Property tax/rent rebate for Berks County seniors
Pennsylvania's property tax/rent rebate pays back up to $1,000 to older Berks County homeowners and renters. Who qualifies and how to apply.
By The Berks Beat staff · Published July 12, 2026 · Updated July 12, 2026 · Facts last verified July 12, 2026
The Pennsylvania property tax/rent rebate pays back part of the property taxes or rent you paid last year. If you are 65 or older, a widow or widower 50 or older, or a person with a disability 18 or older, and your household income is $48,110 or less, you can get back up to $1,000. It is a state program, not a county one, so Berks County homeowners and renters both apply the same way, through the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. For rent or taxes paid in 2025, the deadline to apply is December 31, 2026.
The rebate is money the state sends you after the fact. It does not lower your tax bill or your rent during the year. You pay as usual, then file a claim and the state mails a check or deposits the rebate.
Who qualifies
You have to meet all three of these tests.
Your age or status. As of December 31, 2025, you were 65 or older, or you were under 65 but lived with a spouse who was 65 or older, or you were a widow or widower who turned 50 during or before 2025, or you were 18 or older and permanently disabled during 2025.
Your income. Your total household income for 2025 was $48,110 or less. Income counting has one rule that helps a lot of retirees: only half of your Social Security counts. The same half-only rule applies to Supplemental Security Income, the state Supplementary Payment, and Railroad Retirement Tier 1 benefits. So a household living mostly on Social Security can be well under the limit even when the full benefit checks add up to more than $48,110.
You paid property tax or rent. You owned and lived in your home and paid the 2025 property taxes on it, or you rented and lived in a home in Pennsylvania and paid rent for 2025. A home you own but do not live in does not count; the rebate is for your primary residence only. Only one person per household can file each year.
How much you get back
The rebate depends on your 2025 income. These are the standard amounts for homeowners and renters:
| 2025 household income | Maximum rebate |
|---|---|
| $0 to $8,550 | $1,000 |
| $8,551 to $16,040 | $770 |
| $16,041 to $19,240 | $460 |
| $19,241 to $48,110 | $380 |
The amount is a maximum, not a flat payment. If the property tax or rent you actually paid was less than the maximum for your bracket, you get back what you paid, up to that cap. Renters figure the rent-paid share the claim form calculates for you. If you received cash public assistance during any months of 2025, you cannot claim a rebate for those months as a renter.
How to apply
You file one claim for the year, using the state PA-1000 form. Filing is free. You do not need to pay anyone to do it.
- Gather your proof. You will need your 2025 Social Security statement (Form SSA-1099) and either your paid 2025 property tax receipts (homeowners) or a rent certificate signed by your landlord, plus proof of your rent paid (renters). First-time filers also send proof of age, such as a copy of a birth certificate or driver’s license.
- File online, the fast way. Go to the state’s myPATH portal at mypath.pa.gov and file the rebate application there. It is free, it checks your math, and it is the quickest route to a direct-deposit rebate. You do not need an account to file a rebate claim.
- Or file on paper. Request a PA-1000 booklet from the Department of Revenue (1-888-222-9190) or pick one up at a district office, fill it in, attach your proof, and mail it to the address printed in the booklet. Use black ink and print in capital letters, one character per box, or the department may reject the form.
- File by December 31, 2026. The law sets a June 30 deadline, but the department extended this year’s deadline to December 31, 2026. Rebates are paid starting July 1, 2026, so filing earlier means getting your money sooner.
To check on a claim you already filed, use myPATH or call 1-888-PATAXES (1-888-728-2937).
Where to get free help in Berks County
If you want someone to sit down and go through the form with you, several places in Berks County help residents file at no charge:
- Berks County Area Agency on Aging, 400 E. Wyomissing Ave., Mohnton, PA 19540; 610-478-6500; Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The county agency and the senior centers it works with help older residents with rebate and benefit forms.
- Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, Reading district office, 625 Cherry St., Suite 239, Reading, PA 19602; 610-378-4401; Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call ahead to schedule help with your claim.
- Community and senior centers. The Department of Revenue runs free filing events at senior and community centers, including Berks Encore locations. The state’s free filing assistance page lists current sites and dates by county.
How this is different from the homestead exclusion
Berks County residents mix these up because both lower what you pay on your home, but they work differently. The homestead exclusion is automatic once approved: it subtracts a set amount from your school tax bill every year, for any owner-occupant, with no income limit. The property tax/rent rebate is money you apply for from the state each year, it has an income limit and an age or disability requirement, and it covers renters as well as owners. You can qualify for both. Claiming the homestead exclusion does not affect your rebate.
For how your county, municipal, and school taxes fit together, see how your property tax bill is split. For the county tax deadlines and discount, see when Berks County property taxes are due.
FAQ
How much is the Pennsylvania property tax/rent rebate?
Up to $1,000, depending on your income. Households with 2025 income of $8,550 or less can get the full $1,000; the maximum steps down to $770, $460, and $380 as income rises toward the $48,110 limit. You never get back more than the property tax or rent you actually paid.
What is the income limit, and does Social Security count?
The limit is $48,110 in household income for 2025. Only half of your Social Security counts toward that limit, so many people whose total Social Security checks look too high still qualify. The half-only rule also covers SSI, the state Supplementary Payment, and Railroad Retirement Tier 1 benefits.
When is the deadline to apply?
December 31, 2026, for rent or property taxes paid in 2025. The standing legal deadline is June 30, but the Department of Revenue extended it to December 31 this year. Rebates start going out July 1, 2026.
Can renters get the rebate, or only homeowners?
Both. Renters who meet the age or disability test and the income limit qualify on the rent they paid for a Pennsylvania residence in 2025, using a rent certificate signed by the landlord. Months when you received cash public assistance do not count.
Do I have to pay someone to file for me?
No. Filing is free on the state’s myPATH site, and the Berks County Area Agency on Aging, the Reading Department of Revenue office, and local senior centers help residents file at no charge. Be wary of anyone who charges a fee to submit this form for you.