Duplicate Bill Fee is $4.00 per bill (does not apply to property owners requesting bill copies)
Tax Certification is $25.00.
$25.00 will be charged for any returned checks.
Bill Schedule
County & Township real estate tax bills will be mailed March 1, 2013.
School real estate tax bills and per capita tax bills will be mailed July 1, 2013.
Payments
Make checks payable to:Jennifer Marsteller, Treasurer
Credit Cards may be used for any tax payments, see #7 below. Information will also appear on all bills as to the process.
The tax office address is: 1954 East High Street, Suite 1 Pottstown PA, 19464
The office is located in the office building on the south side of East High Street directly across from the Visiting Nurses office. The office has handicapped accessable ground floor access.
Mondays 4pm-7pm -On the first Monday of the month the office closes at 6:30pm for the Board of Commissioners meeting.
Thursdays 9am-12pm
March through June; 1st & 3rd Saturday of the month 10am-12pm
April 26th 9am-12pm
April 29th 9am-12pm & 4pm-7pm
April 30th 9am-12pm & 2pm-7pm
June 28th 9am-12pm
June 29th 10am-2pm
Hours are also available by appointment.
Important Information Regarding Your Bill
1. Retain Taxpayers Portion for your records.
2. If you would like a receipt, please return the entirebill with a self-addressed stamped envelope. No receipt will be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope and the entire bill.
3. If you have received this bill in error and/or the bill is to be paid by someone other than you, please forward the bill to proper party for payment.
4. Payments may be made by Check, Money Order, Cash or by Credit Card (See #7 below).
5. Payments will be applied to the period based on when they are received. Payments that are received by mail that bear a postmark for a date within the period will be accepted and credited for that period.
6. Payments may be made via a marked, secure drop box on the exterior wall at the rear of 1954 East High Street, Pottstown, PA 19464, outside the door to the tax office entrance. Cash payments will not be accepted via the drop box and the tax office assumes no responsibility for any cash payments placed in the box. Payments received in the drop box prior to the expiration of the period will be credited for the appropriate period.
7. Payments may be made via credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express) through Official Payments by phone 800-272-9829 (use Jurisdiction Code 4887) or online www.officialpayments.com . Please Note: A convenience fee will be charged for using this service. The fee is paid directly to Official Payments. Neither the tax office or the taxing bodies receive any portion of this fee.
8. Payments received after posted due dates will not be credited for that period. All payments received after posted dates will be returned to the payee. Any additional fees that are incurred after posted payment dates will be applicable.
GENERAL INFORMATION - TAX COLLECTION
When are taxes due?
County and township taxes are sent out on March 1. The school and per capita taxes are sent out on July 1. Residents have 60 days to pay their tax bills. The discount is good for the county and township taxes until April 29. The net is good until June 30, and residents have until December 31 to pay the penalty. The taxes mailed on July 1- school and per capita taxes- have a discount which is good until August 31. The net is good until October 31, and residents have until December 31 to pay the penalty.
Where can I pay them?
Residents can mail their tax bill to or they can be paid in person at the tax collector's office at 1954 East High Street - Suite 1 - Pottstown, PA 19464.
What do they pay for?
Lower Pottsgrove Township provides many important services to its residents and businesses with the use of tax money. Police, fire, emergency service protection, roads and sewers, trash collection, park and recreation facilities, as well as code enforcement and direct response by the Township staff to a variety of requests from residents are just some of the numerous services made available.
How is the bill calculated?
Lower Pottsgrove Township levies several taxes- Real Estate Tax, Per Capita Tax, Local Services Tax, and Earned Income Tax- to pay for basic services. The Per Capita, Local Services Tax, and Real Estate Taxes are collected by Jen Marsteller at 610-326-6960 ; the Earned Income Tax and Local Services Tax are collected by Berkheimer Associates at 1-800-360-8989.
Real Estate taxes - Townships, counties, and school districts levy taxes on real estate in the form of mills. A mill is $1 of taxes for every $1000 of a property's assessment. The average home in Lower Pottsgrove is assessed at $120,000. This means that one mill of tax costs the average homeowner $120.00 per year. Millage may change each year depending on the budget of the taxing body.
Per Capita tax - The Township per capita tax is an annual fee of $15 levied against all persons aged 18 or over who reside in the Township. Of that, the school district levies a $10 per capita tax. Senior citizens with low income levels may apply for an exemption.
Local Services tax - This tax is an annual fee of $52 levied against all persons who are employed in Lower Pottsgrove. This tax is split between the Township and the school district. The agency, Berkheimer Associates, can be reached at 1-800-360-8989.
Earned Income tax - This tax is a one percent tax on earned income from residents in the Township in which the funds are shared by the township and school district. Most employers deduct this tax directly from resident's paychecks and forward the funds to the collection agency. Half the amount goes to the township and half goes to the Pottsgrove School District. The agency, Berkheimer Associates, can be reached at 1-800-360-8989.
Other Types of Taxes
Two other types of taxes occur only in specific instances. They are the Light Fund Tax and Realty Transfer Tax.
Light Fund Tax - The township imposes a tax on all properties within 300 feet of a public street light. This tax is based upon a per-foot basis and the funds a re used to pay for the direct cost of operating the lights.
Realty Transfer tax - This tax is levied at the time of transfer of real estate on the buyer and the seller, each of whom pay one percent of the value of the property represented on the deed, for a total of two percent. This tax is collected by the County Recorder of deeds who forwards on percent to the state, one-half percent to the school district , and one-half percent to the Township.
Important Information:
For information on Lower Pottsgrove Township you can access thier website: www.lowerpottsgrove.org
New Web Tool Allows Pennsylvanians to Check Status of Property Tax/Rent Rebates
Eligible older adults and residents with disabilities can now check the status of Property Tax/Rent Rebate applications online at www.papropertytaxrelief.com
“Our commitment to property tax relief is unwavering, and this new Web tool enhances customer service for the older adults and people with disabilities who rely on these annual checks,” Governor Edward G. Rendell said, introducing the new tool in late April.
Six weeks after submitting a Property Tax/Rent Rebate application, the applicant may visit www.papropertytaxrelief.comand check the status of the rebate by entering his/her Social Security number, anticipated rebate amount and birth date. Applicants may use the Web site to confirm claim status, rebate amount and the date a rebate is expected to be mailed or direct-deposited. Rebate checks will begin being distributed to early applicants on July 1.
Through a similar automated phone service, Property Tax/Rent Rebate applicants can check rebate status by calling, toll-free, 1-888-PATAXES.
The new online tool to check rebate status has the potential to reduce administrative costs for the Revenue Department. The online service is maintained at a minimal cost, while each toll-free phone call from taxpayers costs the department about 3.1 cents in phone charges, plus costs associated with staffing.
The rebate program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. A 2006 program expansion increased the income limit from $15,000 to $35,000 (which excludes half of Social Security income) for homeowners and raises the maximum standard rebate for both homeowners and renters from $500 to $650. The income limit for renters is $15,000.
The program expansion also provided for supplemental property tax rebates of up to $325 – on top of the standard rebates – to homeowners in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Scranton and to those in other parts of the state who pay more than 15 percent of income on property taxes.
Property Tax/Rent Rebate claim forms (PA-1000) and information are available online atwww.papropertytaxrelief.comand by calling 1-888-222-9190. Forms and assistance also are available at Department of Revenue district offices (listed in the government section of local telephone directories), local Area Agencies on Aging, senior centers and state legislators’ offices.
The deadline to apply for a rebate on property taxes or rent paid in 2008 is Dec. 31.