What Are Philadelphia Real Estate Taxes?
Do you own a home in Philadelphia? Then you need to know about real estate taxes! These are taxes you pay once a year if you own property in the city. It’s like paying rent to the city and school for all the cool things they do for you.
Philadelphia real estate taxes help pay for schools, police, fire trucks, and fixing roads. Pretty awesome, right? Every homeowner in Philly has to pay these taxes. But don’t worry – we’ll show you how it all works!
The city sends you a bill every year. You have to pay by March 31st each year. That’s your big due date! If you don’t pay on time, you’ll get extra fees. But hey, there are lots of ways to save money too.
How Much Do You Pay for Real Estate Taxes in Philadelphia?
Here’s the thing – your real estate tax bill depends on how much your house is worth. The city looks at your home and says “this house is worth X dollars.” Then they use a special math formula to figure out your taxes.
For 2025, the tax rates are: 0.6159% (City) + 0.7839% (School District) = 1.3998% total. That might sound confusing, but it’s really simple!
Let’s say your house is worth $200,000. You’d pay about $2,800 per year. Here’s how: $200,000 × 1.3998% = $2,799.60
Philadelphia Real Estate Tax Rate Breakdown
| Who Gets the Money | Tax Rate | What It Pays For |
|---|---|---|
| City of Philadelphia | 0.6159% | Police, fire, roads, city stuff |
| School District | 0.7839% | Schools, teachers, buses |
| Total Rate | 1.3998% | Everything combined |
Wait, there’s more! The average homeowner will see their property tax bill go up by $330 in 2025. This happened because the city looked at all the houses again and found they’re worth more money now.
What Makes Your Real Estate Tax Bill Higher or Lower?
Your philadelphia real estate tax depends on a few things:
- How big your house is
- How nice your house is
- What area you live in
- How much other houses sold for near you
- If your house is new or old
When Do You Pay Real Estate Taxes Philadelphia?
Your real estate taxes are due on March 31st every year. Mark your calendar! This is super important because you don’t want to be late.
Here’s what happens with the dates:
December: The city mails you your real estate tax bill February: If you pay by the end of February, you get 1% off! Cool bonus! March 31: This is when you MUST pay April 1: If you’re late, you start getting extra charges
If you don’t pay by March 31st, you get charged 1.5% extra every month until January 1st. That’s a lot of extra money! Plus, if you still don’t pay by January 1st, they add 15% more to your bill.
What If You Never Got a Tax Bill?
Some people say “I never got my bill!” But guess what? It’s your job to know that taxes are due every year, even if you didn’t get a bill. The city doesn’t have to send you one, but they usually do.
If you didn’t get your philadelphia real estate tax bill:
- Call the city and ask for one
- Make sure they have your right address
- Don’t wait – you still owe the money!
How to Pay Real Estate Taxes Philadelphia
Paying your real estate taxes philadelphia is easier than you think! You have several ways to do it:
Online Payment
Go to the city’s website and pay with your bank account or credit card. It’s super fast and you get a receipt right away.
By Mail
Send a check to: City of Philadelphia Revenue Department P.O. Box 806 Philadelphia, PA 19101
In Person
Visit the office at: 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd Philadelphia, PA 19102 Phone: (215) 686-6442
Through Your Mortgage Company
Many people have their mortgage company pay their taxes. The mortgage company saves money from your monthly payment and pays the city for you. Pretty cool!
Philadelphia Real Estate Tax Lookup – Find Your Bill
Want to look up your philadelphia real estate tax bill? It’s really easy! Go to the city’s website and type in your address. You’ll see:
- How much your house is worth according to the city
- How much you owe in taxes
- If you’ve paid already
- Your payment history
This philadelphia real estate tax lookup tool is super handy. You can use it anytime, day or night!
Ways to Save Money on Philadelphia Real Estate Tax
Here’s the awesome part – there are lots of ways to pay less! The city wants to help people, especially seniors and folks who don’t make a lot of money.
Homestead Exemption (Everyone Can Get This!)
This is the best deal ever! The Homestead Exemption reduces your property’s value by $100,000 for taxes. That means most homeowners save $1,399 a year!
You just have to:
- Own your home
- Live in your home (not rent it out)
- Fill out a simple form
It takes about 5 minutes to apply online and you only do it once! After that, you save money every year until you move.
Senior Citizen Real Estate Tax Freeze
If you’re 65 or older, you might be able to “freeze” your taxes! This means your tax bill stays the same even if your house gets worth more money or tax rates go up.
You have to meet income rules, but it’s worth checking out. Applications are due September 30, 2025.
Low Income Tax Freeze
Don’t make a lot of money? You might get this deal too! It works just like the senior freeze but for anyone who qualifies based on income. Applications are due January 31, 2025.
