Philadelphia Tax Collector: Pay Property Tax, Find Office Hours, and Use the Right City Tax Desk
In Philadelphia, the office most people search for as the Philadelphia tax collector is the City of Philadelphia Department of Revenue. Property owners pay Real Estate Tax through the Philadelphia Tax Center, by phone, by mail, or at authorized municipal payment centers. The key is knowing which city office handles payment, which office handles assessment, and which office handles appeals before you waste time in the wrong line.
Important Philadelphia correction: Do not look for a separate elected county tax collector. Philadelphia property tax payments are handled by the City of Philadelphia Department of Revenue. Property values are handled by the Office of Property Assessment, and formal assessment appeals are handled by the Board of Revision of Taxes.
- Official department
- City of Philadelphia Department of Revenue
- Main office
- Municipal Services Building, Concourse Level, 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19102
- Main Revenue phone
- (215) 686-6600
- Real Estate Tax phone
- (215) 686-6442
- revenue@phila.gov
- Regular office hours
- Center City payment center: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Revenue phones are listed as open until 5:30 PM.
- Pay by phone
- Automated Real Estate Tax payment line: (833) 913-0795. If the phone payment system has problems, customer service is listed at (800) 487-4567.
- Mail payments
- Philadelphia Dept. of Revenue, P.O. Box 8409, Philadelphia, PA 19101-8409
Pay Philadelphia property tax online through the Philadelphia Tax Center
The fastest official way to pay Philadelphia Real Estate Tax is the Philadelphia Tax Center. You can search for a property under the Property panel by entering the physical address or the 9-digit Office of Property Assessment number. After the property appears, you can review the balance, print a voucher, and choose the available payment options.
For most homeowners, online payment is the cleanest route because it avoids mail delay, keeps the property search tied to the official city tax system, and lets you verify whether there are prior-year balances before you pay. This matters in Philadelphia because a property can have old balances, liens, assistance applications, exemptions, mortgage escrow issues, or delinquent items that do not always show clearly on a paper bill sitting in a drawer.
- Open the Philadelphia Tax Center. Go to tax-services.phila.gov. You do not need to start with a third-party bill-pay site.
- Choose the property search option. On the homepage, look for the Property panel and use the search option for a property.
- Enter the address or OPA number. The OPA number is the 9-digit property account number. If your address is hard to match, use the OPA number from your bill or from the city property search.
- Review the balance before paying. Check the tax year, amount due, any past-due balance, and whether a voucher or assistance option appears.
- Pay only after confirming the property. Philadelphia has many similar street names, unit numbers, and rowhome addresses. Verify the owner, address, and OPA number before submitting payment.
- Save proof of payment. Download or screenshot the confirmation page and keep it with your mortgage, closing, rental, estate, or property records.
What most Philadelphia property owners want first
If you opened this page because your bill is due, start with the Philadelphia Tax Center. Search by address or OPA number, confirm the balance, and pay. If you need a person, call the Real Estate Tax information line at (215) 686-6442. If you need in-person help, use an authorized Department of Revenue payment center. If your problem is the assessed value, do not argue with the payment center; that is an OPA and Board of Revision of Taxes issue.
Look up a Philadelphia property tax balance by address or OPA number
Philadelphia provides a property tax balance lookup through the city service path and the Philadelphia Tax Center. To find and pay property taxes, enter the address or 9-digit OPA property number, review the tax balance chart, and then choose whether to pay, print a voucher, or review available payment-agreement options.
Search by street address
Use the property address if it is a straightforward single-family address. Be careful with apartment numbers, unit numbers, directional street names, and common Philadelphia abbreviations.
Search by OPA number
Use the 9-digit OPA number when the address search is confusing. The OPA number is the safest identifier because it points to the specific property account.
You can also use the city’s official property site at property.phila.gov to search by property information, address, property account number, or Department of Records registry map number. Use that property record to cross-check the owner, address, assessed value, and account details before paying or appealing.
Philadelphia Department of Revenue office locations and hours
The main Department of Revenue service and payment center is at the Municipal Services Building in Center City. Philadelphia also lists Northeast and North Philadelphia municipal service centers for in-person tax or water bill payments. Before going in person, check the official Department of Revenue contact page because city schedules, holidays, security rules, and special service announcements can change.
| Payment center | Address | Hours | Important note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Center City | Municipal Services Building, Public Services Concourse, 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19102 | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM | The city lists this as the only payment center that accepts cash payments. |
| Northeast Philadelphia | Northeast Municipal Services Center, 7522 Castor Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19152 | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM | Use for in-person tax or water bill payment services listed by the Department of Revenue. |
| North Philadelphia | North Philadelphia Municipal Services Center, 2761 N 22nd St., Philadelphia, PA 19132 | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM | Use the official contact page before visiting to confirm current service availability. |
Do not take the wrong problem to the payment counter
Payment centers are useful when you need to pay a bill, use a payment voucher, get basic account help, or handle a tax or water payment in person. They are not the right place to debate your assessment value. If your tax bill is high because the assessed value is wrong, you need the Office of Property Assessment and possibly a Board of Revision of Taxes appeal, not a payment-counter argument.
Philadelphia property tax payment methods compared
Philadelphia gives owners several payment paths. Your best path depends on whether you need speed, proof, cash payment, a payment voucher, or help from a customer-service representative. Use the table below to choose the correct method before the March 31 deadline.
| Payment method | Official route | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Philadelphia Tax Center | Most owners who want to search, confirm balance, print vouchers, and pay without visiting a city office. | Verify address and 9-digit OPA number before paying. Save your confirmation. |
| By phone | (833) 913-0795 | Owners who want an automated Real Estate Tax payment option by phone. | If the automated system has a problem, the city lists customer service at (800) 487-4567. |
| By mail | Philadelphia Dept. of Revenue, P.O. Box 8409, Philadelphia, PA 19101-8409 | Owners paying by check or money order with a payment voucher. | Attach the voucher, write the tax type and account number on the check, and allow mail time. |
| In person | Authorized Department of Revenue payment centers | Owners who need counter help, cash payment at Center City, or in-person payment support. | Bring your bill or voucher. Check current city hours before going. |
Philadelphia Real Estate Tax due date, rate, and late charges
Philadelphia Real Estate Tax is due March 31 each year. The city usually mails Real Estate Tax bills to property owners in December. If you have a mortgage escrow account, your mortgage company may receive and pay the bill depending on your escrow arrangement, but you should still verify that the bill was actually paid.
The city’s Real Estate Tax page lists the tax rate as 1.3998% of assessed property value. The official page explains the 2025 tax year calculation as 0.6159% City plus 0.7839% School District, totaling 1.3998%. Because tax rates and budget rules can change, always verify the current bill year on the city’s official Real Estate Tax page and the Philadelphia Tax Center before publishing, closing, escrowing, or making a legal or financial decision.
Real Estate Tax is due and payable by March 31 each year unless you are in an approved city payment program with different instructions.
The official Real Estate Tax page lists this total rate as a combination of City and School District taxes.
If not paid by March 31, additions that include interest accrue monthly beginning April 1 until January 1 of the following year.
Late-payment risk: Philadelphia states that unpaid Real Estate Taxes can become delinquent, liens can be filed, and the City can begin the process of selling a home at sheriff sale. If you are behind, do not ignore the bill. Review OOPA, installment, assistance, and owner-occupied relief options quickly.
Philadelphia property tax relief: Homestead, LOOP, OOPA, freezes, and installments
Philadelphia has several relief programs, and this is where many homeowners make a costly mistake. They wait until they are late, then search for a tax collector phone number. The better move is to check eligibility before the deadline, especially if you own and live in the property, are a senior, have a low income, saw a major assessment increase, or already owe back taxes.
The Department of Revenue promotes a combined property-tax relief application through the Philadelphia Tax Center for programs such as Homestead, LOOP, installment plans, and tax freezes. The exact program depends on whether you are trying to reduce a bill, freeze a bill, pay current taxes month by month, or resolve past-due taxes.
| Program | Who it is generally for | What it can do | Where to start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homestead Exemption | Owners who live in the Philadelphia home as their primary residence. | Reduces the taxable portion of the property’s assessed value by $100,000; city materials describe savings up to about $1,399 a year for many homeowners. | Get the Homestead Exemption |
| OOPA | Owner-occupied homeowners with past-due Real Estate Tax who may qualify based on income. | Creates an affordable monthly payment agreement for delinquent owner-occupied taxes. | Set up OOPA |
| Real Estate Tax Installment Plan | Low-income taxpayers and senior citizens who own and live in their home. | Lets eligible owners pay current-year Real Estate Tax in monthly installments instead of one lump sum. | Set up installment plan |
| Senior Citizen Real Estate Tax Freeze | Income-qualified senior homeowners. | Freezes eligible Real Estate Tax so it does not increase in future years under program rules. | Apply for senior tax freeze |
| Low-Income Tax Freeze | Income-qualified homeowners without an age requirement. | Freezes Real Estate Tax for eligible households so future increases are limited under program rules. | Philadelphia Tax Center |
| LOOP | Longtime owner occupants who experience a substantial property assessment increase. | Limits the taxable assessment increase for eligible owner occupants. | Apply for LOOP |
How to choose the correct property tax help path
- If you own and live in the home, check Homestead first. Homestead is one of the broadest Philadelphia homeowner relief programs and does not require age or income.
