INSTRUCTIONS - APPLICATION FOR HOMESTEAD & FARMSTEAD EXCLUSIONS
Act 50 of 1998 permits counties, school districts and municipalities to make use of a homestead property tax exclusion as long as
property tax millage rates are not increased to compensate for revenue lost from a homestead exclusion. Under a homestead
property tax exclusion, the assessed value of each home is reduced by the same amount before the property tax is computed. Act
50 permits individuals to apply for a Homestead Exclusion, even though a Homestead Exclusion may not have been adopted by a
local taxing body in which you reside.
1. Fill in the parcel number of the property for which you are seeking a homestead exclusion. You can find the parcel number on
your real property tax bill. If you do not have a real property tax bill, call the county assessment office (412-350-4600).
2. Fill in the address of the property for which you are seeking a homestead exclusion.
3. Fill in your municipality and school district. If you are not sure what your municipality or school districts are, contact the county
assessment office (412-350-4600).
4. Fill in your name and the name of other owners of record, such as your spouse or a co-owner of the property. You must be
recorded owners to apply for the exclusion.
5. Fill in both your property address and mailing address, even if they are the same.
6. Please list a phone number where you can be reached during the day, and the evening, if you are unavailable during the day.
7. Is this property your primary residence?
The Homestead Exclusion can only be claimed once as a place of primary residence or domicile. ''Domicile'' is the fixed place
of abode where the owner intends to reside permanently, not temporarily. ''Domicile'' is the place where a person makes their
home, until something happens that the person adopts another home. You may be asked to provide proof that this property is
your residence, such as your driver's license, your voter registration card, your personal income tax form or your local earned
income tax form.
8. Do you have another residence which you claim as your primary residence? For instance, do you claim another state as your
primary residence, or another county in Pennsylvania?
9. If you live in a unit of a cooperative or a condominium and you pay taxes jointly through a management agent or association,
rather than paying your taxes separately from other units, check yes. If so, please provide the percentage of overall tax you
pay. You may be asked to provide a contact to confirm this information.
10. Check yes if the property for which you are seeking a homestead exclusion is used for other purposes, such as a business or
rental property. If so, please indicate what portion of the pro
perty is used as your private residence.
Check yes if you believe your prop
erty qualifies for the farmstead exclusion. If yes, please indicate what portion of the property is
exempted, excluded or abated from real property taxation under any other law (e.g., Clean and Green or Act 515). You may be
asked to provide proof that buildings and structures are used for commercial agricultural activity, such as the net income or loss
schedule from your state or federal income tax forms.
Only buildings and structures on farms which are at least ten contiguous acres in area and used as the primary residence
(domicile) of the owner are eligible for a farmstead exclusion. The buildings and structures must be used for commercial
agricultural production to store farm products produced on the farm, to house animals maintained on the farm, or to store
agricultural supplies or machinery and equipment used on the farm.
Change in Use - When the use of a property approved as homestead or farmstead property changes so that the property no
longer qualifies for the homestead or farmstead exclusion, property owners must notify the assessor within 45 days of the change
in use. If the use of your property changes and you are not sure if it still qualifies for the homestead or farmstead exclusion, you
should contact the assessor.
False or Fraudulent Applications - The assessor may select, randomly or otherwise, applications to review for false or fraudulent
information. Any person who files an application which contains false informatio
n, or who does not notify the assessor of a change
in use which no longer qualifies as homestead or farmstead property, will be required to:
Pay the taxes which would have been due but for the false application, plus interest.
Pay a penalty equal 10% of the unpaid taxes.
If convicted of filing a false application, be guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree and be sentenced to pay a fine not
exceeding $2,500.
By signing and dating this form, the applicant is affirming or swearing that all information contained in the form is true and correct.
Applications must be filed before March 1 of each year. Please return to:
Office of Property Assessments – )RUEHV$YH5RRP, Pittsburgh, PA 152 ATTN: /HJLVODWLYH$FWLV
For Questions on the Homestead Exclusion:
Contact the Allegheny Cou
nty Office of Property Assessments at 412-350-4600, office hours 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday-Friday
If your application is denied, you will receive a written notice of the denial to the mailing address you provided.
