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For Immediate Release
01/31/05
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Deadline for property tax relief approaching

Applications must be filed with County Assessor's Office by March 1

State Senator John Pippy reminds residential property owners that the March 1, 2005 deadline for mailing their applications to receive property tax relief through the Homeowner Tax Relief Act is nearing.

The Homeowner Tax Relief Act (Act 72) was passed last fall by the General Assembly, empowering residential property owners to vote on whether to reduce property taxes by raising local income taxes.  Taxpayers also have the power to vote on tax hikes that go beyond the rate of inflation.

About 258,000 of Allegheny County's 386,000 property owners were automatically registered because they already are receiving an exemption on their county real estate taxes. Property owners can visit the county's web site at www.county.allegheny.pa.us to see if they are registered for the homestead exemptions by clicking on "property assessment."

Senator Pippy said the initial "Application for Homestead and Farmstead Exclusions" forms were mailed to homeowners from their local school districts in October.  A second mailing was sent in December to all homeowners who had not responded.  Homeowners who need forms can either download and print the PDF application here or receive one by calling the County Office of Property Assessments at 412.350.4600.