(9/2023) PA Treasury Boasts Record Returns of Unclaimed Property in 2022-23

More than $273 million in unclaimed property was returned to taxpayers in the 2022-23 fiscal year, the highest return ever. However, more than $4.5 billion remains, so if you haven’t checked for your name on Treasury’s Unclaimed Property database, click here now. Remember, if you find property that is yours, you do not need to pay anyone to claim it. You may go directly through the Office of the Treasury or contact my office for free assistance.

One in 10 Pennsylvanians is owed unclaimed property, and the average claim is worth about $1,600. Unclaimed property can include dormant bank accounts, abandoned stocks, uncashed checks and more. Property is always available for the rightful owner to claim. Tangible property – often the contents of forgotten safe deposit boxes – may be auctioned after three years, but proceeds remain available to claim in perpetuity. Military decorations and memorabilia – often turned over to Treasury from abandoned or forgotten safe deposit boxes – are never auctioned and remain in the vault for safekeeping until a veteran or their family is found.

Measure to Boost Playground Accessibility

The House recently approved legislation that would improve playground accessibility for children with disabilities. House Bill 1173 would require the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to prioritize grant funding to park and recreation construction projects that establish or upgrade playgrounds for the inclusion of children with disabilities. Research shows play is crucial to a child’s physical, social, cognitive and emotional development; however, children with disabilities tend to be excluded from some forms of play because of structural barriers in typical playgrounds. The bill aims to address those barriers. It now goes to the state Senate for consideration.

Property Tax/Rent Rebate Eligibility Update

More Pennsylvania seniors and people with disabilities will be eligible for increased property tax or rent relief next year under a new law approved by the General Assembly in July.

Act 7 of 2023 increases income limits for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program for homeowners and renters to $45,000 annually. The law also raises the maximum rebate each homeowner or renter can receive from $650 to $1,000.

Thanks to the new law, more than 150,000 additional individuals will be eligible for assistance, which is more important than ever due to rising costs driven by inflation. The expansion will be in effect next year when residents apply for assistance based on rent and property taxes paid in 2023. Those claims will be paid in 2024.

There is still time to apply for the current year’s program, which is based on rent and property taxes paid in 2022. Apply online at mypath.pa.gov or contact my office for free assistance.

The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program benefits eligible residents 65 years and older; widows and widowers 50 years and older; and people with disabilities 18 years and older.

Farmers: Tax Credits Available to Support Water, Soil Quality Improvements

Pennsylvania farmers are encouraged to apply for a share of $13 million in tax credits available to support their efforts to improve soil health and water quality. Tax credits through Pennsylvania's innovative conservation financing program, Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP), can be combined with other state funding to help pay for on-farm enhancements that protect the environment and boost farm sustainability. Tax credits are available to agricultural producers who implement best management practices or purchase equipment to reduce nutrient and sediment runoff, enhance soil health and improve the quality of Pennsylvania's waterways. REAP applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. Baseline eligibility includes compliance with the PA Clean Streams Law and the Pennsylvania Nutrient and Odor Management Law. More information about REAP, including the 2023-24 application packet, program guidelines and sponsorship process, is available at www.agriculture.pa.gov. The deadline to submit applications is Oct. 31. Funds may run out before the deadline.

Bills Proposed to Protect PA Kids

Two bills in the House would protect kids in today’s social-media-focused society. House Bill 1501, the Protection of Minors from Unfiltered Devices Act, would ensure children are protected from accessing pornography on mobile devices. Specifically, it would require new smart phones and tablets activated in the Commonwealth to have a filter enabled that would protect children from finding harmful material online such as pornography. A second bill, not yet formally introduced, would update Pennsylvania’s Child Labor Law to protect children who earn money as influencers and content-makers, or whose likeness, name or photograph is substantially featured in a parent’s or guardian’s content, which generates income.

Attention First-Time Hunters!

Hunter-Trapper Education courses are required for all first-time hunters and trappers before they can buy a license in the Commonwealth. The Pennsylvania Game Commission offers both in-person and online options. Participants, whether in-person or online, will receive a training certificate recognized throughout North America when they pass a test at the end of the course. The course covers responsible hunting behavior, firearms basics and safety, basic shooting, wildlife conservation and management, outdoor safety and survival, hunting techniques, trapping and fur taking basics, and hunting safety. Free in-person training is offered in various locations across the Commonwealth and is open to anyone age 11 or older.

There are several online options.

• The Game Commission’s official online course is available to anyone age 16 and older and costs $34.95 to complete.
• The Interactive Pennsylvania Hunter-Trapper Education course is open to anyone age 11 and older and costs $50 to complete.
• The National Rifle Association offers a free online hunter education course open to anyone age 11 and older.