Greenleaf Reminds Residents of
Homestead Form Filing Date
HARRISBURG – Sen. Stewart J. Greenleaf,
R-Montgomery/Bucks, is reminding homeowners who have
not already applied for homestead tax relief to do
so by the filing deadline of March 1.
The senator said that most homeowners in the 12th
senatorial district have probably received an
application from their respective school districts,
but new homeowners or those who have refinanced
their property or changed the deed in some way
should make sure that they have applied for future
tax relief.
Tax relief would be possible if the General
Assembly approves property tax relief legislation
currently moving through the process. The Senate
has passed Special Session House Bill 39 which
contains property tax relief provisions for owner
occupied properties, but the measure must be
approved by the House of Representatives and signed
into law by the Governor before taxpayers would
receive a homestead property tax reduction. Many
homeowners, however, have filed for homestead
property tax relief previously as the result of Act
72 of 2004, a measure that tied such relief to
school board acceptance of slots gambling revenues.
Greenleaf noted that, if Special Session House
Bill 39 or a similar property tax relief plan is
enacted and Act 72 is repealed, homestead
applications that have been filed already and
approved will still be honored.
"However, if a homeowner has not made
application, or if a deed has been altered or a home
refinanced, then application or re-application
should be undertaken," Greenleaf said.
While school districts sent out the original
homestead application forms and may send the forms
to the owners of newly purchased homes, residents
who have questions or who are seeking application
forms should contact their county Board of
Assessment—the office that approves the applications
and notifies the applicants.
For Montgomery County residents, the form for
"Application for the Act 72 Homeowner Tax Relief"
may be located and downloaded from the county web
site at www.montcopa.org
by clicking on "County Offices" and then "Board of
Assessment." Residents may call the Montgomery
County Board of Assessment weekdays between 8:30
a.m. and 4:15 p.m. weekdays at 610-278-3761.
Bucks County homeowners may call the Bucks County
Board of Assessment at 215-348-6219.
