Hardship Payment Plan for Overdue Property Taxes From the Tax Claim Bureau
The Berks County Tax Claim Bureau offers a Hardship Agreement, a payment plan for people who have fallen behind on their property taxes because of illness or injury.
To qualify, you must be experiencing financial hardship due to health illness or injury that directly affects your ability to pay your taxes, and you must be a permanent resident of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. You also have to apply and supply documentation confirming that you are eligible.
The agreement takes all of the unpaid taxes in the Bureau's system and requires 10% down as the first payment. The rest is due over 23 equal, monthly payments.
To have your eligibility determined, complete the Hardship Application and submit it with your supporting documentation to the office. The Bureau notifies you once a decision is made. The page does not say how long a decision takes, whether there is any fee, or exactly which documents count as supporting documentation, so ask when you apply.
The Tax Claim Bureau is at the Berks County Services Center, 2nd Floor, 633 Court Street, Reading, PA 19601. The phone number is 610-478-6625, and the hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.
If everyone living in the home is 60 or older, the Bureau also runs a separate Tax Deferral Program for Senior Citizens, which has its own application, affidavit and income limit of $35,000 or less in annual household income including half of Social Security.
Source: berkspa.gov/departments/tax-claim-bureau/delinquent-tax-p…, read September 18, 2026.
The details
In Berks County Tax Claim Bureau’s words
A Hardship Agreement will take all unpaid taxes in our system and require 10% down as the first payment and the remaining payments will be due over 23 equal, monthly payments.
Organization
Berks County Tax Claim Bureau
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This listing summarizes publicly available information from berkspa.gov/departments/tax-claim-bureau/delinquent-tax-p…. Last recorded review: September 18, 2026. Contact the provider to confirm eligibility, hours and availability before you go. If something here is wrong, tell us.