PHILADELPHIA — Councilmember Brian J. O’Neill (10th District) today introduced legislation in City Council designed to reduce the impact of the city’s increased property tax assessments on Philadelphia’s seniors.
Councilmember O’Neill’s proposed legislation extends the 2022 Senior Citizen Tax Freeze application deadline from January 31, 2022, which has passed, to September 30, 2022, so that eligible senior citizens are able to enroll in the program before the 2023 assessments take effect.
Earlier this week, the City’s Office of Property Assessments (OPA) posted preliminary data on its website showing residential property valuations with an average increase of 31% over 2019, the last year that OPA released city-wide data. Some zip codes in the city showed increases as high as 60%.
“This legislation will protect senior citizens from property tax increases by giving them the opportunity to have their taxes frozen in place at their current rate before these unprecedented property assessments take effect,” said Councilmember O’Neill.
Philadelphia homeowners are eligible for the Senior Citizen Tax Freeze if they are:
- A person aged 65 years or older;
- A person who lives in the same household with a spouse who is aged 65 years or older; or
- A person aged 50 years or older who is a widow of someone who reached the age of 65 before passing away.
And, if they meet the following income requirements:
- $33,500 or less for a single person; or
- $41,500 or less for a married couple.
Councilmember O’Neill’s legislation will be referred to a Council committee for a public hearing on a date to be determined.
Read the legislation.
