Allegheny County Property Tax Relief

Need the right Allegheny County or Pittsburgh tax office?

If your property tax bill is too high, start by separating the problem into three parts.

The Allegheny County Office of Property Assessments handles the assessed value and most assessment appeals. The Allegheny County Treasurer handles county real estate tax bills and the county Act 77 senior tax relief program. The City of Pittsburgh Department of Finance handles Pittsburgh city real estate tax bills, city payment questions, city forms, and city tax relief materials.

Do not guess which office you need. A high assessment, a missed exemption, a senior discount, a state rebate, and a late tax bill are different problems. They can have different forms, deadlines, and offices.

Start with the problem you actually have

What you are trying to fix	Where to start	Why it matters
Your assessed value looks wrong	Allegheny County property record search and Allegheny County appeals	The assessment is the number used by the county, city, municipality, and school district to calculate tax.
You want the homestead exclusion	Allegheny County Act 50	This is for qualifying owner-occupied primary residences. It is not for renters or second homes.
You are a senior, widow or widower, or disabled homeowner looking for Allegheny County Act 77	Allegheny County Treasurer Act 77	This county program has age, income, ownership, and occupancy rules.
You live in Pittsburgh and need city tax help	City of Pittsburgh real estate taxes and city real estate forms	The city collects city real estate tax, but the tax is based on Allegheny County assessment data.
You are a renter or low-income homeowner seeking a state rebate	Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program	This is a state rebate program. It is not a local homestead exemption.

Relief, rebates, deferrals, and appeals are not the same thing

These words sound alike when you are looking at a tax bill. They do not mean the same thing.

An exemption or exclusion removes part or all of a property from taxation, or removes part of the assessed value before tax is calculated.
A discount or local relief program reduces a bill for people who meet local rules, such as age, income, ownership, or occupancy rules.
A rebate is usually a payment back after taxes or rent were paid. Pennsylvania’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program is the main example for many local renters and older or disabled homeowners.
A credit or abatement may reduce tax connected to certain construction, rehabilitation, accessibility, development, or local policy rules.
A deferral or postponement delays payment. It is not the same as forgiveness. It may involve later repayment, interest, liens, or estate issues. This guide focuses on Allegheny County and Pittsburgh starting points, not a specific deferral program.
An appeal challenges an assessment or determination. It is about facts, evidence, and deadlines. It is not the same as applying for relief.

Careful point: If you only cannot afford the bill, an assessment appeal may not solve the problem. Appeals are about whether the assessment or determination is wrong. For payment trouble, contact the tax collector or treasurer before the bill becomes more serious.

Check your Allegheny County assessment record first

For most homeowners, the first useful step is to look up the parcel in the official county system. Allegheny County’s record search can show tax information, building information, owner history, comparable properties, appeal status, and maps showing property lines.

The county also explains that Allegheny County uses a base-year assessment system. The current base year is 2012, with an effective date of January 1, 2012. The last county-wide reassessment was in 2013. That means the assessed value on the county site may not match what a real estate website says your home could sell for today.

That difference is important. A high market estimate from a private website does not automatically mean your assessed value is correct. A low market estimate does not automatically win an appeal. You need facts that fit the county assessment system and the official appeal process.

When you check your record, write down:

the parcel number, sometimes called the block and lot number;
the municipality or ward;
the assessed value used for tax purposes;
whether the record shows a homestead line marked yes or no;
the building information, such as square footage, use, condition, and other listed features;
the owner name and mailing address;
any appeal status shown on the parcel.

If the record has a wrong mailing address, wrong owner information, or wrong building facts, do not ignore it. A simple record problem can turn into missed notices, missed hearings, or confusion about relief forms.

Allegheny County Act 50: homestead and farmstead exclusion

Allegheny County’s Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion Act 50 page says the exclusion provides a reduced property tax assessment on qualifying owner-occupied properties for Allegheny County tax purposes only.

The county says only primary residences qualify. A homeowner can have only one homestead exclusion. The county also says the initial $18,000 in assessed value is excluded from county real property taxation. School districts and municipalities may also participate, but questions about school or municipal participation should go to those entities.

