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Property Tax Relief

The Taxpayer Relief Act, Act 1 of Special Session 1 of 2006, was signed into law by Governor Rendell on June 27, 2006. The Taxpayer Relief Act provides for property tax reduction allocations to be distributed by the Commonwealth to each school district. Property tax reduction will be through a “homestead or farmstead exclusion.”

Homestead or Farmstead Exclusion. Under a homestead or farmstead property tax exclusion, the assessed value of each homestead or farmstead is reduced by the same amount before the property tax is computed. Homeowners are not guaranteed a homestead or farmstead exclusion unless and until an additional income tax for purposes of granting a homestead or farmstead exclusion is approved by voter referendum or sufficient funds have been collected to permit property tax reduction allocations to be made by the Commonwealth.

Filing Deadline. To receive school property tax relief for tax years beginning July 1 or January 1, an application for homestead or farmstead exclusions must be filed by the preceding March 1. School districts are required to notify homeowners by December 31 of each year if their property is not approved for the homestead or farmstead exclusion or if their approval is due to expire. To apply, please visit the Application for Homestead and Farmstead Exclusions.

Homeowners should contact their county assessment office for a copy of their county’s homestead and farmstead application form.

More information on the Taxpayer Relief Act can be found on the Department of Education’s Web site.