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Updated 2025 Tax Year

Lehigh County
Property Tax Guide

Everything you need to know about property taxes in Lehigh County, PA. Rates, due dates, exemptions, and how it affects your monthly payment.

10 Official Sources
8 min read
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Quick Facts
Tax Rate
2.5-3.5% of assessed value (varies by municipality and school district)
Exemptions
5+ Available
Section 1

How Property Tax Works

Lehigh County, Pennsylvania operates under a property tax system that funds essential county services, school districts, and various municipal functions. Property taxes are the primary revenue source for local government operations, including public safety, infrastructure maintenance, education, and community services. The county's effective property tax rates typically range from approximately 2.5% to 3.5% of assessed value, though this varies significantly based on your specific location within the county.

Property tax rates in Lehigh County vary considerably depending on which taxing districts serve your property. These may include the county government, school district, municipality, and various special districts such as fire protection or library districts. Each taxing entity sets its own millage rate, and your total property tax bill represents the sum of all applicable rates applied to your property's assessed value. It's important to understand that moving even a short distance within the county can result in substantially different tax obligations due to these varying district combinations.

Section 2

What Makes Up Your Tax Bill

Based on available data for the 2025 tax year, here are the typical rate components in Lehigh County:

ComponentRate (Mills)Description
County General2.72Basic county operations and services
School District15.0-25.0Varies by specific school district
Municipal2.0-8.0City/township services (varies by municipality)
Special Districts0.5-3.0Fire, library, sewer districts (as applicable)
Total Typical Range20.22-38.72Combined effective rate

Note: These rates apply to the 2025 levy year and are subject to annual changes by each taxing authority. Your actual rate depends on your specific location within Lehigh County and which combination of taxing districts serve your property. Properties in different municipalities or school districts will have significantly different total rates.

Section 3

When Are Property Taxes Due?

For the 2025/2026 tax year in Lehigh County, property taxes are due in two installments:

Pro tip: If you pay through mortgage escrow, your lender splits these payments across your monthly mortgage. If you pay directly, set calendar reminders to avoid late penalties.
Section 4

Supplemental Tax Bills

Supplemental taxes in Lehigh County are additional property tax assessments that occur when there's a change in property ownership, completion of new construction, or other improvements that increase a property's assessed value mid-tax year. These taxes are prorated based on the remaining months in the tax year after the triggering event occurs.

The most common triggers include: purchasing a home (change of ownership), completing new construction or major renovations, adding structures like pools or sheds, or splitting/combining parcels. The supplemental tax is calculated by taking the difference between the old and new assessed values, multiplying by the total tax rate for your area, then prorating for the remaining months in the tax year.

For example, if you purchase a home in Lehigh County in October and the assessed value increases from $250,000 to $350,000, you would owe supplemental taxes on the $100,000 difference for the remaining 4 months of the tax year. At a 25-mill total rate, this would equal approximately $833 in supplemental taxes ($100,000 × 0.025 × 4/12 months).

Example Calculation

Here are three property tax calculation examples for the 2025 tax year, assuming a combined rate of 25 mills (county average) and applicable homestead exclusions:

Example 1: $300,000 Home

  • Assessed Value: $300,000
  • Homestead Exclusion: -$18,000 (requires application)
  • Net Taxable Value: $282,000
  • Annual Tax: $282,000 × 0.025 = $7,050
  • Monthly (if escrowed): $587.50

Example 2: $600,000 Home

  • Assessed Value: $600,000
  • Homestead Exclusion: -$18,000 (requires application)
  • Net Taxable Value: $582,000
  • Annual Tax: $582,000 × 0.025 = $14,550
  • Monthly (if escrowed): $1,212.50

Example 3: $1,000,000 Home

  • Assessed Value: $1,000,000
  • Homestead Exclusion: -$18,000 (requires application)
  • Net Taxable Value: $982,000
  • Annual Tax: $982,000 × 0.025 = $24,550
  • Monthly (if escrowed): $2,045.83

Note: All tax credits require separate applications and are not automatically applied. Actual rates vary by specific location within Lehigh County.

