Speeding up return of property tax, rent rebates has growing support

Senior citizens may see a quicker turnaround on the property tax and rent rebates starting as soon as next year.

Revenue Secretary Pat Browne told the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday that he would support efforts to change the law that prohibits rebates going out before July 1, especially when seniors, widowers and individuals with disabilities apply for them several months before.

But he also said it would have been a challenge for the department to make that change this year as the department is bracing for a flood of applications from an expansion of that program that was adopted last year and takes effect this year.

The expansion that Gov. Josh Shapiro signed into law increased income eligibility limits to $45,000 for both homeowners and renters and upped the maximum rebate amount to $1,000 from $650. Browne said he anticipates that change will mean up to 175,000 more individuals will be eligible to apply for a rebate, increasing the total pool to 570,000.

He said the department has been preparing for the onslaught by adding staff, including bilingual employees, updating its computer system to validate first-time filers, and sending staff to senior centers and area agencies on aging to assist people with applications.

“We’re very certain that we’ll be able to accommodate those 175,000 [new] recipients,” Browne told the committee.

Lawmakers indicated they are counting on it, saying they often field calls from constituents about this program as well as hear complaints about service, which Browne said he is working to address.

The former longtime-senator-turned revenue secretary agreed with Rep. Steve Samuelson, D-Northampton County, that speeding up rebate processing makes sense.

“We would have to work with the treasurer to make sure the cash flow matches the” amount of rebate activity that comes in, Browne said. “As a matter of policy, the department would like to see the Assembly consider [it]. It’s something I believed when I was a member of the Assembly. To wait for July 1 when you file in January is a long time.”

Samuelson pointed out the House Finance Committee in December passed legislation that would allow for rebates to be issued sooner and it passed on a bipartisan 25-0 vote.

“If we could pass it this year, you’d be ready to go and help us out next year?” Samuelson said.

Browne responded: “Yes.”