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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Joe Petrarca |
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Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program application deadline extended to Dec. 31
HARRISBURG, Nov. 24 – State Rep. Joe Petrarca, D-Westmoreland/Armstrong, is reminding residents that the deadline to apply for Pennsylvania’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program has been extended to Dec. 31.
The program provides rebates on the previous year's property taxes or rent to income-eligible residents who are 65 or older, 50 or older and widowed, or 18 or older with a permanent disability. Based on property taxes or rent paid in 2009, eligible Pennsylvanians can receive rebates of up to $650. Unfortunately, every year thousands of eligible Pennsylvanians do not apply.
To qualify for the program, household income for homeowners cannot exceed $35,000. The income limit is $15,000 for renters. However, 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 qualify, Petrarca said.
Seniors living in Westmoreland or Armstrong counties with incomes under $30,000 will receive an additional 50 percent rebate if their property taxes for 2009 are at least 15 percent of their income. The modification is part of the Property Tax Relief Act of 2005 and will be automatically computed by the Department of Revenue.
Residents can fill out the PTRR form online, request to have an application mailed to them, and check the status of a submitted claim by visiting www.PaPropertyTaxRelief.com or calling the Department of Revenue's FACT and Information Line at 1-888-PATAXES (1-888-728-2937). Touch-tone telephone service is required. People without touch-tone telephone service may call 1-888-222-9190 between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. for assistance. All callers and Web site users will need their Social Security number and the amount of their rebate.
For more information or for help applying for the program, residents can contact one of Petrarca's local offices: in Vandergrift at (724) 567-6982, in Derry at (724) 694-5298, or in Latrobe at (724) 539-7560.
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