Military Tax Credits
Active Duty, Reserve and National Guard members may not have to pay Philadelphia Real Estate Tax while on active duty outside Pennsylvania. Thank you for your service!
Payment Plans for Real Estate Taxes Philadelphia
Can’t pay all at once? No problem! The city has payment plans:
Real Estate Tax Installment Plan Senior citizens and income-qualified homeowners can pay in up to eleven monthly payments through December 15th instead of one big payment on March 31st.
Owner-Occupied Payment Agreement (OOPA)
This helps homeowners with past-due taxes. Some people can even qualify for zero-dollar monthly payments!
Philadelphia Real Estate Tax Appeal – What If Your Bill Is Too High?
Think your house isn’t worth as much as the city says? You can fight it! This is called a philadelphia real estate tax appeal.
You can file an appeal with the Board of Revision of Taxes if you disagree with your property assessment. But you have to be quick!
If you got your 2025 assessment, you have until October 7, 2024 to appeal. Don’t wait!
To appeal, you need to show:
- Your house isn’t worth what they say
- Other similar houses sold for less
- There’s something wrong with your house they didn’t notice
Should You Appeal Your Assessment?
If the increase is small, it might not be worth appealing. But if the increase is big and your property is worth over $1,000,000, you should talk to a lawyer.
Philadelphia Real Estate Transfer Tax
Are you buying or selling a house in Philadelphia? Then you need to know about the real estate transfer tax philadelphia! This is different from your yearly property taxes.
Starting July 1, 2025, the realty transfer tax rate is 4.578% total – that’s 3.578% for the city plus 1% for Pennsylvania.
So if you buy a $300,000 house, you’d pay: $300,000 × 4.578% = $13,734 in transfer taxes
That’s a lot of money! Make sure you budget for this when buying a home.
Who Doesn’t Pay Transfer Tax?
You don’t have to pay this tax if you’re transferring property to your spouse, children, or grandchildren. But you still need the right paperwork!
What Happens If You Don’t Pay Your Real Estate Taxes?
This is serious stuff. If you don’t pay your taxes, the city can file a lawsuit to take your house and sell it to pay the taxes. Yikes!
Here’s what happens:
- You get late fees and interest charges
- On January 1st, your taxes become “delinquent” and they file liens
- You might get notices from lawyers
- As a last resort, your house can be sold at Sheriff’s Sales
But don’t panic! There are lots of people who can help you before it gets this bad.
Getting Help with Past Due Taxes
If you’re behind on your philadelphia real estate taxes:
- Call the Save Your Home Philly Hotline: (215) 334-4663
- Visit Community Legal Services North Philadelphia Law Center
- Ask about payment plans
- See if you qualify for help programs
FAQ’s
How much are philadelphia real estate taxes compared to other cities?
Philadelphia’s median effective tax rate is 1.20%, which is higher than the national average of 1.02%. But it’s lower than some other Pennsylvania cities.
When do I get my philadelphia real estate tax bill?
The city usually mails Real Estate Tax bills to property owners in December. If you have a mortgage, your mortgage company might get it instead of you.
Can I pay my philadelphia real estate tax monthly?
Yes! Qualified homeowners may pay current year property taxes in up to twelve monthly installments through December 31st with the installment plan.
What if my mortgage company was supposed to pay my taxes?
You should pay the tax and contact your mortgage company for reimbursement. It’s your responsibility to pay the taxes even if the mortgage company doesn’t pay them.
Do I have to reapply for tax programs every year?
If you are enrolled in a program, you never have to reapply unless your deed changes. Pretty cool!
How do I know if I qualify for the Homestead Exemption?
Every homeowner who lives in their house qualifies! All homeowners are eligible for the Homestead Exemption. It’s that simple!
What’s the philadelphia real estate tax rate for 2025?
For 2025, the total rate is 1.3998% – that’s 0.6159% for the city plus 0.7839% for schools.
Final Thoughts on Philadelphia Real Estate Taxes
Philadelphia real estate taxes might seem scary at first, but now you know they’re not so bad! Remember the key things:
- Pay by March 31st each year or get extra fees
- Everyone can get the Homestead Exemption to save money
- There are lots of programs to help if you need it
- You can appeal if you think your house value is wrong
- Payment plans are available if you can’t pay all at once
The city of philadelphia real estate taxes help pay for all the awesome things in our city. Schools, police, firefighters, and clean streets don’t pay for themselves!
If you need help with your real estate taxes philadelphia, don’t wait. Call the city, talk to a housing counselor, or get legal help. There are people who want to help you keep your home.
Remember – owning a home in Philadelphia is awesome, and understanding your real estate tax philadelphia bill is just part of being a smart homeowner. You’ve got this!
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