Senior Citizen Property Tax Relief Program
Application Information
To qualify for this program, the applicant must meet all three requirements:
- Property Ownership:
Must have owned and occupied a primary residence in Allegheny County continuously for the past 10 years. A property owner who has moved within the past 10 years, and has continued to own and occupy the new property as a primary residence shall be eligible.
- Age:
- Must be age 60 or older, or if married either spouse must be age 60.
- Be a widow or widower age 50 to 60 years.
- Permanently disabled and age 18 to 60 years.
The applicant must meet the required age by December 31, 2012, to qualify for tax relief in 2012.
- Income:
Gross household income must be $30,000 or less.
For calculating income use only 50% of your Social Security Benefit, SSI, and Railroad Retirement Tier 1 Benefits (except Medicare benefits).
This program entitles all qualified applicants in Allegheny County to a flat 30% discount of the real estate tax on their primary residence for each year they are eligible. Qualified applicants will also receive an additional 2% discount by paying their county taxes in full by May 31. A second payment option allows eligible taxpayers (if they choose) to pay their gross county taxes in two equal installment payments, the first payment due by July 2 and the second payment by October 31.
Once approved, a qualified applicant continues to receive tax relief as long as applicant is the property owner/occupant, and the household income does not exceed $30,000. Applicants are no longer required to file annually.