HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania seniors and residents with disabilities can now apply for a new round of property tax and rent rebates, as state officials point to record payouts and a sweeping expansion of the program that has delivered hundreds of millions of dollars in relief.
Governor Josh Shapiro announced that the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue is accepting applications for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program for property taxes or rent paid in 2025. The move follows what the administration describes as the largest targeted tax cut for seniors in nearly two decades, driven by an overhaul of the long-standing program.
More than 511,000 seniors and people with disabilities have already received rebates totaling more than $314 million for the most recent claim year processed, according to the Department of Revenue. That figure is expected to grow as late applications from the prior year continue to be reviewed.
The expansion increased the maximum standard rebate to $1,000, up from $650, raised income eligibility limits for both homeowners and renters, and tied those limits to annual cost-of-living adjustments. As a result, the income cap for applicants now stands at $48,110, an increase of more than $1,500 from the previous year.
“In my first three years in office, my Administration has cut taxes seven times, helping Pennsylvania’s seniors, families, and businesses make ends meet,” Shapiro said, calling the rebate expansion one of the first and most significant tax cuts enacted under his leadership. He said the changes are designed to help older residents remain in their homes and keep up with rising costs.
Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne said the effects of the expansion are being felt statewide, with thousands of additional residents qualifying for rebates for the first time. He said the department has seen a marked increase in both participation and the size of rebates, easing financial pressure on households facing higher rents and property taxes.
State data show that during the prior claim year, the department delivered 522,434 rebates totaling more than $319 million for property taxes or rent paid in 2023. That compares with 405,493 rebates totaling $192 million in the year before the expansion took effect. Over the past two years, approximately 165,000 Pennsylvanians have filed for the first time, while repeat filers have seen average rebates rise to nearly 21 percent of the rent or property tax paid, up from about 16 percent previously.
The rebate expansion is one of seven tax cuts enacted since Shapiro took office, including the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit, which state officials say will deliver $193 million in relief to roughly 940,000 residents beginning this tax season.
The deadline to apply for a rebate on property taxes or rent paid in 2025 is June 30, 2026. Applications are free, must be submitted annually, and can be filed online or with assistance available through Department of Revenue district offices, local Area Agencies on Aging, and state legislators’ offices.
Additional information about eligibility and how to apply is available at pa.gov/ptrr.
First established in 1971 and funded by gaming revenue, the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program has provided nearly $9 billion in relief to some of Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable residents. The recent expansion marked the first major update to the program since 2006.
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