Pennsylvania · Wayne County · Local exemptions · Updated Oct 2026
Wayne County, PA property tax exemptions (2026)
The property tax breaks that are set or run locally in Wayne County, on top of Pennsylvania’s statewide rules: what each is worth here, who qualifies, where to apply and the deadline.
What is different in Wayne County
The state-funded homestead/farmstead school tax relief in Wayne County depends on your school district: PDE estimates it at $381 to $396 a year per approved home for 2025-26 across 2 districts. You apply once with the Wayne County Tax Assessment Office by March 1; other exemptions follow the statewide rules.
- Apply at
- Wayne County Tax Assessment Office
- Phone
- 570-253-5970 ext. 4010
- Local breaks
- Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion (state gaming-funded school tax relief, Act 1 of 2006)
- Tax year
- 2025-26
Where to apply in Wayne County
Wayne County Tax Assessment Office
- Phone
- 570-253-5970 ext. 4010
- Address
- 925 Court Street, Honesdale, PA 18431
Other offices
Local exemptions in Wayne County
HomesteadHomestead/Farmstead Exclusion (state gaming-funded school tax relief, Act 1 of 2006)
Varies by school district. PDE estimates 2025-26 school tax relief per approved homestead from $381 (Western Wayne SD) to $396 (Wayne Highlands SD) across the 2 districts PDE lists under Wayne County (median $388). The actual amount is calculated by each district and shown on your school tax bill; see the table of districts.
- Set by
- school district (state program, local amount)
- Tax year
- 2025-26
- Who qualifies
- You own the home and it is your permanent primary residence. Farmstead: farm buildings used for agriculture on a farm of 10 or more contiguous acres. No age or income test.
- How to apply
- File the Homestead/Farmstead application with the Wayne County Tax Assessment Office by March 1. Your school district mails applications to owners who are not yet enrolled; you can also get the form from the county office.
- Deadline
- March 1 for the school tax year that starts July 1
- Renewal
- One-time: once approved you do not reapply unless ownership changes or you move. Tell the assessment office within 45 days if the home stops being your primary residence.
Source: official page
Amounts by taxing unit in Wayne County
Each school district, city or other taxing unit can set its own amount. Find the ones on your tax bill.
| Taxing unit | Type | Homestead break per home | Approved homesteads 2025-26 (number of homes) | State allocation 2026-27 (whole-district total, not per home) | Source |
|---|
| Wayne Highlands SD | school district | $396 a year (PDE estimate, 2025-26) | 5,072 | $2,010,452 for the whole district (not per home) | official |
| Western Wayne SD | school district | $381 a year (PDE estimate, 2025-26) | 4,011 | $1,527,761 for the whole district (not per home) | official |
Savings estimate for Wayne County
Roughly what an exemption could save you a year: the value it takes off, times your tax rate.
Eligibility finder for Wayne County
Answer a few questions to see which property tax breaks may fit you. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.
Document checklist for Wayne County
Pick the breaks you plan to apply for. You get a checklist of forms, documents, steps and deadlines to print or keep on your phone.
Questions about property tax exemptions in Wayne County
What property tax exemptions are there in Wayne County?
The state-funded homestead/farmstead school tax relief in Wayne County depends on your school district: PDE estimates it at $381 to $396 a year per approved home for 2025-26 across 2 districts. You apply once with the Wayne County Tax Assessment Office by March 1; other exemptions follow the statewide rules. Local breaks here: Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion (state gaming-funded school tax relief, Act 1 of 2006).
Where do I apply for a property tax exemption in Wayne County?
Wayne County Tax Assessment Office Phone: 570-253-5970 ext. 4010 Address: 925 Court Street, Honesdale, PA 18431. Also: Pennsylvania Department of Education, Property Tax Relief, which state program: sets each school district's yearly property tax reduction allocation.
When is the deadline to apply in Wayne County?
Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion (state gaming-funded school tax relief, Act 1 of 2006): March 1 for the school tax year that starts July 1.
Do I have to reapply every year in Wayne County?
Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion (state gaming-funded school tax relief, Act 1 of 2006): One-time: once approved you do not reapply unless ownership changes or you move. Tell the assessment office within 45 days if the home stops being your primary residence.
Do Pennsylvania’s statewide exemptions apply in Wayne County too?
Yes. The statewide breaks on our Pennsylvania page apply here as well, for example Homestead and Farmstead Exclusion (Taxpayer Relief Act), Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program and Disabled Veterans' Real Estate Tax Exemption. This page adds what Wayne County sets or runs itself.
Good to know in Wayne County
- If your school district is not in the table, PDE lists it under a neighboring county (a district that crosses county lines appears under one county only); the application still goes to the assessment office of the county where your home is.
- PDE's per-homestead figures are estimates; each district calculates the actual reduction and must show it on the school tax bill as a "Notice of Property Tax Relief".
SourcesLast checked: Oct 2026.