Property assessments in some counties not updated for decades

Dated: March 30 2026

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More than a third of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties still rely on property tax assessments from 1999 or earlier. Pennsylvania is the only state that does not require regular countywide reassessments every few years, something that leaves about 40% of residents being taxed on outdated data. Officials and experts say these antiquated assessments create significant tax inequities, often shifting a heavier burden onto newer homeowners while longtime owners benefit from artificially low tax bills. While 14 counties have reassessed since 2020 or are in progress, many others cite high costs — millions of dollars per county — as a deterrent. Groups including the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors and the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania have called for more frequent reassessments, state funding support and modernized standards, warning that outdated values distort housing prices, create market uncertainty, and undermine fair taxation across municipalities and school districts. In the region, Philadelphia County had the most recent reassessment in 2023, followed by Delaware County in 2021, Chester and Montgomery counties in 1998, and Bucks County last reassessing in 1972. 
Source: Hanover Evening Sun; 2/12/2026

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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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