The county lists March 1 as the application deadline for the exclusion to be in effect for the current and future tax years. If an application is denied, or if you disagree with a determination, the county says the Act 50 determination is appealable by special appeal.

Allegheny County Act 77 senior tax relief

Allegheny County’s Act 77 Senior Tax Relief Program is handled by the Allegheny County Treasurer’s Office. For 2026, the Treasurer’s Office lists a June 30, 2026 application deadline.

The county describes Act 77 as a senior citizen tax relief program for the real estate tax on a qualifying primary residence. The applicant must meet all three main requirements. The county lists a property ownership and occupancy rule, an age or status rule, and an income rule.

For ownership, the county says the person generally must have owned and occupied a primary residence in Allegheny County continuously for the past 10 years. The county also notes that a person who moved within the past 10 years may still be eligible if they continued to own and occupy the new property as a primary residence.

For age or status, the county says the applicant must be age 60 or older, or, if married, either spouse must be age 60. The county also includes a widow or widower age 50 to 60, and a permanently disabled person age 18 to 60, if the rules are met.

For income, the county lists a gross household income limit of $30,000 or less. The county says only 50% of Social Security, SSI, and Railroad Retirement Tier 1 benefits are counted for that part of the income calculation, while other income is added at 100%.

The county describes the program feature as a flat 30% discount of county real property tax, with a listed maximum reduction per year. The county also says approved homeowners do not need to apply again as long as they remain the property owner and occupant and stay within the income limit.

Deadline warning: Do not rely on last year’s form or a neighbor’s deadline. Use the current Allegheny County Treasurer Act 77 page or call the Treasurer’s Office before mailing anything close to the deadline.

Pittsburgh senior tax relief and city tax forms

If the property is inside the City of Pittsburgh, you may also need the city’s real estate tax office. Pittsburgh’s Tax Relief and Assistance Resources page points residents to Act 77 senior citizen tax relief, Act 50 homestead/farmstead exclusion, and the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program.

The city says real estate taxes are collected by the City, and all owners of real estate located within the City and School District are taxed. The city’s page also says the market value of the property is determined by the Allegheny County Office of Property Assessment, and taxes are calculated by applying the millage rate to the assessed value.

Pittsburgh’s real estate forms page includes city links for Act 77 senior tax relief materials and points to Allegheny County for the Act 50 homestead tax exemption application. The same city page says that, for a bill discrepancy, residents should contact the city at the listed real estate tax number, while assessment-data updates go to Allegheny County.

Check the current city form: City materials have described city Act 77 relief differently in different places. Before relying on a percentage or assuming the county and city discounts are identical, confirm the current tax-year rule with Pittsburgh’s Real Estate Tax office or the current city form.

Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate for homeowners and renters

Renters should not apply for a homestead exclusion. The state program that may matter for many Allegheny County renters is the Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program.

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue describes the program as support for eligible older adults and people with disabilities. The state lists age 65 and older, widows and widowers age 50 and older, and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The state also lists an annual household income limit for the rebate program.

For 2025 property taxes or rent paid, the Department of Revenue announced on May 15, 2026 that the filing deadline was extended to December 31, 2026. Because state rebate deadlines can be extended, always check the current PTRR page before deciding you are too late.

The state rebate is separate from county Act 50, county Act 77, and Pittsburgh tax forms. A homeowner may need to check more than one program. A renter generally starts with the state rebate program.

Disabled veterans and surviving spouses

Pennsylvania has a disabled veterans’ real estate tax exemption program. The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs says the program is for veterans meeting service-related criteria, ownership and principal-dwelling rules, disability rules, and financial-need rules.

Allegheny County says some 100% service-connected disabled veterans are eligible for property tax exemptions in the county. The county’s Veterans Services county benefits page lists the local starting point.

Appealing an Allegheny County assessment

An assessment appeal is for a value or determination problem. It is not the same as asking for more time to pay.

Allegheny County says property assessments may be appealed by the property owner or by any taxing body with a vested interest in the parcel. The first level of appeal is heard by the Board of Property Assessment Appeals and Review, often called BPAAR. If a party is not satisfied with the BPAAR decision, the county says the next level is the Court of Common Pleas with the Board of Viewers.

