Pennsylvania Property Tax Appeal Guide

What This Data Tells Us About Appeals in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, property tax appeals are filed with the County Board of Assessment Appeals. The typical window is August 1 deadline in most counties, with the deadline most commonly falling in August. Filing fees reported for this state are $0–$25 (varies by county), and Lincoln Institute research plus state-reported data suggest roughly 51% of appeals result in some reduction when supported by comparable sales or documented errors.

Pennsylvania has county-specific assessment ratios. Common Level Ratio (CLR) determines the relationship between assessed and market value, essential for your appeal calculation. Appeals are driven by the gap between a parcel's assessed value and its actual market value — the calculator below turns that gap into an annualized dollar figure at your effective tax rate. The strongest evidence is three to five arms-length comparable sales from the past six to twelve months, plus documentation of any factual errors in the assessor's record (square footage, bedroom count, finished-basement status).

This guide is for informational purposes only and is not legal or tax advice. Deadlines, filing fees, success rates, and procedures vary by county within Pennsylvania and can change year to year. Always verify the current rules with your local assessor's office — or a licensed attorney or tax professional — before filing. Source: Pennsylvania State Tax Equalization Board.