessment Office724-852-5211
Huntingdon CountyHuntingdon County Assessment Office—
Indiana CountyIndiana County Tax Assessment Office724-465-3812
Jefferson CountyJefferson County Assessment/Tax Claim Office814-849-1643
Juniata CountyJuniata County Assessment & GIS Office717-436-7740
Lackawanna CountyLackawanna County Assessment Office570-963-6728
Lancaster CountyLancaster County Property Assessment Office (Board of Assessment Appeals)717-299-8381
Lawrence CountyLawrence County Assessment Office724-656-1938
Lebanon CountyLebanon County Assessment Office717-228-4425
Lehigh CountyLehigh County Assessment Office—
Luzerne CountyLuzerne County Assessment Office570-825-1540
Lycoming CountyLycoming County Assessment Office570-327-2200
McKean CountyMcKean County Assessment Office814-887-3215
Mercer CountyMercer County Tax Assessment Office724-662-7551
Mifflin CountyMifflin County Tax Services (Assessment Office)717-248-5783
Monroe CountyMonroe County Assessment Office570-517-3133
Montgomery CountyMontgomery County Board of Assessment Appeals610-278-3761
Montour CountyMontour County Tax Assessment Office570-271-3006
Northampton CountyNorthampton County Assessment Office610-829-6155
Northumberland CountyNorthumberland County Assessment Office—
Perry CountyPerry County Tax Assessment Office717-582-2131
Philadelphia CityPhiladelphia Department of Revenue215-686-9200
Pike CountyPike County Assessment Office570-296-5936
Potter CountyPotter County Tax Claim and Assessment Office814-274-0517
Schuylkill CountySchuylkill County Tax Assessment Office570-628-1025
Snyder CountySnyder County Assessment Office570-837-4216
Somerset CountySomerset County Assessment Office814-445-1536
Sullivan CountySullivan County Assessment Office570-946-5061
Susquehanna CountySusquehanna County Assessment Office570-278-4600
Tioga CountyTioga County Assessment Office570-724-9117
Union CountyUnion County Assessment Office570-524-8611
Venango CountyVenango County Assessment Office814-432-9520
Warren CountyWarren County Assessment Office814-728-3420
Washington CountyWashington County Tax Assessment Office724-228-6850
Wayne CountyWayne County Tax Assessment Office570-253-5970 ext. 4010
Westmoreland CountyWestmoreland County Tax Assessment Office—
Wyoming CountyWyoming County Assessment Office570-996-2262
York CountyYork County Assessment & Tax Claim Office717-771-9232

Some amounts depend on where you live. In Pennsylvania, some of these breaks or their amounts are set or adjusted by your county, city or town, as each exemption below explains. Ask your local assessor for the figure that applies to your home.

Property tax exemptions in Pennsylvania

Homestead

Homestead and Farmstead Exclusion (Taxpayer Relief Act)

Lowers the assessed value of your home for school property tax (and, where adopted, county or city tax) by a fixed amount set by your school district, paid for mainly with state gaming money. The amount differs by district. Example: in Philadelphia the exemption takes $100,000 off your home's assessed value, saving most homeowners up to $1,399 a year starting in 2025.

Who qualifies
You own the home and it is your primary residence (domicile). Condos and co-ops count. Only one primary residence. No age or income test.
How to apply
Get the Homestead/Farmstead application from your county assessment office and file it there. In Philadelphia, apply online at the Philadelphia Tax Center, by phone at (215) 686-9200, or by mail to City of Philadelphia, Department of Revenue, P.O. Box 52817, Philadelphia, PA 19115.
Form
Application for Homestead and Farmstead Exclusions (county form)
Deadline
Apply by March 1 before the school tax year (July 1 or January 1) you want it for. This date is in state law and cannot be extended by the Governor. Philadelphia: December 1 of each year (apply by October 1 to see it on your next bill).
Renewal
Generally one-time; school districts must tell you by December 31 if your approval is denied or about to expire, and you must report if the home stops being your primary residence. In Philadelphia you never reapply unless your deed changes (refinancing, adding or removing a co-owner).
Law
Taxpayer Relief Act, Act 1 of Special Session 1 of 2006; Homeowner Tax Relief Act (Act 72 of 2004), sec. 341; Philadelphia: Act 50 of 1998

Source: official page

Low income

Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program

A yearly state rebate of $380 to $1,000 based on income. Homeowners with income of $32,070 or less get an automatic supplement of $190 to $500 (up to $1,500 total) if their property taxes are more than 15% of income, or if they live in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh or Scranton.

