Did your property taxes go up? Here are some things you can do.
Philadelphia released new “assessments” of property values, which they will use to calculate 2023 property tax bills. If your assessed value went up, your property taxes will, too. Based on the current tax rate, for every $10,000 in increased value, your yearly tax bill will go up by $140. To estimate your 2023 property tax, visit our Property Tax Calculator.
If you think your new home assessment is too high, you should appeal right away. You can do that by requesting a “First Level Review” with the Office of Property Assessment, and filing an appeal with the Board of Revision of Taxes by October 3, 2022. Learn more at the Philadelphia Office of Property Assessments.
Most Philadelphia homeowners qualify for at least one tax relief program.
First, see if you qualify for Longtime Owner Occupants Program (LOOP), which was designed for homeowners who have lived in their home for at least 10 years, and have seen their home’s assessed value increase by at least 50% this year. Most homeowners do not qualify for LOOP, but if you do, you should apply because it will lower your taxes more than the Homestead Exemption Program will. To see if you qualify for LOOP, visit the City’s website.
Next, if you do not qualify for LOOP, you should enroll in the Homestead Exemption Program. This program is available for every Philadelphia homeowner, including people who are dealing with tangled titles, except for people who are enrolled in LOOP. Currently, the Homestead Exemption saves Philadelphia homeowners around $629 on their yearly tax bill.
Third, you should enroll in the Senior Freeze, if you are 65 or older (or 50+ and the widow(er) of someone who was 65 or older when they died) AND you are low-income (less than $33,500 for a household of 1 or $41,500 for a household of 2). You can be enrolled in the Senior Freeze and the Homestead Exemption Program at the same time, so be sure to apply for both.
Fourth, you should apply for the Senior Tax Rebate. This Pennsylvania program benefits homeowners age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters, and half of Social Security income is excluded. Homeowners can receive a rebate of up to $975, depending on their income. You can apply for the Senior Tax Rebate here.
Finally, you should enroll in an Owner-Occupied Payment Agreement (OOPA) if you have a tax delinquency or can’t afford to pay your taxes.
You can apply for any City tax relief program on the City of Philadelphia website.
If you are already enrolled in any of these programs, you do not need to re-apply each year.
There are additional tax relief programs offering specific help to veterans or to others.
“Ownership” for all tax relief programs includes people with tangled titles. This means that your name does not need to be on the deed to enroll. For example, if you inherited your home from a family member or if you have a rent-to-own agreement, you are eligible for these programs. That said, homeowners with tangled titles should apply with the help of a housing counselor or lawyer.
To learn more about these programs, get legal help, or find links to apply, visit www.clsphila.org/
