The Low-income Senior Citizen Real Estate Tax Freeze program protects some of Philadelphia’s most vulnerable homeowners. The program is designed to give eligible seniors a stable, predictable Real Estate Tax bill, even when property values in their neighborhood rise.
Below, we count down 10 important things eligible seniors should know about “freezing” their Real Estate Tax bill:
10. More than 17,500 of your senior neighbors take advantage of the program, for a combined $5.9 million in savings in 2019.
9. Eligibility is based on both your age and income.
8. To qualify for Senior Freeze, you or your live-in spouse must be 65 years or older. You can also qualify if you’re 50 years or older, and the surviving spouse of someone who was at least 65 years when they passed.
7. To enroll, your total income must be $27,500 a year, or less, when you’re single; and $35,500 per year or less for a married couple. These amounts are set by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
6. You must prove your eligibility with documents. Examples include driver’s licenses, birth certificates, PHL City ID, and Social Security award letters.
5. Do NOT send original documents along with your application. Only copies.
4. If your tax liability decreases due to a lower property assessment or a tax rate decrease, the amount of Real Estate Tax you owe will also be lowered. Senior Tax Freeze always gives participants the best deal.
3. A special application exists for eligible seniors who live in cooperative buildings. The coop application process involves sharing your enrollment status with your building’s property manager.
2. Applications are available online in both English and Spanish.
1. Please apply for Senior Tax Freeze by September 13!
Photo credit: @elenaiwata
