It’s Our Money Podcast

Philadelphia approving homestead exemptions without the home

newsworks@whyy.org (Doron Taussig and Holly Otterbein) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 10:00:00 GMT

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter is offering a tax break to homeowners to soften the blow of the city's reassessment of about 579,000 properties.

Known as a homestead exemption, it's only supposed to be given to people who both own and live in their houses. That means owners of vacant lots or parking spaces need not apply.

But the city has approved homestead exemptions for at least 19 parcels without buildings, according to records from the Office of Property Assessment (OPA).

Is there any property tax relief for renters?

newsworks@whyy.org (Doron Taussig and Holly Otterbein) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 20:30:00 GMT

Taxipedia is answering people’s questions about Philadelphia’s property tax reassessment.

Today's question comes from Germantown resident Emaleigh Doley. She wants to know if there is property tax relief available for rental properties in Philadelphia.

Green wants tax-exempt nonprofits to pass yearly test

newsworks@whyy.org (Doron Taussig and Holly Otterbein) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 17:15:00 GMT

WHYY/NewsWorks and the Daily News recently found that some Philadelphia nonprofits were getting tax breaks that they may not have deserved.

Now, City Councilman Bill Green wants to make sure that doesn't ever happen.

Why are some Philly property assessments different from sales prices? [Updated]

newsworks@whyy.org (Doron Taussig and Holly Otterbein) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 15:48:00 GMT

Just a couple of months ago, a building at the corner of Philadelphia’s Seventh and Bainbridge streets sold for $950,000. The city assessed it for tax purposes at $545,600. Several blocks away, a home on Morris Street sold for $100,000 in September 2012. But guess what the city assessed it at? $202,700.

Should Philly use gaming money to lower property taxes?

newsworks@whyy.org (Doron Taussig and Holly Otterbein) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 23:36:48 GMT

Should Philadelphia’s gaming revenue be used to lower property taxes?

Since Mayor Michael Nutter is overhauling the property tax system, state Rep. Rosita Youngblood (D-Philadelphia) wants to consider the option.

Nutter says old property tax system is 'dead'

newsworks@whyy.org (Doron Taussig and Holly Otterbein) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 17:47:21 GMT

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter says the city’s defective property tax system is no more.

After working to get its house in order for several years, the city mailed out more than 500,000 new property tax assessments Friday. The city admits it had previously been assessing people’s homes and businesses inaccurately.

Philly BRT's website lacks property assessment information

newsworks@whyy.org (Doron Taussig and Holly Otterbein) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 13:30:49 GMT

Want an application to formally appeal your new property assessment from the city of Philadelphia?

You won't find it on the website for the Board of Revision of Taxes.

Are my Philly property taxes going up?

newsworks@whyy.org (Doron Taussig and Holly Otterbein) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:50:06 GMT

You won’t know for sure if your property tax bill is going up next year until Philadelphia's City Council passes a budget. The drop-dead deadline for that is June 30.

But you can make a reasonable guess once you get your new assessment under the Actual Value Initiative in the mail. And those notices begin going out in mid-February.

How do I appeal my Philly property assessment?

newsworks@whyy.org (Doron Taussig and Holly Otterbein) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:49:00 GMT

Taxipedia is answering people's questions about Philadelphia's property reassessment. First up: How do property owners appeal their new assessments?

If you think the city of Philadelphia got its new assessment of your house or business wrong, here’s what to do first:

Could property tax relief help me owe less to Philly government?

newsworks@whyy.org (Doron Taussig and Holly Otterbein) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:48:00 GMT

Property-tax relief could help you. But it could also hurt, depending on what property you own.

Here are several types of tax relief Philadelphia's City Council is thinking about offering: