Delaware County tax records are available free through the county’s online Public Access System and in person at the Board of Assessment in Media. The records show who owns a parcel, its assessed and market values, the tax district it sits in, and its payment history. You can use them to check your own assessment, research a property you’re buying, or pull documentation for a closing or court filing.
How to Search Delaware County Tax Records
The county’s Public Access System lets you search by owner name, address, or parcel ID. The parcel ID, sometimes called a folio number, is the cleanest way in. You’ll find it on your annual tax bill or on a recorded deed from the Recorder of Deeds. It avoids the confusion that comes with common last names or similar street addresses in different municipalities.
Address searches work only if you match the system’s formatting. The database uses abbreviations for street types and directional prefixes, so “N Maple Ave” won’t return “North Maple Avenue.” A prior bill or title document will show you the format the county uses. For owner name searches, use the full legal name on the deed rather than a nickname or trade name.
If you’d rather work in person, the Board of Assessment is in the Government Center at 201 West Front Street in Media. Office hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM on weekdays, and staff can walk you through the digital system there.1Delaware County Pennsylvania. Property Assessment The general number is 610-891-4273.2Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Board of Assessment
Reading What’s in the Record
A parcel record is split into a few sections. The ownership block lists the current owner’s name and mailing address, the parcel ID, and the physical location. A description section covers lot size, acreage, building type, and classification — residential, commercial, industrial, and so on. A tax district field shows which municipal government and school district collect from the parcel.
The financial section is what most people come for. Every record carries two values. The market value is the county’s estimate of what the property would sell for. The assessed value is a percentage of that market value, calculated using a ratio set by the county, and it’s the figure your tax bill is actually built on. Pennsylvania law gives counties the authority to apply this ratio, which is why the assessed value is almost always lower than the market value.3Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Code 53 – Section 8801 – Short Title and Scope of Chapter The State Tax Equalization Board publishes an annual common level ratio that reflects the relationship between assessed values and actual sale prices countywide; it matters most during appeals.
A historical log tracks how the assessed value has moved over time, reflecting building permits, land use changes, or countywide reassessment adjustments.
How the Bill Is Calculated
Your annual tax is assessed value multiplied by the millage rate. A mill is one dollar of tax for every thousand dollars of assessed value. An assessed value of $150,000 at a combined 30 mills works out to $150,000 × 0.030, or $4,500 in annual property taxes.
Three bodies set rates on each parcel: Delaware County, your municipality, and your school district. The school district slice is almost always the largest. Because municipalities and school districts set their own rates, two homes with the same assessed value in different parts of the county can carry noticeably different bills.
Payment Deadlines and Penalties
Delaware County uses a three-tier schedule. Paying within 60 days of the bill’s mailing date, which lands on April 1, earns a 2% discount. Paying between April 2 and June 1 is the face period, meaning the full amount with no discount and no penalty. After June 1, a 10% penalty is added and stays through December 31.4Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Current Year Taxes
The dollars are real. On a $4,000 bill, the discount saves $80, and sliding past June 1 adds $400 in penalties on the same bill. Note that the 60-day discount window runs from the mailing date, not January 1, so watch when the bill actually arrives.
Ordering a Certified Tax Document
A printout from the online portal is fine for personal research, but real estate closings, court filings, and some loan applications require a certified document bearing an official seal. In Delaware County this is called a tax certification, and it covers current-year county taxes along with any delinquencies on file with the Tax Claim Bureau.5Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Tax Certification
To request one, send a written request to the Delaware County Treasurer’s Office at 201 W. Front Street, Media, PA 19063. Include the folio number, the full property address, and a $25.00 check payable to “Delaware County Treasurer.” Note on the request if you want the certification emailed or faxed back. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for a mailed paper copy. The office processes requests within 48 hours of receipt.5Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Tax Certification If a title company or settlement attorney is handling your closing, they often order these for you.
Appealing an Assessment That Looks Too High
If your assessed value is out of line with what the property would actually sell for, you can appeal. Pennsylvania’s default annual deadline is September 1, though county commissioners may move it as early as August 1. If the county changes your assessment mid-year, after a building permit or reclassification for example, you have 40 days from the notice to file.6Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Code 53 – Section 8844
Appeals go to the Delaware County Board of Assessment and Appeals, reachable at 610-891-4879.2Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Board of Assessment Filing opens the parcel to a full revaluation, which means the assessment can go down, stay the same, or go up. That’s not a theoretical risk, so go in with real evidence.
The strongest evidence is a recent independent appraisal from a licensed appraiser, ideally within the past year. Comparable sales from similar nearby properties also carry weight. If physical conditions reduce the value, such as structural problems or flood damage, document them with photos and repair estimates. The State Tax Equalization Board’s common level ratio can help show that your assessment is out of step with countywide market conditions.
Programs That Can Lower Your Bill
Three relief programs can reduce what you owe, but none applies automatically. You have to know they exist and file for them.
Homestead Exclusion
Pennsylvania’s homestead exclusion reduces the assessed value of your primary residence before taxes are calculated. Only owner-occupied homes qualify; rental and vacation properties do not. The reduction amount varies by taxing jurisdiction because each school district decides whether to participate and how much to offer, funded by sources such as gaming revenue. You apply through the county, and the exclusion stays in place until you sell or stop using the property as your primary home.7Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Property Tax Relief Through Homestead Exclusion The Board of Assessment’s Homestead Coordinator can be reached at 610-891-8747.2Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Board of Assessment
Disabled Veteran Exemption
Veterans with a 100% permanent service-connected disability rating from the VA can qualify for a full real estate tax exemption on their primary residence. Surviving spouses of qualifying veterans may also be eligible. Applicants must also show financial need. Those with annual income of $114,637 or less receive a presumption of need; applicants above that threshold can still qualify by showing that monthly expenses exceed monthly income.8Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Real Estate Tax Exemption For veteran-related questions, call the Board of Assessment at 610-891-4907.2Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Board of Assessment
Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program
Pennsylvania’s statewide rebate returns a portion of property taxes paid to qualifying homeowners and renters. Eligibility is limited to residents who are 65 or older, widows or widowers 50 or older, or people with disabilities 18 or older, with household income of $48,110 or less. Rebate amounts range from $380 to $1,000 depending on income, with supplemental rebates of $190 to $500 for those with the greatest need. The deadline to apply is June 30, 2026.9Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program
What Happens When Taxes Go Unpaid
Ignoring a property tax bill can end in losing the property. Under Pennsylvania’s Real Estate Tax Sale Law, the county’s Tax Claim Bureau takes over collection of delinquent taxes. The bureau must send a certified-mail notice showing the amount owed and warning that the property will be exposed to sale if the debt isn’t cleared by December 31 of that year.10Pennsylvania General Assembly. Real Estate Tax Sale Law
If the debt isn’t cleared, the property is scheduled for an upset tax sale, with notice to the owner by certified mail and public notice through newspaper and legal journal publication before the sale date. The mailed notice must include a conspicuous warning that the property is about to be sold without the owner’s consent and may sell for a fraction of its fair market value.10Pennsylvania General Assembly. Real Estate Tax Sale Law
This is the part that catches people off guard. Pennsylvania law provides no redemption period after the actual sale. Once the property is sold, the former owner’s right to reclaim it is gone.10Pennsylvania General Assembly. Real Estate Tax Sale Law Some states allow months or even years to buy a property back after a tax sale. Pennsylvania does not. If you’re struggling to pay, contact the Tax Claim Bureau before the sale date; they may allow an installment agreement.