Pennsylvania property tax exemptions can lower your bill — there are breaks for owner-occupants, seniors, veterans, and homeowners with disabilities, and many people who qualify never claim them. That is money left on the table every year. Below are the Pennsylvania property tax exemptions that exist, who qualifies, and how to apply. Amounts and income limits change over time and some are set locally, so treat each figure as a
starting point and confirm the current number with your local assessor.
Pennsylvania Property Tax at a Glance
| Homestead & Primary-Residence Relief | Available — see below |
| Senior Relief (Age 65+) | Available — see below |
| Veteran & Disabled-Veteran Relief | Available — see below |
| Disability Relief | Available — see below |
Verified from official state and county sources.
In This Pennsylvania Guide:
Pennsylvania Property Tax Exemptions & Relief
An exemption lowers the value your tax is figured on (or, in some states, gives you a credit or caps how fast your value can rise) — so the same tax rate produces a smaller bill. Here is each of the Pennsylvania property tax exemptions available to homeowners.
Relief does not look the same everywhere. Some states knock a flat dollar amount off your home’s value; others give a credit on the tax itself, cap how much your assessed value can rise each year, or freeze the bill for qualifying seniors. A few offer an income-based rebate instead of a value exemption. The point is the same — a lower bill for people who qualify — but the
form differs, so read each program below for how it actually works rather than assuming it is a simple dollar discount.
Homestead & Primary-Residence Relief
Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion (Act 1 of 2006, funded by casino/gaming revenue): reduces the assessed value used for SCHOOL taxes on an owner-occupied primary residence. The dollar amount is set by each school district (up to 50% of the district’s median assessed value), so it varies widely. File the Homestead/Farmstead Application with your county assessment office by March 1; once approved it carries forward. (Philadelphia runs its own $100,000 homestead exemption, deadline
Dec 1.)
How much / how it works: Varies by school district (often ~$100-$400 in savings outside Philadelphia; Philadelphia $100,000 off value). Confirm with your county assessment office.
Senior Relief (Age 65+)
Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program (state-funded, Form PA-1000): a rebate up to $1,000 (up to $1,150 in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Scranton) for owners/renters who are 65+, a widow/widower 50+, or disabled 18+, with household income at or below the yearly limit. It’s a state rebate, not a local exemption – file it even if you already get the homestead exclusion. File with the PA Dept of Revenue by June 30.
How much / how it works: Rebate up to $1,000 (income limit about $45,000 for homeowners). Confirm with the PA Dept of Revenue.
Veteran & Disabled-Veteran Relief
Disabled Veterans’ Real Estate Tax Exemption (51 Pa.C.S. 8901): a FULL exemption from real estate tax on the primary residence for a veteran with a 100% permanent & total service-connected disability, subject to a financial-need review by the State Veterans’ Commission. Surviving spouses may continue it. Apply through your county Veterans Affairs office.
How much / how it works: Full exemption (need-based). Confirm with your county Veterans Affairs office.
Disability Relief
Pennsylvania’s disability property relief runs through the state Property Tax/Rent Rebate (disabled 18+, income-limited) and the disabled-veteran exemption above. There is no separate statewide disability property exemption.
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How much / how it works: Rebate up to $1,000 (income-limited). Confirm with the PA Dept of Revenue.
Not sure which Pennsylvania breaks you qualify for?
How to Apply for Pennsylvania Property Tax Exemptions
Pennsylvania property tax exemptions are almost never automatic — you have to file for them, usually with your local assessor, and usually by a set date each year. Apply once for most breaks and they carry forward, but a few (like some senior or income-based programs) must be renewed. If you just bought your home, or just turned 65, or your disability or veteran status changed, that is the moment
to file.
Even one missed exemption can cost hundreds of dollars a year, so it is worth ten minutes to check.
Don’t want to appeal your Pennsylvania taxes yourself? A property tax appeal service can file everything for you and usually only charges if it wins — typically a share of what it saves you. It is one option; you can also appeal on your own for free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Pennsylvania property tax exemptions are available?
Pennsylvania has relief for owner-occupants (homestead), seniors 65+, veterans and disabled veterans, and homeowners with disabilities. The details, amounts, and income limits are covered above — and each is worth checking, because they can stack.
Who qualifies for a homestead exemption in Pennsylvania?
Generally an owner who lives in the home as their primary residence. Exact rules — and whether the state uses a dollar exemption, a credit, or an assessment cap — are described in the homestead section above.
How do I apply for Pennsylvania property tax exemptions?
File the application with your local assessor, usually by a set date each year. Most exemptions carry forward once approved; some must be renewed. Confirm the current form and deadline with your assessor.
Can I claim more than one of the Pennsylvania property tax exemptions?
Often yes — for example a homestead break plus a senior or veteran break — though some programs interact. The sections above note where that applies; your assessor can confirm what stacks.
Pennsylvania Property Tax Sources & Data
- Tax Foundation — Property Taxes by State & County: taxfoundation.org
- U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey): census.gov/acs
- Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (property tax data): lincolninst.edu
Exemption details for Pennsylvania on this page were verified from official Pennsylvania state and county sources and last
checked in July 2026. Amounts, income limits, and deadlines change and many are set locally — confirm the current
figures and forms with your local assessor before you rely on them.
More Property Tax Guides
- Property Tax Rates by State
- Property Tax by County
- Are You Overpaying? Over-Assessment Checker
- Property Tax Exemption Finder
Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Know Property Tax is an independent educational resource. It is not a government agency, not a county assessor, and not a tax-appeal service. Property tax rates, bills, exemptions, and deadlines change over time and vary by county and property. Confirm anything that affects your taxes with your county assessor or a licensed professional before you act.