STATE SENATOR

LEANNA M. WASHINGTON

4th Senatorial District

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SENATOR LEANNA M. WASHINGTON                CONTACT: Pamela Smith-Chavis

PHONE: 717-783-2175                                      PHONE: 717-783-2175

www.senatorwashington.com                         Mobile: 717-623-7755

PROPERTY TAX/RENT REBATE PROGRAM DEADLINE EXTENDED

HARRISBURG, June 5, 2008 – The deadline to apply for Pennsylvania's Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program for seniors and disabled residents has been extended to end of the year, rather than the initial deadline of June 30, said State Sen. Leanna Washington (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia Counties).

“It pleases me to know that the state wants to be sure that those who are eligible for the program have ample time to apply for the property tax and rent rebates,” said Washington.

The rebate program, which has helped seniors and disabled adults to receive $4 billion worth of property tax and rent rebates since its inception in 1971, benefits eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. 

The program will help about 600,000 seniors this year, up from the 310,000 who benefited from it before its 2006 expansion, which increased the income limit for homeowners from $15,000 to $35,000 and raised the maximum rebate for homeowners and renters from $500 to $650.

In addition to a rebate, approximately 68,000 senior homeowners will have school property taxes eliminated because they will receive the general property tax reduction that all homeowners will see itemized on school district property tax bills this summer.
The Department of Revenue had received over 515,000 Property Tax/Rent Rebate applications as of May 30. Rebates will begin to be distributed on July 1.
Property Tax/Rent Rebate forms (PA-1000) are available online at www.PaPropertyTaxRelief.com and by calling 1-888-222-9190.  Forms and assistance also are available at Revenue district offices (listed in the blue pages of local telephone directories), local Area Agencies on Aging, senior centers and Senator Washington’s District and Satellite offices. 

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4th Senatorial District

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SENATOR LEANNA M. WASHINGTON                CONTACT: Pamela Smith-Chavis

PHONE: 717-783-2175                                      PHONE: 717-783-2175

www.senatorwashington.com                         Mobile: 717-623-7755

WASHINGTON ANNOUNCES GAMING FUND TAX RELIEF

HARRISBURG, May 1, 2008 - - State Sen. LeAnna Washington (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) today announced that residents of Abington, Cheltenham, Jenkintown, and Philadelphia School Districts will receive over $64 million in tax relief from gaming proceeds this year.
“I am thrilled that the residents of Pennsylvania are finally able to recognize the benefits of the gaming legislation that I supported in 2006,” Washington said.  “With the cost of living continually rising, this tax relief could not have come at a better time for our hardworking citizens.”
Statewide, homeowners will see a total of nearly $613 million in property tax relief. The tax cuts, which are formula-driven, will go to homeowner's who live in their homes, and who have filed a Homestead Exclusion Form with their county assessment office.
Washington said that estimated tax cuts by school districts in her legislative district include:

SCHOOL DISTRICT            ESTIMATED RELIEF PER ELIGIBLE TAXPAYER
Abington                                                                      $316
Cheltenham                                                                  $423
Jenkintown                                                                   $373

            Residents in the Philadelphia School District will receive $55.878 million in wage tax reduction. Coupled with the city’s own tax reform efforts, the Philadelphia wage tax will drop from 4.219 to 3.93 percent in 2009. The wage tax for non-residents will be lowered from 3.724 to 3.5 percent.

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