Who qualifies for the Homestead exclusion in Pennsylvania?

Your owner-occupied primary residence. One homestead only. Not rentals or investment property. Lowers your assessed value by a set dollar amount, the same for every homestead in your school district. It mainly cuts school tax. Some counties and municipalities that opted in also exclude value. The amount changes every year. Deadline: Set by each county. In Montgomery County, March 1 for the following July 1 school tax, and December 15 for a participating municipality's next January 1 tax.

Who qualifies for the Disabled veteran real-estate tax exemption in Pennsylvania?

Certain disabled veterans, when the State Veterans' Commission grants it. The financial-need test and disability standard are not confirmed here. The home must be your residence. When granted, school, county and municipal tax on your residence are removed. That is the whole bill.

Who qualifies for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate (2025 claim year) in Pennsylvania?

Age 65 or older, or a widow or widower age 50 or older, or a person with a disability age 18 or older. Household income of $48,110 or less. Homeowners and renters. A rebate on your 2025 tax or rent. The maximum is $1,000 if income is $0 to $8,550, $770 if $8,551 to $16,040, $460 if $16,041 to $19,240, and $380 if $19,241 to $48,110. Supplements in Philadelphia, Scranton and Pittsburgh, and for homeowners whose tax is over 15% of income, can raise the maximum to $1,500 at the lowest incomes. Deadline: December 31, 2026, for tax or rent paid in 2025.

Who qualifies for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate (2026 claim year) in Pennsylvania?

Same age and status tests as the 2025 claim year. Income limits rose 4.10%, up to $50,080. The maximum rebate stays $1,000, $770, $460 or $380 by income band: $0 to $8,900, $8,901 to $16,700, $16,701 to $20,030, and $20,031 to $50,080. The supplement income limit is $33,390.

Rules by state / Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania property tax, line by line.

Pennsylvania has no state real-estate tax on your home. Your school district, county and municipality each bill their own property tax, and the dates and penalties are set locally.

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At a glance

Who sends the bill: Your school district, county and municipality bill separately. There is no state real-estate tax on a home.
When it comes: Set locally. School bills often go out in July.
When it's due: Each bill shows its own discount, face and penalty periods. There is no single statewide due date.
If you pay late: Set locally. Check your bill for the discount and penalty terms.
Value is set as of: Set by your county. Many counties use a base year instead of current market value.
Limits on increases: No statewide cap on assessed value.

Bill dates source · Assessment source

What may come off

4 programs homeowners can claim

None of these are applied for you automatically. Each one is free to apply for. If you upload your bill, we check which ones are already on it and which may fit you.

Homestead exclusion

Who: Your owner-occupied primary residence. One homestead only. Not rentals or investment property.
What you get: Lowers your assessed value by a set dollar amount, the same for every homestead in your school district. It mainly cuts school tax. Some counties and municipalities that opted in also exclude value. The amount changes every year.
How to apply: Apply with your county assessment office.
Deadline: Set by each county. In Montgomery County, March 1 for the following July 1 school tax, and December 15 for a participating municipality's next January 1 tax.
If you're late: In Montgomery County, an application after March 1 waits until the next school year.
After that: One time, unless you move or the office removes it.

Source

Disabled veteran real-estate tax exemption

Who: Certain disabled veterans, when the State Veterans' Commission grants it. The financial-need test and disability standard are not confirmed here. The home must be your residence.
What you get: When granted, school, county and municipal tax on your residence are removed. That is the whole bill.
How to apply: Apply through your county and the State Veterans' Commission.

Source

Property Tax/Rent Rebate (2025 claim year)

Who: Age 65 or older, or a widow or widower age 50 or older, or a person with a disability age 18 or older. Household income of $48,110 or less. Homeowners and renters.
What you get: A rebate on your 2025 tax or rent. The maximum is $1,000 if income is $0 to $8,550, $770 if $8,551 to $16,040, $460 if $16,041 to $19,240, and $380 if $19,241 to $48,110. Supplements in Philadelphia, Scranton and Pittsburgh, and for homeowners whose tax is over 15% of income, can raise the maximum to $1,500 at the lowest incomes.
How to apply: Apply online through myPATH or on paper form PA-1000. You apply every year.
Deadline: December 31, 2026, for tax or rent paid in 2025.
After that: Every year.

PA-1000: the form

Property Tax/Rent Rebate (2026 claim year)

Who: Same age and status tests as the 2025 claim year. Income limits rose 4.10%, up to $50,080.
What you get: The maximum rebate stays $1,000, $770, $460 or $380 by income band: $0 to $8,900, $8,901 to $16,700, $16,701 to $20,030, and $20,031 to $50,080. The supplement income limit is $33,390.
How to apply: Same program, through myPATH or paper form PA-1000. The 2026 claim period had not opened as of October 27, 2026.
After that: Every year.

PA-1000: the form · Source

Think your value is too high?

Asking for a lower assessed value

Formal appeal: Your county board of assessment appeals. Philadelphia uses its own board.
Deadline: Set by each county, often August 1 or September 1 for the following tax year. Check with your county.
Good to know: Ask your county assessment office about its appeal steps and dates. Appeal timing is separate from the homestead exclusion deadline. Check whether a board can raise your value before you file.

A formal appeal reopens your whole value: the board can raise it as well as lower it. Bring recent sales of similar homes.

Source · We never charge for help asking for a lower value.

What can't come off

Charges you can't remove

Earned income tax, local services tax and per capita tax. These are not value exemptions on the property tax bill.
School or municipal tax in a place that did not adopt an exclusion.
The part of your tax above the rebate maximum.
Fees that are not property tax.
A disabled veteran exemption the Commission has not granted.

School, county and municipal real-estate taxes come as separate bills. Garbage, stormwater and similar fees are often billed separately, and the homestead exclusion and the rebate do not remove them. The homestead exclusion only applies to taxing bodies that granted it, most often the school district.

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Rules checked October 28, 2026 against official Pennsylvania sources. Rules change: check the deadline with your county before you rely on it. Not legal or tax advice.