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Strategic Planning -
Managing for Results
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County Office
Closings & Status
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Chester County
Department of Assessment
121 N. Walnut St, Suite 200
P.O. Box 2748
West Chester, PA 19380-0991
Phone: 610-344-6105
Jeffrey Laudenslager, Director
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{s} ANNUAL ASSESSMENT APPEAL FILING DEADLINE IS AUGUST 1
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Mission Statement
To follow the directives under state statute to accomplish the timely/accurate certified tax roll of all Chester County property assessments. Promote and maintain a high standard for customer service in supplying updated and accurate valuation/ownership/history data to property owners and the multitude of customers that rely on property data to carry on their daily operations.
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Goals and Objectives
- Validate property sales and enter values into Integrated Assessment System (IAS).
- Routine capture of the property image and enter into the system.
- Carry forth provisions of the Homestead program along with public education on the program.
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Organizational Chart
{Assessment Organizational Chart}
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Change of Mailing Address
Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion Program
March 1st, 2009 is the final day for filing Homestead/Farmstead applications for this enrollment period. This deadline is statutory and therefore the Assessment Office cannot accept Homestead/Farmstead applications after the cutoff. The next annual enrollment cycle runs from December 15, 2009 to March 1, 2010 (or the next official business day should 3/1 fall on a weekend). You may submit an application after the March 1st deadline but it cannot be processed until the next enrollment period.
The Homeowner Tax Relief Act, Act 72 of 2004, was signed into law by Governor Rendell on July 5, 2004, to allow school districts to reduce property taxes by lowering your property tax bill; the legal term for this is a “homestead or farmstead exclusion.” Under a homestead or farmstead property tax exclusion, the assessed value of each homestead or farmstead is reduced by the same amount before the property tax is computed.
On June 27, 2006, Governor Edward G. Rendell signed Special Session House Bill 39 (SS HB 39) into law. SS HB 39 delivers the largest property tax cut in Pennsylvania history, potentially reaching $1 billion annually to Pennsylvania homeowners. Pennsylvania seniors will get the most significant property tax relief through an expansion of the Property Tax Rent Rebate program.
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Expanded Relief for Seniors
Homeowners will now receive:
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Income |
Rebate |
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$0 to $8,000 |
$650 |
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$8,001 to $15,000 |
$500 |
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$15,001 to $18,000 |
$300 |
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$18,001 to $35,000 |
$250 |
Renters will now receive:
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Income |
Rebate |
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$0 to $8,000 |
$650 |
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$8,001 to $15,000 |
$500 |
Eligible Pennsylvanian's can sign up now to receive a Property Tax/Rent Rebate application via mail when they are available in February 2007. Click here to sign up online, or call 1-888-222-9190.
Tax Relief for All PA Homeowners
There will be no Homestead/Farmstead exclusion available until sufficient funds have accrued from gaming to distribute among school districts. You may apply for Homestead status during open enrollment from December 15 through March 1 of the following year. If you are not currently enrolled you should receive an application from your school district during the open enrollment period. Every school district will automatically qualify for a share of state-funded property tax relief from gaming. School boards can choose not to accept state-funded tax relief to homeowners. Some school boards expressed the desire for this provision so that in communities where gaming funds are not welcome, districts would not have to accept them for property tax relief. School boards can make this decision just before the distribution of state-funded tax relief occurs. But school boards do not have the final word. If a school board opts out of property tax relief, the matter must go to the polls and voters then choose to confirm or reject the district’s decision to refuse state funds for property tax relief.
Estimates of Property Tax Relief by School District:
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School District |
County |
$400 M
Slots |
$750 M
Slots |
$1 B
Slots |
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Avon Grove SD |
Chester |
$ 274 |
$ 513 |
$ 686 |
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Coatesville Area SD |
Chester |
$ 181 |
$ 339 |
$ 453 |
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Downingtown Area SD |
Chester |
$ 136 |
$ 254 |
$ 339 |
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Great Valley SD |
Chester |
$ 88 |
$ 165 |
$ 235 |
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Kennett Consolidated SD |
Chester |
$ 158 |
$ 297 |
$ 397 |
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Octorara Area SD |
Chester |
$ 159 |
$ 298 |
$ 398 |
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Owen J Roberts SD |
Chester |
$ 110 |
$ 206 |
$ 281 |
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Oxford Area SD |
Chester |
$ 185 |
$ 347 |
$ 463 |
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Phoenixville Area SD |
Chester |
$ 90 |
$ 169 |
$ 235 |
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Tredyffrin-Easttown SD |
Chester |
$ 110 |
$ 206 |
$ 291 |
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Unionville-Chadds Ford SD |
Chester |
$ 154 |
$ 288 |
$ 390 |
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West Chester Area SD |
Chester |
$ 65 |
$ 121 |
$ 180 |
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Beginning in 2007, taxpayers will also be able to pay their school property taxes on an installment plan. This option will help seniors in particular, since they often do not pay school property taxes on a monthly basis through a mortgage company.
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Controls on Future Tax Increases
Until now, Pennsylvania has been the only state in the nation where school boards have unlimited and final authority over taxing and spending. The Taxpayer Relief Act protects homeowners by limiting the property tax increases that school boards can approve without voter approval.
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If your property is commercial or 'mixed use' but you also reside there, you may not have received an application in the mail. You may still be eligible. Download and complete the form and be sure to include the percentage of the property which is used solely as your residence in question number 10.
- Homestead/Farmstead Application & Instructions
Additional Homestead/Farmstead information:
For additional information contact:
The Chester County Assessment-Homestead Office
Government Services Building, 601 Westtown Rd., Suite 395
P.O. Box 2747
West Chester, PA 19380-0990
610 344-4570
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Content Last Modified on 1/28/2010 12:27:37 PM
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