Harrisburg – Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced a record number of older adults and residents with disabilities received property tax/rent rebates last year. He encouraged eligible people to apply for the 2009 rebate program.

"Revenue from the Lottery and slots gaming provided much-needed property tax relief to a record 588,638 older adults last year, and about 123,500 homeowners saw their school property taxes completely eliminated,” Governor Rendell said.

All residents who received rebates last year should have received 2009 application forms in the mail by now, the Governor noted. Older adults must reapply for rebates by June 30 every year because rebates are based on property taxes or rent paid each year and annual income.

So far, more than $275.3 million in property tax and rent rebates have been sent to a record 588,638 homeowners and renters across the state for taxes and rent paid in 2008. The Revenue Department continues to process applications that came in close to the deadline.

The rebate program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. A 2006 program expansion increased the income limit from $15,000 to $35,000 (which excludes half of Social Security income) for homeowners and raises the maximum standard rebate for both homeowners and renters from $500 to $650. The income limit for renters is $15,000.

The program expansion also provides for supplemental property tax rebates of up to $325 – on top of the standard rebates – to homeowners in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Scranton and to those in other parts of the state who pay more than 15 percent of income on property taxes. As a result, the maximum rebate for those homeowners is $975. 

Obtain Property Tax/Rent Rebate forms (PA-1000) and related information online at www.PaPropertyTaxRelief.com or by calling 1-888-222-9190. Forms and assistance also are available at Department of Revenue district offices (listed in the government section of local telephone directories), local Area Agencies on Aging, senior centers and state legislators’ offices. 

The deadline to apply for a rebate on property taxes or rent paid in 2009 is June 30, 2010. Rebates will be distributed beginning on July 1, as specified by law.

The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program is one of five programs supported by the Pennsylvania Lottery. Since the program’s 1971 inception, older and disabled adults have received nearly $4.5 billion worth of property tax and rent relief. The expanded portion of the rebate program is paid for with revenue from slots gaming.

For more information, visit www.papropertytaxrelief.com.