Tax Collector

**Please note: Due to bonding regulations, Township employees cannot accept tax payments.**

Dauphin County Real Estate Taxes are mailed to property owners on February 1st by Dauphin County Tax Assessment Office. It is the responsibility of the property owner to send a copy of their tax bill to their mortgage company, if appropriate. The bill covers real estate taxes from January 1st through December 31st annually.
The amount of your county/township real estate tax is calculated by using approved millage rates and the assessed value of your property. 

Lower Dauphin School District Real Estate Taxes are mailed to property owners on July 1st. It is the responsibility of the property owner to send a copy of their tax bill to their mortgage company, if appropriate. The bill covers July 1st through June 30th the following year.
The amount of your school real estate tax is calculated by using the approved millage rate and the assessed value of your property.

If you have questions regarding assessment please contact the Dauphin County Tax Assessment Office or call 717-780-6101.

The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program supports Pennsylvania homeowners and renters who meet the following criteria. ??
If you qualified for last year, a claim form should automatically be sent to you. Property Tax/Rent Rebate booklets are available at the Municipal Building through the Department of Aging. If you are interested in applying please visit www.aging.state.pa.us or call 1-888-728-2937. To check the status of an existing rebate or information exclusively about the rebate program call 1-800-772-5246.

On July 1, the Lower Dauphin School District will mail personal tax bills to all residents who are 18 years of age or older. The flat rate is $265, regardless of property ownership. The personal tax bill spans the time period of July 1, through June 30, and is comprised of the following:

• Occupational tax - $250
• School per capita tax - $10
• Township of South Hanover per capita tax - $5

Residents can be exempt from the occupation tax if they meet the following criteria:

• Over 70 years of age
• A full-time student
• Earn less then $6000 of Pennsylvania income
• Part of the clergy

Residents who qualify for the occupation tax exemption must still remit payment for the per capita taxes. 

Visit the Lower Dauphin School District website for more information at www.ldsd.org.
Download an Occupation Tax Exemption Form

Unpaid real estate tax bills will be referred to Dauphin County Tax Claim Department. Payment information can be obtained by calling them directly at 717-780-6125.

Unpaid personal tax bills are referred to Keystone Collections. For more information, contact Keystone Collections at 1-866-539-1100 or www.keystonecollects.com 

 

• The Unpaid County, Municipal, and School Real Property taxes are turned over to the Tax Claim Bureau in January and will be available to pay at the Tax Claim Bureau after February 1. 
• Costs and penalties have been added to the taxes but not interest. 
• The Dauphin County Commissioners and all Taxing Authorities generally grant an interest-free grace period for delinquent taxes.  If the tax is paid before April 1 no interest will be added.
• All property owners with unpaid taxes will receive a letter from the Tax Claim Bureau the week of February 13.   The letter will explain the interest-free grace period and provide the amount due. 
• Property owners can make payments on delinquent tax in any amounts until June 30.  To avoid the property being offered for sale at the Upset Tax Sale, any remaining tax balance must be paid in full by September.  No special arrangements are necessary to make these payments.  Interest will accrue monthly on any unpaid balance at the rate of ¾% per month.

Applications and information related to the Pennsylvania Tax Payer Relief Act, under the Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion Program can be obtained by calling Dauphin County Tax Assessment Office, 717-780-6101.
Excess casino profits are used to fund this program.

To qualify, the following must apply to your property:

• the property must be your primary residence
• you or your spouse cannot receive a homestead tax reduction from any other county or state
• if you have an in-home business, the percentage of your home that is your primary residence is the percentage of the homestead reduction you will receive
• if you own a farm, your home and outside buildings will qualify for the reduction, but the farmland will not.
• The Homestead/Farmstead Act reduction will appear in a gray box in the center of your Lower Dauphin School Real Estate tax bill and will be clearly marked “homestead reduction”.