In certain situations, taxpayers may pay more than they actually owe on City taxes, bills, files, or fees. This can happen when you’re eligible for discounts, credits, reductions, or if a clerical error occurs. To claim a refund, you must request, or “petition,” the City by filling out the appropriate form and providing any other required documentation.
The easiest and fastest way to request a refund is online at the Philadelphia Tax Center. This is the most secure way to send us personal and confidential information. You don’t need a username and password to submit a Wage Tax refund petition through the Philadelphia Tax Center. You can access the online forms directly from the Tax Center’s homepage — under the “Refunds” panel. This website is accessible on mobile devices and available in Spanish.
Note: Wage Tax and Real Estate Tax refunds require additional documentation. Include all requested documents with your refund petition to avoid processing delays.
For most other taxes and fees: log into the Philadelphia Tax Center. If there’s a refundable credit on your account(s), you will see a blue “Apply for a refund” link next to the account(s). Select it and follow the onscreen prompts to complete and submit your refund request.
Need help creating a username and password? You can view step-by-step instructions and Frequently Asked Questions on the Philadelphia Tax Center Guide.
You can also mail a paper refund petition to:
Philadelphia Department of Revenue
P.O. Box 1137
Philadelphia, PA 19102
When we receive your refund request, we will review it. The normal processing time is six to 10 weeks. We can only provide status updates on refund requests once we have accepted a submission. Once approved, you can track your submission or get status updates on your refund request using the “Where’s My Refund” link under the “Refunds” panel on the Philadelphia Tax Center’s homepage. No username and password required.
For general questions about a refund, email refund.unit@phila.gov. You can also send a secure message through your account on the Philadelphia Tax Center.
Deadlines and processing times
Refund claims must be filed with the Department of Revenue within three years from either the date of payment or the due date of the payment, whichever is later.
For refunds requested from April through June, please allow eight to 10 weeks for processing due to high volume. Otherwise, refunds typically take six to eight weeks to process.
Appealing a refund denial
If your refund request is denied, you have the option to appeal to the Tax Review Board.