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IMPORTANT HOMEOWNER NOTICE
Taxpayer Relief Act, Act 1 of Special Session 1 of 2006
It is very important that you complete and return the Homestead/Farmstead application (document is a PDF, you will need Adobe's Acrobat Reader to view the document) to the Lancaster County Assessment Office as soon as possible. You will not receive the benefit of possible tax reduction unless you submit this application prior to March 1, 2007.
The Taxpayer Relief Act was signed into law in June of 2006. This Act provides two separate mechanisms to reduce property tax bills for resident homeowners:
- School Districts are required to conduct a voter referendum in the spring of 2007 to determine whether to impose an additional local income tax to be used to reduce property taxes.
- The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania may distribute gaming revenues to each School District to further reduce property taxes.
Either type of property tax reduction will be provided by a “homestead or farmstead exclusion” for resident homeowners who have an approved application on file with the County Assessment Office.
What is a Homestead or Farmstead Exclusion?
Under a homestead or farmstead property tax exclusion, the assessed value of each homestead or farmstead is reduced before the property tax is computed. Homeowners are not guaranteed a reduction unless and until an additional income tax for the purposes of granting this exclusion is approved by voter referendum and/or when sufficient gaming funds have been collected and allocated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.When Would a Tax Reduction Occur?
If an additional income tax is approved by the voters in the 2007 referendum during the spring primary election, initial property tax reductions funded by this mechanism would appear on your July 1, 2007 tax bill. Reductions based on allocations from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from gaming revenue are not expected to occur until at least July 1, 2008.
What Must I do to be Eligible for this Tax Reduction?
Complete and return the enclosed application as soon as possible, but no later than March 1, 2007, to:
Lancaster County Assessment Office
Lancaster County Court House
50 North Duke Street
P.O. Box 83480
Lancaster, PA 17608-3480Where Can I get Answers to Questions About this Application?
If you have received this application, and feel that the property noted has already been approved, or have any other questions, contact your Assessment Office at the address noted above or call (717) 299-8381. You will receive notification regarding your approval or denial from the County Assessment Office. If denied, you will be given an opportunity to appeal this decision.