Homeowners can now apply for all Real Estate Tax assistance programs online at the City’s new eFile/ePay website.
PHILADELPHIA – Although Real Estate Tax bills are due on March 31, homeowners still have time to enroll into an Installment Agreement, Active-Duty Tax Credit, the Senior Citizen Tax Freeze, and the Long-time Owner Occupied Program (LOOP). For 2023, the LOOP and Senior Freeze programs have expanded eligibility and deadlines, but homeowners shouldn’t wait to seek relief.
“Philadelphia offers some of the strongest protections to protect homes from tax foreclosure in the country,” said Revenue Commissioner Frank Breslin. “But every year, taxpayers realize too late that they could have qualified for an assistance program to lower their tax bills. We urge residents to enroll in a program as soon as possible and not wait until the last day to pay their property tax.”
March 31 is the deadline for two Real Estate Tax assistance programs
Taxpayers have until March 31 to apply for the Real Estate Installment Agreement and the Active Duty Tax Credit.
- The Real Estate Tax Installment Plan is for low-income taxpayers and all senior citizens (regardless of income) who own and live in their homes. Participants receive a payment agreement that allows them to pay their bill in affordable monthly installments without interest or penalty.
- The Active Duty Tax Credit excuses US Armed Forces reserve and National Guard members from paying Philadelphia property taxes while serving outside of Pennsylvania.
Applications for the Senior-Citizen Tax Freeze and LOOP are due by September 30 each year, but taxpayers can realize tax savings as soon as their application is approved. All Real Estate Tax assistance applications are now available on Philadelphia Tax Center, the City’s newly launched eFile/ePay website. Taxpayers do not need to create a username and password to apply for assistance or pay their Real Estate Tax online. The site is mobile-enabled, and most functionalities are translated into Spanish.
Multi-lingual paper applications are also available for each program on their respective program websites.
Other Philadelphia taxes are due April 18
The Business Income & Receipts Tax (BIRT), Net Profits Tax (NPT), Earnings Tax, and School Income Tax (SIT) are due April 18, the same day as federal taxes. Since October 2021, taxpayers and tax preparers can file these taxes and pay through the Philadelphia Tax Center.
Although taxpayers don’t need a username and password to pay taxes online, they will need a username and password to file taxes. Creating a username and password unlocks access to additional features and flexibility on the site. For existing taxpayers, we mail a unique letter to verify their identity the first time they access the site. Those planning on using the site for the first time should not wait to create a username and password, since the entire process can take up to 10 days. New taxpayers opening a City tax account for the first time do not need to wait for this verification process.
It isn’t too late to apply for federal tax benefits
Tens of thousands of Philadelphians fail to claim the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC) every year, leaving almost $111 million on the table. While the CTC requires a dependent to claim the refund, the EITC doesn’t and can make a difference to low-to-moderate-income families. Organizations like Campaign for Working Families and Ceiba can help families file their returns and claim these credits at no charge. Find more information on the website ClaimYourMoneyPHL.com.