Act 50 of 1998 permits counties, school districts and municipalities to make use of a homestead property tax exclusion as long as property tax millage rates are not increased to compensate for revenue lost from a homestead exclusion. Under a homestead property tax exclusion, the assessed value of each home is reduced by the same amount before the property tax is computed. Act 50 permits individuals to apply for a Homestead Exclusion, even though a Homestead Exclusion may not have been adopted by a local taxing body in which you reside.

• 1. Fill in the parcel number and the map number (if two different numbers) of the property for which you are seeking a homestead exclusion. You can find the parcel number and map number on your real property tax bill. If you do not have a real property tax bill, call your local tax collector or the Fayette County Assessment Office at 724-430-4042.
• 2. Fill in the address of the property for which you are seeking a homestead exclusion.
• 3. Fill in your municipality and school district. If you are not sure what your municipality or school district is, contact your local tax collector or the Fayette County Assessment Office at 724-430-4042.
• 4. Fill in your name and the name of other owners of record, such as your spouse or a co-owner of the property. You must be the recorded owner(s) to apply for the exclusion.
• 5. If your mailing address differs from the address of the property for which you are seeking a homestead exclusion, fill in your complete mailing address.
• 6. Please list a telephone number where you can be reached during the day, and during the evening, if you are unavailable during the day.
• 7. Is this property your primary residence?

The Homestead Exclusion can only be claimed once as a place of primary residence or domicile. "Domicile" is the fixed place of abode where the owner intends to reside permanently, not temporarily. "Domicile" is the place where a person makes their home, until something happens that the person adopts another home. You may be asked to provide proof that this property is indeed your residence, such as your driver’s license, your voter registration card, your personal income tax form or your local earned income tax form.

If this exclusion is for a mobile home, a copy of the current title is required.

• 8. Do you have another residence, which you claim, as a primary residence? For instance, do you claim another state as your primary residence, or another county in Pennsylvania?
• 9. If you live in a unit of a cooperative or a condominium and you pay taxes jointly through a management agent or association, rather than paying your taxes separately from other units, check "Yes". If so, please provide the percentage of overall tax you pay. You may be asked to provide a current contract to confirm this information.
• 10. Check "Yes" if the property for which you are seeking a homestead exclusion is used for other purposes, such as business or rental property. If so, please indicate what portion of the property is used as your private residence.

Only buildings and structures on farms, which are at least ten (10) contiguous acres in area and used as the primary residence (domicile) of the owner, are eligible for a farmstead exemption. The buildings and structures must be used for commercial agricultural production to store farm products produced on the farm, to house animals maintained on the farm, or to store agricultural supplies or machinery and equipment used on the farm. The Farmstead Exclusion cannot be claimed without the Homestead Exclusion. The Farmstead Exclusion qualified value cannot be higher than the Homestead Exclusion value.

Change in Use

When the use of a property approved as homestead or farmstead property changes so that the property no longer qualifies for the homestead or farmstead exclusion, property owners must notify the Fayette County Assessment Office within forty-five (45) days of the change in use. If the use of your property changes and you are not sure if it still qualifies for the homestead or farmstead exclusion, you should contact notify the Fayette County Assessment Office.

False or Fraudulent Applications

The assessor may select, randomly or otherwise, applications to review for false or fraudulent information. Any person who files an application which contains false information, or who does not notify the assessor of a change in use which no longer qualifies as homestead or farmstead property, will be required to:

• Pay the taxes which would have been due but for the false application, plus interest
• Pay a penalty equal 10% of the unpaid taxes
• If convicted of filing a false application, be guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree and be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding $2,500.

Applications must be filed before March 1^st of each year.

For questions on the Homestead Exclusion, please contact the Fayette County Assessment Office at 724-430-4042, office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. If your application has been denied, you will receive a written notice of the denial no later than June 30^th.
.