Who qualifies
Pennsylvania homeowners (or renters) who are 65 or older, widows or widowers 50 or older, or people with disabilities 18 or older, with household income of $48,110 or less. Rebate tiers: $0-$8,550 income up to $1,000; $8,551-$16,040 up to $770; $16,041-$19,240 up to $460; $19,241-$48,110 $380.
Income limit
$48,110 household income per year (current program year)
How to apply
Apply online with myPATH (English or Spanish), by mail on Form PA-1000, or in person with free help at a Revenue district office, Area Agency on Aging, senior center or legislator's office. Include proof of age or disability, proof of income, and your property tax receipts.
Deadline
The 2025 claim year is due December 31, 2026 (deadline extended by the Department of Revenue; the statutory date is June 30).
Renewal
Every year
Law
Taxpayer Relief Act, Chapter 13 (53 P.S. 6926.1301 et seq.), as amended by Act 7 of 2023

Source: official page

Disabled veterans

Disabled Veterans' Real Estate Tax Exemption

100% exemption from real estate tax on your home.

Who qualifies
Pennsylvania resident, honorably discharged or released under honorable conditions, who served during a period of war or armed conflict (as determined by the VA; some expeditionary medals also count), and who, because of that service, is blind, paraplegic, has lost two or more limbs, or has a 100% permanent service-connected disability or a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from the VA. You must own the home alone, with your spouse, or as tenants by the entirety, and live in it as your main home, and the State Veterans' Commission must find financial need. An unmarried surviving spouse keeps or gets the exemption if the Commission finds need.
Income limit
Financial need: annual income of $114,637 or less is presumed to show need. The State Veterans' Commission set this level on January 1, 2025; the law adjusts it every two years for inflation, so it is the level for 2026 and the next change is due January 1, 2027 (51 Pa.C.S. 8904(1)). With higher income you can still show need if your allowable expenses exceed your income.
How to apply
Contact your County Director of Veterans Affairs, who helps you file the application. Bring your DD-214, VA rating letter, income proof and property deed.
Deadline
None. State law sets no filing deadline; you can apply at any time through your County Director of Veterans Affairs. The exemption starts once the State Veterans' Commission certifies need to your county assessment board (51 Pa.C.S. 8903).
Renewal
One-time approval, but the State Veterans' Commission must review every case of financial need at least once every five years (51 Pa.C.S. 8904(3)); report changes in income or ownership.
Law
51 Pa.C.S. 8901-8906

Source: official page

Senior freeze or deferral

Senior Citizen Real Estate Tax Freeze (Philadelphia only)

Freezes your Philadelphia Real Estate Tax bill at the amount from the year you qualify, so it does not go up when your assessment or the tax rate rises.

Who qualifies
Philadelphia homeowners who live in the home and are 65 or older, or live with a spouse 65 or older, or are 50 or older and were married to someone who was 65 or older when they died, with total income of $33,500 or less (single) or $41,500 or less (married) for 2022 and later years.
Income limit
$33,500 single / $41,500 married (applies for 2022 and later years)
How to apply
File the Senior Citizen Real Estate Tax Freeze application with the Philadelphia Department of Revenue with proof of income for your first eligible year.
Deadline
Apply by September 30 of each year (Philadelphia).
Renewal
Once enrolled, you are re-enrolled automatically each year; you must reapply if your deed changes for any reason.
Law
Philadelphia city ordinance (exact code section not confirmed)

Source: official page

Good to know in Pennsylvania

  • The homestead application deadline is March 1 and is set by law; the Governor cannot extend it (DCED).
  • In Philadelphia, owners with a 10-year residential tax abatement cannot also get the homestead exemption until the abatement ends (City of Philadelphia).
  • The Property Tax/Rent Rebate deadline was extended to December 31, 2026 (PA Department of Revenue).

