Philadelphia’s Homestead Exemption program is a great way for homeowners to pay less in property taxes every year- and it’s easy to apply.

The program exempts $100,000 of your home’s taxable value from property taxes, giving you a savings of up to $1,399. It is helping thousands of Philadelphia homeowners reduce their annual Real Estate Tax bills. You can too! But first, let’s ensure you have the exemption. If you don’t, this post walks you through the application process step by step.

How do you check to see if you have Homestead?

The easiest way to find out is to use the “Search the map” feature on property.phila.gov:

  • Enter your address (street number and name) and select the magnifying glass. Make sure your address is correct.
  • Find the blue “Real Estate Tax Estimator” box in the middle of the page. At the bottom of this section, you’ll find information showing whether or not the property has the Homestead Exemption.
  • You can also use the “Select Exemption” feature to compare estimates of your bill with programs like the Longtime Owner Occupants Program (LOOP), Senior Citizen Tax Freeze, or Low-income Tax Freeze.

If you have Homestead on your home, you’ll see a “This property had the Homestead Exemption” message in the “Real Estate Tax Estimator” box. You can also verify it by scrolling down to the “Property Details” section. There, you’ll see a “Homestead Exemption” line showing “Yes” or “No” to indicate whether the property is enrolled in the program.

Another easy option is to call the Homestead hotline: (215) 686-9200.

What if you don’t have Homestead?

A “No exemption” status means you have not signed up for the program. Good news: It’s super easy to apply for Homestead, but you must:

  • Own a home in Philadelphia, and
  • Live in it as your primary residence.

Having a mortgage or a delinquent property tax account doesn’t disqualify you. You may even qualify for a conditional exemption if your name is not on the deed. Nevertheless, if your house has a 10-year tax abatement or you’re in LOOP, you’re not eligible for Homestead.

Many ways to apply

Follow these steps to apply online:

  • Use the “Search for a property” link on the Philadelphia Tax Center homepage to search for your property.
  • Select your OPA number in the “Search results” box to proceed.
  • Pick “Apply for real estate assistance programs”,
  • Choose “Apply for all Real Estate Tax Assistance Programs” or “Apply for the Homestead Exemption only” and follow the instructions. Both options take you straight to the application. But the “Apply for all Real Estate Tax Assistance programs” option lets you submit a single, streamlined application to multiple programs. The new combined application merges five assistance program applications into one. Read this blog post to find out where to access the combined application and how to use it to lower your bill.

Applying online is the quickest, easiest, and most secure way to sign up for Philly property tax assistance programs.

You can also apply for Homestead:

Send your completed application to:

City of Philadelphia
Department of Revenue
P.O. Box 52817
Philadelphia, PA 19115

Apply by December 1, 2026, to receive the benefits on your 2027 tax bill. You can still get Homestead benefits if you buy your Philly home after December 1. Feel free to apply if the closing date on your settlement sheet is between December 2 and 31.

All it takes is a one-time application to start saving with Homestead. If you’re approved, you don’t have to reapply unless your deed changes. As long as you keep living in the property (as your primary residence), you’ll keep saving on property taxes.

Check if you’ve got the Homestead Exemption!