- If the tax is current but too large to pay at once, check the installment plan. This is different from OOPA because it is for current-year taxes.
- If you are already behind, check OOPA quickly. OOPA is designed for owner-occupied homeowners with past-due Real Estate Taxes who may qualify for monthly payments.
- If you are a senior, check senior-specific programs. Senior tax freeze and senior installment rules can be more helpful than waiting until a lien problem appears.
- If the assessed value jumped, check LOOP and appeal deadlines. Relief programs and assessment appeals are not the same thing. You may need both routes.
Assessment value, OPA, and the Board of Revision of Taxes
Your Philadelphia tax bill depends on the assessed value of the property. The Office of Property Assessment assigns the value. The Department of Revenue collects the tax. The Board of Revision of Taxes hears formal assessment appeals. Confusing these three offices is one of the most common reasons property owners lose time.
Department of Revenue
Use this office for Real Estate Tax payments, balance questions, payment centers, tax assistance programs, payment agreements, and refund petitions.
Office of Property Assessment
Use OPA and property.phila.gov for assessment details, property characteristics, OPA number, and valuation history.
Board of Revision of Taxes
Use the BRT when filing a formal appeal of a real estate market value assessment by the required deadline.
The BRT states that a market-value appeal must generally be filed no later than the first Monday of October of the year preceding the tax year being appealed, with listed exceptions for certain ownership transfers or assessment notices. Do not assume payment of a bill automatically preserves an appeal right. If the value is wrong, review the assessment appeal rules separately from payment rules.
Delinquent Philadelphia property taxes, liens, and sheriff sale risk
If you miss the March 31 Real Estate Tax deadline, Philadelphia adds charges beginning April 1. If taxes remain unpaid into the following year, the city explains that the taxes can be registered delinquent, liens can be filed, and sheriff sale proceedings can begin. That does not mean every late bill instantly becomes a sale, but it does mean ignoring the bill is the worst possible strategy.
Do not wait for a collection letter to act
Search your property on the Philadelphia Tax Center, confirm every year owed, call the Real Estate Tax line at (215) 686-6442, and review OOPA or other payment agreement options. If you live in the home, say that clearly when you call. Owner-occupied status can matter for assistance paths.
Some delinquent Philadelphia tax matters may also involve outside collection counsel or sheriff-sale communication. Before paying a third party, verify the balance and route through the city’s official Department of Revenue resources. If you receive a lien, foreclosure, sequestration, sheriff sale, or collection notice, do not rely only on a general directory article. Contact the official city office, a qualified housing counselor, legal aid provider, or an attorney as appropriate.
Philadelphia property tax refunds and overpayments
You may need a refund if you overpaid, made a duplicate payment, had a valuation change, had a billing error, or had a relief program such as Homestead applied after payment. Philadelphia now promotes online refund petitions through the Philadelphia Tax Center for many city tax refund situations. For Real Estate Tax overpayment questions, start with the Department of Revenue and the official refund petition route rather than sending a casual email with bank details.
- Confirm the property account. Use the Philadelphia Tax Center and OPA number to make sure you are looking at the right property.
- Identify the overpayment reason. Duplicate payment, escrow mismatch, valuation change, exemption, or billing correction can require different proof.
- Gather documentation. Keep payment confirmations, canceled checks, mortgage escrow statements, settlement sheets, and city notices.
- Use the official refund route. Start on phila.gov or the Philadelphia Tax Center, and avoid sending sensitive information to unofficial sites.
New Philadelphia homeowner checklist
If you recently bought a property in Philadelphia, your first tax year can be messy. The bill may go to a prior owner, your mortgage company may or may not escrow correctly, the OPA record may take time to update, and old balances can create surprises during refinance or resale. Use this checklist in your first month after closing.
First week after closing
- Search the property at property.phila.gov.
- Record the 9-digit OPA number.
- Search the Philadelphia Tax Center for balances.
- Confirm whether your mortgage escrow will pay future bills.
Before the next bill cycle
- Check whether Homestead applies if you live there.
- Review the assessment for obvious property-character errors.
- Save payment confirmations and escrow statements.
- Set a March 31 reminder even if you escrow.
