Tax-Exempt Property Owners May Miss Deadline, Commissioners Say  

HARRISBURG – Tax-exempt status for approximately 200 properties in Dauphin County is set to change, as the property owners did not respond to repeated requests to verify their exemption eligibility, according to the Dauphin County Commissioners.

Dauphin County in 2021 embarked on a project to ensure 3,000 tax-exempt parcels were, in fact, eligible to be excluded from paying property taxes. The verification began as an effort to ensure taxpayers were not saddled with more than their fair share due to other properties not being on tax rolls.

“We have made every effort to reach these property owners, including physically sending someone to visit the location more than once,” Commissioners Chairman Mike Pries said.

Attempts to track down responsible parties will end Monday, July 3, and the properties will become taxable effective Jan. 1, 2024.

Commissioner George P. Hartwick III said there are churches, nonprofit organizations and fire departments that did not submit information to continue as tax-exempt entities.

“I would like to get these issues resolved before the property owners get their first bill,” Hartwick said.

Due to Dauphin County’s position as the state capital, it has a higher-than-average rate of state properties and military installations exempt from paying taxes, according to Commissioner Chad Saylor.

“Literally, Dauphin County misses out on tens of millions of dollars in revenue every year due to the number of tax-exempt properties here. This creates a real challenge for us at budget time,” Saylor said.

A webpage about the tax exemptions can be found at dauphincounty.gov/government/support-services/property-taxes/exemption-recertification.