Bill Text: PA HB661 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Providing for a freeze on real estate taxes for senior citizens.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 34-9)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-02-14 - Referred to FINANCE [HB661 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-HB661-Introduced.html

  

 

    

PRINTER'S NO.  661

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE BILL

 

No.

661

Session of

2011

  

  

INTRODUCED BY BARRAR, BOBACK, BOYD, CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, D. COSTA, DEASY, EVERETT, FLECK, GABLER, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GILLESPIE, GODSHALL, GRELL, GROVE, HAHN, HARHART, HICKERNELL, HORNAMAN, HUTCHINSON, KILLION, MICOZZIE, MURT, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PEIFER, PETRI, PYLE, RAPP, ROAE, ROCK, SCAVELLO, K. SMITH, SWANGER, TALLMAN, TRUITT, VULAKOVICH AND WATSON, FEBRUARY 14, 2011

  

  

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON FINANCE, FEBRUARY 14, 2011  

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

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Providing for a freeze on real estate taxes for senior citizens.

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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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hereby enacts as follows:

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Section 1.  Short title.

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This act shall be known and may be cited as the Senior

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Citizens Property Tax Freeze Act.

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Section 2.  Definitions.

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The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

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have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

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context clearly indicates otherwise:

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"Base payment."  The amount of property tax paid by the

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claimant either in the tax year beginning January 1, 2011, or in

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the first tax year during which the claimant first becomes

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eligible, whichever occurs later, on the primary residence in

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which the claimant has maintained continuous occupancy and

 


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ownership since either January 1, 2011, or the date upon which

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the claimant first became eligible. In the event the claimant

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purchases a residence after January 1, 2011, or after the date

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upon which the claimant first becomes eligible, the term means

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property taxes paid during the tax year in which the purchase

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was made.

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"Claimant."  A person who files a claim for property tax

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rebate or rent rebate in lieu of property taxes and:

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(1)  was at least 65 years of age or whose spouse, if a

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member of the household, was at least 65 years of age during

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a calendar year in which real property taxes or rent were due

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and payable;

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(2)  was a widow or widower and was at least 50 years of

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age during a calendar year or part thereof in which real

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property taxes were due and payable; or

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(3)  was a permanently disabled person 18 years of age or

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older during a calendar year or part thereof in which real

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property taxes were due and payable.

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"Department."  The Department of Revenue of the Commonwealth.

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"Homestead."  A dwelling owned, and so much of the land

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surrounding it, as is reasonably necessary for the use of the

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dwelling as a home, occupied by a claimant for more than 270

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days of the year. The term includes, but is not limited to:

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(1)  Premises occupied by reason of ownership or lease in

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a cooperative housing corporation.

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(2)  Mobile homes which are assessed as realty for local

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property tax purposes and the land, if owned by the claimant,

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upon which the mobile home is situated, and other similar

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living accommodations.

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(3)  A part of a multidwelling or multipurpose building

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and a part of the land upon which it is built.

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(4)  Premises occupied by reason of the claimant's

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ownership or rental of a dwelling located on land owned by a

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nonprofit incorporated association, of which the claimant is

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a member, if the claimant is required to pay a pro rata share

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of the property taxes levied against the association's land.

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(5)  Premises occupied by a claimant if the claimant is

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required by law to pay a property tax by reason of the

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claimant's ownership or rental, including a possessory

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interest, in the dwelling, the land or both. An owner

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includes a person in possession under a contract of sale,

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deed of trust, life estate, joint tenancy or tenancy in

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common or by reason of statutes of descent and distribution.

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"Increases in property taxes."  The additional payments due

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above the base amount, resulting from millage increases,

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modifications in the assessment ratio or assessment increase.

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"Local taxing authorities."  A political subdivision of the

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Commonwealth which shall include a municipality, township,

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county or school district.

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Section 3.  Tax freeze.

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Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, any claimant

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who meets the eligibility requirements contained in this act

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shall be entitled to a real estate tax freeze on the homestead

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and shall not be required to pay any increases in property taxes

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in excess of the claimant's base payment.

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Section 4.  Application procedure.

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Any claimant eligible for a tax freeze under this act may

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apply for the freeze by filing the following documents with the

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local taxing authorities:

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(1)  A statement of request for a tax freeze.

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(2)  A certification that the claimant or the claimant's

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spouse is the owner in the homestead upon which the property

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taxes are imposed.

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(3)  Evidence that the claimant is 65 years of age or

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older; or is a widow or widower and was at least 50 years of

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age during a calendar year or part thereof in which real

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property taxes were due and payable; or was a permanently

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disabled person 18 years of age or older during a calendar

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year or part thereof in which real property taxes were due

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and payable.

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(4)  Receipts showing prompt payment of the current

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year's real property tax liability.

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Section 5.  Termination of tax freeze.

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(a)  General rule.--Subject to the limitation under

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subsection (b), the tax rate on and the assessment of any real

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property taxes shall become current on the sale or transfer of

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that real property, including any transfer under a recorded real

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property sales contract.

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(b)  Limitation.--A tax freeze under this act shall remain in

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effect upon the transfer of the affected real property to a

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surviving spouse if at the time of the death of the claimant,

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the surviving spouse is at least 50 years of age or will be 50

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years of age within six months of the date of death of the

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claimant.

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Section 6.  Commonwealth payment.

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(a)  Notification of balance.--The local taxing authorities

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shall provide notification and documentation to the department

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of the total balance due to the local taxing authorities for

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increases in real property taxes.

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(b)  Certification.--The department shall certify the total

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amount due to increase in real property taxes as provided under

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this act.

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(c)  Payment.--Annually, the department shall pay to local

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taxing authorities the amount of each claimant's increase in

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property taxes in excess of the claimant's base payment.

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Section 7.  Effective date.

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This act shall take effect immediately.

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