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Section 5

Escrow & Property Taxes

Most mortgage lenders in Lehigh County require property tax escrow accounts for loans with less than 20% down payment. Your lender collects monthly property tax payments along with your mortgage payment, then pays your tax bills directly to the county when due. The monthly escrow amount is calculated by dividing your annual property tax bill by 12, often with a small cushion to account for potential increases.

Lenders typically conduct annual escrow analyses to ensure adequate funds are collected. If your property taxes increase significantly due to reassessment or rate changes, you may face an escrow shortage requiring either a lump sum payment or increased monthly payments. Property tax bills are generally due in February, and lenders usually pay these bills in January to ensure timely payment and avoid penalties.

If you don't have an escrow account, you're responsible for paying property taxes directly to Lehigh County by the February due date. Many homeowners choose to make quarterly or monthly payments into their own savings account to spread out this large annual expense. The county offers online payment options and payment plans for those who need assistance managing the timing of their tax obligations.

How HonestCasa Helps
  • Understand whether your escrow is set correctly
  • See how rising taxes will change your monthly payment
  • Plan ahead instead of being surprised by "shortage" letters
Section 6

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When are property taxes due in Lehigh County for 2026? A: Property taxes for the 2025 tax year are due February 6, 2026. Late payments incur penalties and interest charges.

Q: What is the Homestead Exclusion and how do I apply? A: The Homestead Exclusion is a tax credit that can reduce your taxable assessed value, typically by $18,000 in Lehigh County. This credit caps annual assessment increases and requires a separate application to the county assessor's office. It is NOT automatic and must be applied for each qualifying property.

Q: Are there other tax credits available in Lehigh County? A: Yes, seniors and disabled residents may qualify for additional tax credits through Pennsylvania's Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program. Veterans may also qualify for specific exemptions. All credits require separate applications with specific deadlines - most are NOT automatic.

Q: How often are properties reassessed in Lehigh County? A: Pennsylvania law requires counties to maintain assessments at fair market value, but reassessment schedules vary. Lehigh County conducts periodic county-wide reassessments, with the most recent major reassessment occurring several years ago.

Q: How do I appeal my property assessment? A: Assessment appeals must be filed with the Lehigh County Board of Assessment Appeals within specific deadlines after receiving your assessment notice. The appeal process involves providing evidence that your property is overvalued compared to similar properties.

Q: What penalties apply for late payment? A: Late property tax payments in Lehigh County incur penalties and interest charges that compound monthly. The exact penalty rate is set annually by the county and can be substantial for extended delinquencies.

Q: Can I pay my property taxes online? A: Yes, Lehigh County offers online property tax payment options through their official website. You can pay by electronic check or credit card, though credit card payments may incur processing fees.

Q: Why did my property tax bill increase if I didn't make improvements? A: Property tax increases can result from higher tax rates set by local taxing authorities (county, school district, municipality), county-wide reassessments that increased your property's assessed value, or the expiration of temporary tax credits that required renewal applications.

Verified Sources

Backed by 10 Official Government Sources

Every fact in this guide is sourced from official county, state, and federal documents.

01
County
Property Taxes By County Panacdashboard.nara.gov
02
township of salisburysalisburylehighpa.gov
03
Tax Doc
Bill No. 55-2024 Fixing 2025 Tax Rate for All City Purposesbethlehem-pa.gov
04
Department of Revenuepa.gov
05
Tax Doc
Reminder: Deadline for Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program ...pa.gov
06
County
Lehigh County Home Pagezipleaf.us
07
County
County Application for Homestead Exemptionpacodeandbulletin.gov
08
Tax Doc
Property Tax Relief Through Homestead Exclusion - PA DCEDdced.pa.gov
09
Homestead Application - PA Department of Community ...dced.pa.gov
10
County
County of Lehigh, Pennsylvaniahome.treasury.gov
All sources verified as of 2025 Tax Year

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