PA Begins Distributing $226.4 Million In Property Tax, Rent Rebates

Pennsylvania has begun distributing $226.4 million in property tax and rent rebates to nearly 376,000 seniors, widows, widowers, and residents with disabilities.

The fist round of payments from the expanded Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) program started rolling out Wednesday, July 1.

The rebates apply to property taxes or rent paid during the 2025 calendar year.

The distribution follows a bipartisan expansion of the program approved by Gov. Josh Shapiro and the General Assembly.

The legislative change was the first expansion of the PTRR program in nearly two decades, raising the maximum standard rebate from $650 to $1,000. It also increased income eligibility limits and tied them to cost-of-living adjustments, setting the current income cap at $48,110, an increase of more than $1,500 from the previous year.

“When I took office, I made a commitment to Pennsylvanians to cut costs and put more money back in their pockets,” said Shapiro, a Democrat. “My Administration is making real progress to deliver on that promise, and the expansion of the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is one of seven tax cuts that we’ve delivered through bipartisan work with our Legislature.”

Shapiro added that the program has long served as a “lifeline” for vulnerable residents.

Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity, a Republican who is running against Shapiro this November, confirmed that her office has started processing the disbursements.

Applicants who provided bank information will receive their funds via direct deposit, while others will receive paper checks by mail.

The first wave of payments includes 244,169 electronic direct deposits totaling $145.5 million and 128,122 paper checks totaling $78.9 million, according to the state treasury.

“Every year the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program helps hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians make ends meet, and Treasury makes sure that they receive their money as soon as possible,” Garrity said.

Last year, the treasury distributed over $315 million to more than 513,000 residents, a 64% increase in total funding compared to the year before the expansion took effect.

Additionally, nearly 167,000 first-time filers have received rebates since the guidelines were updated, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.

By state law, rebate distributions must begin on July 1.

After the first rollout of payments, applications are processed and paid on a rolling basis.

The formal deadline to apply for the 2025 rebate has been extended to Dec. 31, 2026.

State officials said that eligible residents must submit a new application every year, as benefits are calculated based on annual income and the prior year’s tax or rent expenses.

The program serves residents aged 65 and older, widows and widowers aged 50 and older, and individuals with disabilities aged 18 and older.

The table below shows how much homeowners and renters who fit the criteria are eligible for, depending on their income in 2025:

INCOME	MAX STANDARD REBATE
$0 – $8,550	$1,000
$8,551 – $16,040	$770
$16,041 – $19,240	$460
$19,241 – $4​​​​8,110	$380​

Revenue Secretary Pat Browne said that state staff have been providing filing support via phone, at district offices, and during senior center visits since January.

“With the filing deadline now extended to December 31, that provides more time for our residents to apply for a rebate that could help them put food on the table and pay their bills,” Browne said.

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue is also placing automated phone calls to notify applicants once their payments are approved.

Applications can be filed for free online via the state’s myPATH system in either English or Spanish. Free in-person application assistance is also available at Department of Revenue district offices, local Area Agencies on Aging, and state legislative offices. Filers can track their application status using the “Where’s My Rebate?” tool on myPATH by providing their Social Security number, date of birth, and the applicable claim year.