Harrisburg, PA — The Shapiro Administration has been working over the last week to encourage eligible Pennsylvanians to apply for the expanded Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) program. The Department of Revenue is now accepting applications for rebates on property taxes and rent paid in 2025.
On Thursday, Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne and legislators traveled to Casa Guadalupe Center in Allentown where they spoke to Lehigh Valley seniors and explained the work Governor Josh Shapiro did to expand the PTRR program for the first time in nearly 20 years.
This followed announcements from Governor Shapiro in both English and Spanish encouraging Pennsylvanians to apply and visit pa.gov/ptrr for more information on the program. The Governor also highlighted Spanish resources — including a Spanish online application — that the Department of Revenue offers in an effort to reach as many eligible Pennsylvanians as possible.
The Governor’s historic expansion of the PTRR program made three key changes — increasing the maximum standard rebate to $1,000 (up from the prior $650 max), raising income eligibility limits, and tying those limits to annual cost-of-living adjustments. These changes have allowed more older adults, widows and widowers, and Pennsylvanians with disabilities to access critical financial relief.
You can visit pa.gov/ptrr for more information on the PTRR program, including application tips, eligibility guidelines, and where to find in-person filing support. As a reminder, the PTRR program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older.
Read what legislative and community leaders are saying about the expanded Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program:
Representative Peter Schweyer: “As many legislators will tell you, it’s common in my district for seniors to come to our office and tell my team that they need just a little bit of help to get by and make ends meet. These are people living on a fixed income who got up every day, worked extremely hard, played by the rules — but have struggled to stay in their homes because of rising property taxes, increasing rent, and a higher cost of living. I’m proud to say that I helped introduce and later voted for legislation to address this problem by expanding the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program for the first time in nearly 20 years. By taking this historic step and rallying behind the leadership of Governor Shapiro, we have put a much-improved program in place to help older Pennsylvanians, widows and widowers, and people with disabilities. This is really a basic function of state government — to help people in need continue living safely in the homes where many have raised their families.”
Senator Nick Miller: “My staff and I have seen firsthand the impact that the expansion of the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program has made for Lehigh Valley residents. Last year alone we assisted nearly 1,200 of our constituents with their applications for this program, returning more than $475,000 back to their wallets. These dollars go a long way at a time when housing costs and other bills are going up. I’m grateful that Governor Shapiro made it a priority to find a solution to deliver more support for seniors and the other Pennsylvanians who benefit from this important program. Together we are helping homeowners and renters stay in their homes.”
Giselle Espada, Coordinator of Jesus Ramos Senior Center at Casa Guadalupe Center in Allentown: “Casa Guadalupe not only provides meals to seniors in the Lehigh Valley but offers programming for our older residents to help them stay educated and live healthy and productive lives. The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is one program that we are continually making our seniors aware of because it can deliver financial support that can make a real difference. Especially now that the rebate amount and the income limits have increased, we want to see everyone who is eligible take advantage of this program.”
Here’s what Pennsylvanians are watching and reading about the expanded Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program:
WFMZ: Solicitudes para programa de reembolso de impuestos y alquiler
MSN [via MyChesCo]: Record rebates, bigger relief: Seniors can apply now for expanded tax aid
The Daily Courier: Application period open for Property Tax/Rent rebate program
The Derrick: Property Tax/Rent Rebate applications made more available in Pa.
Times Leader: Gov. Shapiro announces Property Tax/Rent Rebate application process opening
Butler Eagle: Property tax/rent rebate application open for eligible Pennsylvanians