For annual appeals, Allegheny County says there is no filing fee. For tax year 2027, the county lists the annual appeal filing period as July 1, 2026 through September 1, 2026. The county says appeals may be submitted online, by email, by mail, or in person, and not by fax. To submit online, the county points owners to the Real Estate Portal and the parcel’s Appeal Status tab.

If you missed the annual appeal deadline, the county says a late-filed appeal may be allowed only under limited circumstances, but the owner must first submit a late-filed appeal request form.

Special appeals are different. Allegheny County says a special appeal can be filed year-round in response to certain written determination notices from the Office of Property Assessments. Examples include an Assessment Change Notice, catastrophic loss determination, exempt status determination, Homestead/Farmstead Act 50 determination, interim assessment determination, and certain LERTA determinations. The county says the completed special appeal form must be sent within 30 days from the official mail date on the notice, and the notice or determination letter must be attached.

Evidence matters more than frustration

It is understandable to be upset about a tax bill. But an appeal should be built around facts.

Helpful evidence may include:

recent sales that are truly comparable under the assessment rules;
county record errors, such as wrong square footage, wrong use, or wrong building information;
photos or documents showing condition problems that affect value;
appraisals or professional valuation evidence, if available;
copies of county notices and the envelope or mail date when timing is disputed.

Do not base the appeal only on hardship, age, disability, or income. Those facts may matter for relief programs, but an assessment appeal is usually about the property assessment or the specific determination being appealed.

If the bill is late or you cannot pay

Contact the office that issued or collects the bill as soon as possible. Waiting can add penalty, interest, notices, or collection problems.

The Allegheny County Treasurer says it collects only current-year county taxes. For delinquent and liened tax years, it directs taxpayers to Jordan Tax Service. The Treasurer also warns that failure to pay taxes may lead to sheriff sale.

For City of Pittsburgh real estate taxes, the city lists separate due dates and installment rules. The city also has real estate forms, including payment-plan materials, on its official forms page. If you received a Pittsburgh city tax notice, use the city tax office rather than assuming the county can fix it.

Serious caution: A tax lien, sheriff sale notice, or treasurer’s sale notice is not a normal paperwork problem. Contact the tax collector right away. If you may lose the home, contact legal aid or another qualified local adviser. This guide is not legal advice.

What to gather before you call or apply

Before you call the county, city, or state, gather the basics. This can save a second call.

property address;
parcel, block, and lot number;
municipality or Pittsburgh ward;
copy of the current tax bill or notice;
proof of age, if age is part of the program;
proof of income, if income is part of the program;
proof of ownership and occupancy;
death certificate or marriage proof, if applying as a widow, widower, or surviving spouse;
disability or veteran documentation, if applying under those rules;
proof of taxes or rent paid for the state rebate program;
copies of any denial, assessment change notice, or determination letter.

If you are denied, confused, or close to a deadline

Read the notice first. Look for the decision date, mail date, appeal deadline, form name, office name, and whether the decision came from the county, city, school district, state, or another collector.

If the denial is for Act 50, the county says a Homestead/Farmstead determination can be appealed by special appeal. If the problem is the state rebate, use the state Department of Revenue’s rebate resources and status tools.

If you are close to a deadline, do not spend days trying to make the perfect packet before asking the official office how to preserve your rights. Ask whether the form must be filed online, mailed, hand-delivered, emailed, or not faxed. Ask what proof must be attached for the filing to be accepted.

Keep copies of everything. Save online confirmations. If mailing, consider using a method that gives proof of mailing.

Official starting points

Editorial note

Property Tax Relief Guide is an independent information site. We are not Allegheny County, the City of Pittsburgh, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, a tax office, a law firm, or a benefits agency. This guide was written from official county, city, and state sources, with careful attention to current forms, deadlines, and office responsibilities. Rules can change, and local tax offices may update forms or deadlines. Confirm the details with the official office before applying, appealing, paying late, or relying on a tax bill estimate. This article is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or government-agency advice.