Starting next week, Pennsylvania will send tax rebate checks to seniors and low-income homeowners.
The rebate program was expanded in last year’s budget for the first time in nearly 20 years. And these tax rebate checks from Pennsylvania will arrive in the mail.
Are eligible to receive this tax rebate check? Keep reading to find out.
Tax rebate checks from Pennsylvania: who will get it?
Earlier this week, Governor Josh Shapiro announced that the state will be distributing 442,000 rebates worth $266 million to eligible homeowners and renters. Last year, the state sent 283,468 rebates totaling $132 million.
Governor Shapiro expanded the program, officially called the Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) program in last year’s budget. This nearly doubled the rebate amount from last year’s $650 to $1,000.
“Starting on July first, which is Monday, we are sending out checks to hundreds of thousands of seniors all across Pennsylvania in property tax relief,” Governor Shapiro said in a statement.
In addition to expanding the rebate check amount, Governor Shapiro also raised the income limit for homeowners and renters to qualify for the tax rebate checks from Pennsylvania. Your annual household income must be $45,000 or less to qualify for the PTRR program.
Eligible homeowners and renters can start expecting the rebate checks to arrive in the mail shortly after July 1. Those who opted for direct deposit are likely to receive the rebate next week only. The rebate is available to homeowners aged above 65, widows or widowers over the age of 50 and disabled over the age of 18.
The full $1,000 rebate isn’t available to all eligible recipients; rather, the rebate amount phases down as income increases, and completely phases out for those with income higher than $45,000.
For instance, those with income $0 to $8,000 will get the full $1,000; those making $8,001 to $15,000 will get $770; those with income $15,001 to $18,000 will get $460; and those making $18,001 to $45,000 get $380.
How to apply
Though the rebate checks are going out next week, residents can still apply for the tax rebate checks from Pennsylvania until the end of the year. Those who believe they are eligible for the program can apply through the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue’s website, mypath.pa.gov, or at Department of Revenue District Offices or through their state legislator.
You can easily track the status of your rebate through Where’s My Rebate? You will have to enter your Social Security number, date of birth, and application year to track the status. Alternatively, you can also call the Department of Revenue at 1-888-PATAXES (728-2937).
The PTRR program is an annual payment and not a one-time payment. Applicants need to apply each year to receive tax rebate checks from Pennsylvania. Those who have applied previous years will receive a reminder letter from the Department of Revenue to re-apply.
Pennsylvania’s PTRR program has been in existence since 1971, and is funded by the Pennsylvania Lottery.
