If you own and live in your Philly home and still haven’t applied for the Homestead Exemption, you’re missing out on saving hundreds of dollars in property taxes! All it takes is a one-time application to start saving money on your next bill. Keep reading to find out how Homestead can unlock your access to big property tax savings.
The City of Philadelphia administers several property tax relief programs designed to help homeowners afford their Real Estate Tax bills. The Homestead Exemption is one of them. It exempts $80,000 of your home’s assessed value from property taxes, saving you $1,119 yearly. This is a huge relief every Philly homeowner should take advantage of, and the easiest way to do so is by applying online.
Here’s how the program works
Homestead lowers the amount you’ll owe in property taxes by reducing your home’s taxable value. For example, if your home’s assessed value is $96,100 and you have the Homestead Exemption, $80,000 of this taxable value would be tax-exempt. As a result, your Real Estate Tax bill would be just $225 instead of the $1,345 you would be responsible for if you don’t have Homestead.
Make sure to apply now to see the exemption reflected on your 2024 Real Estate Tax bill. It only takes a few minutes to apply online. If approved, you never have to reapply for the exemption unless there’s a change to your deed. The final due date for the Homestead application is December 1.
Follow these steps to apply online:
- Find the “Search for a property” link under the “Property” panel on the Philadelphia Tax Center’s homepage.
- Enter your address and hit “Search.” Your property’s OPA number appears as a blue hyperlink on the right side of the screen.
- Select it to access your property account. Then, choose the “Apply for real estate assistance programs” link to access the next page and follow the prompts to submit your application.
You don’t need a username and password to submit an electronic application to this program.
Unsure if you’ve got Homestead?
The easiest way to find out is by using the “Search the map” feature on property.phila.gov to search your home. Just enter your address in the box and hit the magnifying glass to see if you have Homestead. If you do, you’ll see “Homestead Exemption” in the “Select exemption” box. You’ll also see your estimated Real Estate Tax amount for 2024.
A “No exemption” status means you have not signed up for the program. Good thing it’s easy to apply for Homestead. Just follow the steps listed above to apply online. There are no age or income requirements, but you must own a home in Philadelphia and live in it as your primary residence to qualify. You may even qualify for a conditional exemption if your name is not on the property’s deed.
Other ways to apply
In addition to applying online, you can sign up for Homestead:
- By phone – by calling the Homestead hotline at (215) 686-9200, or
- By mail – by printing out and completing this paper application. The application is translated into seven additional languages. Please send your completed paper application to:
City of Philadelphia
Department of Revenue
P.O. Box 52817
Philadelphia, PA 19115
Once accepted into the program, you’ll automatically receive property tax savings yearly as long as you continue to own and live in your Philly home. For more information, please call us at (215) 686-9200.
