City controller finds hundreds of property owners exploiting tax relief program

Dated: August 31 2026

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Philadelphia’s city controller says the city and school district are losing millions of dollars in revenue from people who improperly claim a homestead exemption on their taxes. The homestead exemption allows homeowners to deduct the first $100,000 of value from the tax bill for their primary residence, which reduces property taxes by about $1,400. However, controller Christy Brady said her office’s investigation found people taking the exemption on multiple properties, including businesses with rental properties and people who don’t even live in the city. She estimates it’s costing the city and school district about $11 million a year. Brady began investigating abuse of the homestead exemption two years ago. The Philadelphia Revenue Department is now auditing all of the tax relief programs. Last week, the department announced that it had removed more than 13,000 property owners from various programs, resulting in $33 million in additional revenue.
Source: KYW; 8/5/2026 

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Pete McGuinn

Pete McGuinn - Your Trusted RE/MAX Main Line Real Estate Expert With over 22 years of experience as a full-time REALTOR® at RE/MAX Main Line, Pete McGuinn is a distinguished real estate professional....

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Philadelphia’s city controller says the city and school district are losing millions of dollars in revenue from people who improperly claim a homestead exemption on their taxes. The homestead

Read More

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