The Taxpayer Relief Act provides for property tax reduction allocations to be distributed to school districts through a "homestead or farmstead exclusion." To receive a homestead or farmstead exclusion, a Pennsylvania resident must submit an application to the county assessor prior to March 1.How to apply for the Homestead Exemption to reduce your Real Estate Tax bill if you own your home in Philadelphia. The Homestead Exemption reduces the taxable portion of your property assessment if you own your primary residence in Philadelphia. The filing deadline for qualified applicants to receive consideration for a Homestead exemption for property taxes is March 1. Homestead applications may be filed from December 15 through March 1 (or the next official business day should March 1 fall on a weekend). The farmstead exclusion would be applied to buildings and structures that are not already exempt from real property taxation under other laws. Either type of property tax reduction will be through a "homestead or farmstead exclusion. View the Homestead and Farmstead Exclusion Application (PDF). ​Clean and Green is a preferential tax assessment program that bases property taxes on use values rather than fair market values.