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Tax Refund Help for Low-Income Tenants Law

Official:Amending Chapter 19-1300 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Real Estate Taxes,” by providing for refunds of real estate taxes overpaid through rent by certain low income persons, directing the Revenue Department to develop procedures, guidelines, and forms whereby eligible taxpayers can obtain state and city refunds, and requiring property owners to provide informational materials to tenants; and amending Chapter 9-800 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled “Landlord and Tenant,” by requiring landlords to complete and return Rent Certificates or other documentation necessary for tenants to apply for rent refund programs, prohibiting retaliation, and providing for enforcement and penalties; all under certain terms and conditions.

Sponsor: Councilmember O'Rourke

Introduced: October 9, 2025

housing taxation

Plain-Language Summary

This bill provides refunds to low-income tenants who overpaid real estate taxes through rent and requires landlords to provide documentation for tax refunds.

What This Bill Does

AI-written. Every figure is checked against the bill text.

Provides refunds of real estate taxes overpaid through rent to certain low-income persons.
Requires the Revenue Department to develop procedures, guidelines, and forms for eligible taxpayers to obtain state and city refunds.
Requires property owners to provide informational materials to tenants regarding tax refunds.
Requires landlords to complete and return Rent Certificates or other documentation necessary for tenants to apply for rent refund programs, and prohibits retaliation against tenants who request such documentation.

Both Sides

AI-written arguments. Every figure is checked against the bill text.

The case for

This bill ensures that low-income individuals who overpaid rent with their real estate taxes can receive fair refunds. By streamlining the process and requiring landlords to provide necessary documentation, eligible taxpayers can access the refunds they are owed. This municipal bill protects tenants from retaliation and supports economic stability for vulnerable populations.

The case against

This bill unfairly burdens property owners with administrative costs and potential liability, while providing a potentially bureaucratic and inefficient system for tax refunds. By requiring landlords to provide documentation and prohibiting retaliation, the bill effectively takes away their ability to set their own rental policies, creating an additional layer of complexity and risk. The bill also places the onus on the Revenue Department to develop and implement the refund program, without specifying how this will be funded or what the ultimate cost will be to taxpayers.

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