Did you know you can freeze your Philly property taxes if you’re 65 and older? The City’s Senior Citizen Real Estate Tax Freeze program lets seniors lock in their property taxes and pay a fixed amount every year if they qualify. Read on to discover how the program can save you money.
Pay predictable bills
The value of many Philadelphia properties went up this year. So it’s a critical time for seniors to get in on the Senior Tax Freeze. The program ensures your bill doesn’t go up even if your home value or the tax rate goes up.
In essence, your bill is “frozen,” so it stays the same every year – for as long as you are eligible for the program! For example, if you signed up in 2024, and that’s when you turned 65 or first became eligible, your 2025 and future bills will be the same amount as your 2024 bill.
Want more discounts? You can get both the Senior Freeze and Homestead Exemption! That way, the Homestead Exemption reduces your bill, and the Senior Tax Freeze “freezes” it (a double win for you).
You will always get the lowest bill — even if the value your house or the tax rate drops— your bill is locked in at that (lower) rate.
Seniors must be aware that changes to their deeds will remove them from these benefits. Call (215) 685-6442 after making deed updates.
You may get retroactive benefits
Retroactive benefits are another great feature of this program. Basically, if you turned 65 or first became eligible between 2018 and 2024, you can freeze your bill at that amount. Here’s how it works:
If you are now 70 years old and believe you qualified when you were 65, you can apply to freeze your property value at the amount it was when you were 65. This way, you’ll only pay taxes on your assessment from the year you first became eligible or any year after that if your property has since been reassessed at a lower rate.
Before you apply
In addition to age, this program also has income requirements. Please review the complete list of requirements on our website to see if you qualify.
It’s easiest to apply online. You can use any device, even your phone. Just select “Search for a property” on the Philadelphia Tax Center‘s homepage and follow the prompts. You can upload photos of your documents using your phone.
You can also apply by filling out this two-page form and sending it to us with proof of age and income. Any document showing a date of birth can be used as proof of age, like a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or driver’s license. We accept Social Security awards and pension statements to verify your income is under the program’s limit.
You can drop off your application at any of our municipal service centers or mail it to:
Philadelphia Department of Revenue
P.O. Box 53190
Philadelphia, PA 19105
Once approved, we’ll automatically enroll you every year. Apply now before the 2025 Real Estate Tax bills go out. Senior Citizen Tax Freeze doesn’t work like a reverse mortgage – you’ll see your savings on future bills.
No need to reapply unless your income or deed changes. September 30, 2025 is the deadline for applications.