Common Philadelphia property tax mistakes
Philadelphia property tax is not difficult because there is no information. It is difficult because there are too many connected systems: Tax Center, OPA, BRT, payment centers, escrow, relief applications, liens, and refunds. Avoid these common mistakes.
| Mistake | Why it hurts | Better action |
|---|---|---|
| Searching for a county tax collector only | Philadelphia uses the Department of Revenue for city Real Estate Tax collection. | Use the Philadelphia Tax Center and Department of Revenue contact page. |
| Paying without checking OPA number | Similar addresses, units, and rowhomes can create wrong-property risk. | Verify address, owner, and 9-digit OPA number before payment. |
| Assuming escrow means paid | Mortgage escrow mistakes can still leave the owner facing a balance. | Search the balance after the due date and keep escrow proof. |
| Calling Revenue to argue assessment value | Revenue collects taxes; OPA and BRT handle value and appeal routes. | Use OPA property records and BRT appeal instructions. |
| Waiting until delinquent notice arrives | Charges, liens, and sale risk can increase pressure. | Review OOPA, installment plans, freezes, and relief programs early. |
Official Philadelphia tax links for this guide
Philadelphia Tax Collector FAQ
Who is the Philadelphia tax collector for property taxes?
The official property tax collection office is the City of Philadelphia Department of Revenue. Most residents searching for the Philadelphia tax collector need the Department of Revenue, the Philadelphia Tax Center, or the Real Estate Tax phone line at (215) 686-6442.
How do I pay Philadelphia property tax online?
Use the Philadelphia Tax Center at tax-services.phila.gov. Search under the Property panel with the property address or 9-digit OPA number, review the balance, and follow the payment prompts.
What is the Philadelphia property tax due date?
Philadelphia Real Estate Tax is due March 31 each year. If you are in an approved installment or assistance program, follow the official instructions for that program.
What is the phone number for Philadelphia Real Estate Tax?
The Real Estate Tax information phone number is (215) 686-6442. The main Department of Revenue phone number is (215) 686-6600. The automated Real Estate Tax phone payment line is (833) 913-0795.
Where is the Philadelphia Department of Revenue office?
The main service and payment center is in the Municipal Services Building, Concourse Level, 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19102. The city also lists payment centers at 7522 Castor Ave. and 2761 N 22nd St.
What are the Philadelphia Department of Revenue hours?
The Center City payment center is listed as open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Northeast and North Philadelphia centers are listed as open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Revenue phones are listed as open until 5:30 PM under regular contact details.
Can I pay Philadelphia property tax by mail?
Yes. Mail Real Estate Tax payments with the payment coupon to Philadelphia Dept. of Revenue, P.O. Box 8409, Philadelphia, PA 19101-8409. Use a check or money order, attach the voucher, and write the tax type and account number on the payment.
Can I pay Philadelphia property tax in person with cash?
The city lists the Center City payment center at the Municipal Services Building as the only payment center that accepts cash payments. Confirm current hours and payment-center rules on the official Department of Revenue contact page before visiting.
What is the Philadelphia property tax rate?
The city’s Real Estate Tax page lists the rate as 1.3998% of assessed property value and explains the listed rate as a combination of City and School District taxes. Verify the current bill year on the official city page and your Philadelphia Tax Center account.
What happens if I do not pay Philadelphia property tax by March 31?
Philadelphia adds charges beginning April 1. If taxes remain unpaid into the next year, the city states that the taxes can be registered delinquent, liens can be filed, and sheriff sale proceedings can begin. If you are behind, review OOPA and other assistance programs quickly.
How do I apply for the Philadelphia Homestead Exemption?
Start with the official Homestead Exemption page or the Philadelphia Tax Center. If you own your Philadelphia home and use it as your primary residence, the Homestead Exemption may reduce the taxable portion of your assessed value.
Who handles Philadelphia property assessment appeals?
The Board of Revision of Taxes handles formal property assessment appeals. The Office of Property Assessment handles property values, while the Department of Revenue handles tax collection and payment.
Can I pay current Philadelphia property taxes in installments?
Philadelphia has a Real Estate Tax Installment Plan for eligible low-income taxpayers and senior citizens who own and live in their home. Use the official Department of Revenue homeowner programs page or Philadelphia Tax Center to apply and confirm deadlines.
What is OOPA in Philadelphia property tax?
OOPA stands for Owner-Occupied Real Estate Tax Payment Agreement. It is an income-based program for homeowners with past-due Real Estate Taxes who may qualify for an affordable monthly payment agreement.
Is this the same as the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue?
No. Philadelphia Real Estate Tax is handled by the City of Philadelphia Department of Revenue. The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue handles state tax matters, not City of Philadelphia property tax collection.
Last reviewed 2026. This independent guide is designed to help Philadelphia property owners find the correct city tax office, payment center, online payment route, phone number, due date, assessment route, relief program, and appeal path.
This website is not the City of Philadelphia, the Department of Revenue, the Office of Property Assessment, or the Board of Revision of Taxes. Always verify current tax balances, rates, deadlines, office hours, relief-program rules, and appeal deadlines directly through official Philadelphia city websites before paying, appealing, refinancing, closing, or responding to a delinquency notice.