Your account may already be incurring monthly interest and penalties if you haven’t paid your 2025 Real Estate Tax. It could get worse if you don’t act fast. Unpaid 2025 property tax bills are only a couple of weeks away from becoming delinquent. These bills were originally due on March 31, 2025.
It’s best to pay your bill on time or contact us if you can’t pay it all at once. If you miss your property tax payment and don’t do anything about it:
- Your account accrues monthly charges.
- There’s a good chance you’ll have to deal with external debt collectors.
- The City can put a lien on your house.
- You could lose your property at a tax sale, which is always a last resort.
But there’s good news: You can avoid all that by getting an Owner-Occupied Payment Agreement (OOPA) and regaining control. The Department of Revenue’s main goal is to ensure tax compliance while providing relief to qualifying households.
Key benefits
With an OOPA, you’ll:
- Bring your account up to date,
- Make affordable monthly payments,
- Stop all extra charges and external collections, and
- Most importantly, you won’t lose your house at a tax sale.
An OOPA provides for affordable payments based on your household income. This way, you can pay your debt, avoid foreclosure, and stay in your home. The City won’t take your property to a tax sale as long as you stay in the program; we consider you to be in good standing once enrolled and making payments.
Payments are based on your income
OOPAs don’t require a down payment. Your monthly payment depends on your income and household size. Even if you think your income is “too high” to qualify, your monthly expenses can also be considered when determining your eligibility for an OOPA. Income-based agreements are best, but you can choose to base yours on household expenses. It may lower your monthly payment even more and erase some interest charges.
There are different “Tiers” for OOPA participants based on income and family size. Participants in Tier 5 and some in Tier 4 are eligible for monthly payments as low as $0. They can also roll new property taxes into existing agreements.
Here’s a portion of the OOPA guidelines for household size and income. Our website has a full list of these guidelines and a description of each tier:
| Household size | Monthly income | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 5 | Tier 4 | Tier 3 | Tier 2 | Tier 1 | |
| 1 | $0 – $1,046 | $1,047 – $2,092 | $2093 – $3,483 | $3,484 – $4,875 | $4,876 and up |
| 2 | $0 – $1,196 | $1,197- 2,388 | $2,389 – $3,983 | $3,984 – $5,571 | $5,572 and up |
| 3 | $0 – $1,346 | $1,347- 2,688 | $2,689 – $4,479 | $4,480 – $6,267 | $6,268 and up |
| 4 | $0 – $1,492 | $1,493 – $2,983 | $2,984- $4,975 | $4,976 – $6,963 | $6,964 and up |
How to get an OOPA?
The quickest way is to apply online through the “Search for a property” link on the Philadelphia Tax Center’s front page. You just need to search for your address and follow the prompts.
About OOPA:
OOPA is one of several property tax relief programs Philadelphia offers to help homeowners meet their tax obligations. To qualify, you must own the property, live in it as your primary residence, and meet certain income limits.
Don’t have the property’s deed in your name? Don’t worry – you may qualify as well! Call the SaveYourHomePhilly hotline at (215) 334-HOME (4663) and ask for help with OOPA and tangled title. No matter the situation, we have options to help you keep your family’s generational wealth for generations to come.
