Montgomery County, PA

NORRISTOWN — Homeowners in Montgomery County will begin receiving applications in the mail soon to register for the new Homeowner Property Tax Relief Act. It’s important that the property owner fill out the application and return it to the county Board of Assessment Appeals.
The new law will allow school districts to use a combination of a new or increased earned income tax and state gambling revenues to offset a reduction in real estate taxes. But only property owners who file a homestead or farmstead exclusion application with the Board of Assessment Appeals and have that application approved will receive the tax reduction.
Only primary residences, property that the applicant owns and lives in, qualify as a homestead. Those who qualify cannot claim a homestead in another county or state. Also, the local school district must opt-in in order to receive their portion of the state revenues.
The new law requires that school districts mail every residential property owner a homestead application and instructions by October 18, 2004. The Act permits the school district to contract with a third party or the county assessment office to act as an agent for the school district to mail the applications. The school districts in Montgomery County have contracted with the county to mail the applications. On October 15, 2004 the assessment office will mail every residential property owner an application. If you did not receive an application, you can call your school district, the County Assessment Office at 610-278-3761 or print an application from the county web site: www.montcopa.org, click on County Offices, Board of Assessment, View more information, Property Tax Relief-Act72. . You must file this application even if you were previously approved for a homestead exclusion under another law in the past. The deadline for filing an application is March 1, 2005.

The application should be returned to the county assessment office:
                                 Montgomery County Board of Assessment Appeals
                                 Courthouse P.O. Box 311
                                 Norristown PA 19404-0311

The assessment office must notify the taxpayer within thirty (30) days if the application is approved or denied.
If your application is approved and your school district participates your property tax relief will appear as a tax credit on future property tax bills you receive from the school district in which you live. Please remember that you can only receive the tax relief when the appropriate state and local revenues are available to fund the program and your school district imposes a qualifying income tax. The state anticipates that property tax relief will initially be available during the 2006-2007 school year.

If you have questions regarding your homestead/farmstead application please contact the Board of Assessment Appeals at (610) 278-3761, office hours 8:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. Monday through Friday.