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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Nick Kotik |
  
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Property Tax/Rebate Program application deadline extended to Dec. 31
HARRISBURG, June 9 – State Rep. Nick Kotik, D-Allegheny, announced today that the deadline to apply for Pennsylvania’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program has been extended to Dec. 31.
To be eligible for the program, residents must be 65 or older, a widow or widower 50 or older, or 18 or older with a permanent disability. Based on their property taxes or rent paid in 2007, eligible Pennsylvanians can receive rebates of up to $650.
To qualify, household income for homeowners cannot exceed $35,000; the income limit is $15,000 for renters. Applicants may exclude half of their Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, or federal Railroad Retirement Tier 1 benefits when determining eligibility, which allows some people with higher incomes to still qualify.
This year, some qualifying seniors may receive an even larger rebate. Senior citizen homeowners who are eligible for the program and whose income is less than $30,000 will receive an additional 50 percent rebate if the property taxes they paid in 2007 were at least 15 percent of their income. These seniors may qualify for a property tax rebate of up to $975.
"Even though more people are receiving rebates than ever before, there are still senior citizens who are eligible and do not apply," Kotik said. "If anyone has doubts or questions that are keeping them from applying, they should call my office so they do not miss out on this great opportunity."
The state will begin mailing out rebate checks after July 1 and any claims received after June 30 will be distributed as they are received and approved. Recipients also have the option of having their rebate deposited directly into their checking or savings account.
Residents should call the Department of Revenue’s FACT and Information Line at 1-888-PATAXES (1-888-728-2937) after July 1 to check the status of a claim; touch-tone telephone service is required. Callers will need their Social Security number and the amount of their rebate. People without touch-tone telephone service should call 1-888-222-9190 between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. for assistance.
Constituents are invited to call one of Kotik’s constituent service offices for further information regarding the program at 412-264-4260 or 412-429-5091.
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