Savings estimate for Pennsylvania

Roughly what an exemption could save you a year: the value it takes off, times your tax rate.

Filled in when the exemption is a fixed dollar amount. You can change it.

Pennsylvania median effective rate: 1.30% (taxes paid as a share of home value). Use your own rate if you know it.

Enter a value and a tax rateChoose an exemption or type the value it takes off.

Median effective rate: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25103 (median real estate taxes paid, owner-occupied homes) and B25077 (median value, owner-occupied homes). It is a statewide middle value; local rates differ a lot.

An estimate, not a bill.

Eligibility finder for Pennsylvania

Answer a few questions to see which property tax breaks may fit you.

Leave empty if you'd rather not say.

Everyone in the home, before taxes. Optional: used only to compare with income limits.

Shows local amounts and where to apply, for counties we have checked.

Do you own and live in the home?Answer the first question to see results.

A first check, not a decision: only your county, city or town assessor decides. We read ages, ratings and income limits only where the official rule states them plainly; otherwise we show the rule for you to check.

Document checklist for Pennsylvania

Pick the breaks you plan to apply for. You get a checklist of forms, documents, steps and deadlines to print or keep on your phone.

Exemptions to include

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Other formats

Questions about property tax exemptions in Pennsylvania

Is there a homestead exemption in Pennsylvania?

Yes: the Homestead and Farmstead Exclusion (Taxpayer Relief Act). Lowers the assessed value of your home for school property tax (and, where adopted, county or city tax) by a fixed amount set by your school district, paid for mainly with state gaming money. The amount differs by district. Example: in Philadelphia the exemption takes $100,000 off your home's assessed value, saving most homeowners up to $1,399 a year starting in 2025. Who qualifies: You own the home and it is your primary residence (domicile). Condos and co-ops count. Only one primary residence. No age or income test.

When is the deadline to apply for the homestead exemption in Pennsylvania?

March 1 before the school tax year (July 1 or January 1) you want it for. This date is in state law and cannot be extended by the Governor. Philadelphia: December 1 of each year (apply by October 1 to see it on your next bill).

Do I have to reapply for the homestead exemption every year in Pennsylvania?

Generally one-time; school districts must tell you by December 31 if your approval is denied or about to expire, and you must report if the home stops being your primary residence. In Philadelphia you never reapply unless your deed changes (refinancing, adding or removing a co-owner).

Are there property tax breaks for seniors in Pennsylvania?

Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program: A yearly state rebate of $380 to $1,000 based on income. Homeowners with income of $32,070 or less get an automatic supplement of $190 to $500 (up to $1,500 total) if their property taxes are more than 15% of income, or if they live in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh or Scranton. Senior Citizen Real Estate Tax Freeze (Philadelphia only): Freezes your Philadelphia Real Estate Tax bill at the amount from the year you qualify, so it does not go up when your assessment or the tax rate rises.

Do disabled veterans get a property tax exemption in Pennsylvania?

Disabled Veterans' Real Estate Tax Exemption: 100% exemption from real estate tax on your home.

Where do I apply for property tax exemptions in Pennsylvania?

Your county assessment office takes applications for the homestead exclusion, and your school district (and in some places the county or city) sets how much it is worth. In Philadelphia, the city Department of Revenue runs the homestead exemption. Disabled veterans apply through their County Director of Veterans Affairs; the Property Tax/Rent Rebate is run by the PA Department of Revenue.

Think your home’s assessed value is too high? An exemption and an appeal are separate: you can do both.

Appeal in Pennsylvania
Sources

Last checked: Oct 2026.

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