Philadelphia property records: what to do first
Answer: Search property.phila.gov by address or OPA account number for ownership, sales history, assessed value and physical characteristics. The Office of Property Assessment determines value, the Department of Revenue handles Real Estate Tax, the Board of Revision of Taxes hears formal appeals, and the Department of Records provides recorded documents.
Who handles each task?
- Who maintains assessed values?
- Philadelphia Office of Property Assessment.
- Where should I search the parcel?
- Use the official property-search portal linked on this page; match the account identifier, location and legal description.
- Where should I pay property tax?
- Use the verified tax collector or treasurer destination. This website never accepts payments.
- Where are deeds and liens searched?
- Use the verified recorder, clerk or land-record system—not the appraisal record as proof of title.
- Who changes an assessment?
- The assessment office or appeal body can change value; the payment office normally cannot.
Verified source: Official office ↗ · checked 2026-07-27.
Official Philadelphia Resource Map
For Philadelphia, these official links perform different jobs. Open Philadelphia Office of Property Assessment for assessment questions, the listed collection office for bills and payments, and the recorder for deeds; one office normally cannot perform another office’s legal function.
| Task | Responsible resource | Verified destination |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment office | Philadelphia Office of Property Assessment | phila.gov ↗ |
| Property search | Official public property search | property.phila.gov ↗ |
| Parcel/GIS map | Official map or parcel viewer | atlas.phila.gov ↗ |
| Exemptions | Philadelphia Homestead Exemption | phila.gov ↗ |
| Assessment appeal | BRT property assessment appeals | phila.gov ↗ |
| Tax bill and payment | the official tax collector or treasurer | phila.gov ↗ |
| Deeds and recorded documents | the official recorder or clerk | phila.gov ↗ |
Verified source: Property search ↗ · checked 2026-07-27.
Philadelphia local search workflow
Verified source: Property search ↗ · checked 2026-07-27.
Search Philadelphia property information
The City’s property search provides ownership, sales history, assessed value and physical characteristics. Search by street address or OPA account number, open the exact property and use the Property Details area for an official inquiry when the record is wrong.
- Search the address and confirm the OPA account.
- Review the owner display, sales history, market value and physical details.
- Open Atlas for parcel and city-layer context.
- Use the Revenue tax route for bills and payment.
- Use the Department of Records for deeds and certified document requests.
Verified source: Property search ↗ · checked 2026-07-27.
OPA review and formal BRT appeal are different
An owner can request a First Level Review from OPA and can file a formal appeal with the Board of Revision of Taxes. The formal appeal deadline should be protected independently. The City states that ordinary market-value appeals are due by the first Monday in October of the year preceding the tax year requested.
A formal appeal should show that the estimated market value is incorrect, that the assessment is not uniform with similar properties, or that important physical characteristics are wrong. Submit the required forms and evidence.
Verified source: Official office ↗ · checked 2026-07-27.
Homestead, abatements and catastrophic loss
OPA administers assessment-side relief and works with Revenue on property-tax programs. The Homestead Exemption can reduce taxable value for an eligible primary residence. A denial can be appealed to the BRT within the notice-based period stated by the City. Catastrophic-loss adjustment and property-tax abatement programs use separate rules.
Verified source: Official office ↗ · checked 2026-07-27.
Real Estate Tax and payment
The Office of Property Assessment does not collect the bill. Use the Department of Revenue’s Real Estate Tax pages and Philadelphia Tax Center for current balances, payment and assistance. Verify the OPA account before entering payment information.
Verified source: Tax payment ↗ · checked 2026-07-27.
Deeds, ownership and parcel maps
Atlas and OPA records support property research but do not replace a deed. Use the Department of Records for a deed or other recorded instrument. A map boundary is informational; a survey and recorded plan are required when legal location is disputed.
Verified source: Parcel/GIS map ↗ · checked 2026-07-27.
Correct a Philadelphia record
Use the property details to submit an OPA inquiry for assessment-record issues. Attach documents that address the exact problem: a deed for a recent ownership update, photographs or permits for physical characteristics, or the exemption decision for a benefit issue. Use the BRT appeal route when the dispute is about value or a formal determination.
Verified source: Office contact ↗ · checked 2026-07-27.
Buyer and homeowner checks
- Review the OPA account, value and sales history.
- Identify Homestead or abatements that may change.
- Check the Revenue account for tax and assistance status.
- Search recorded deeds and liens.
- Track the formal appeal deadline separately from an OPA review.
Verified source: Official office ↗ · checked 2026-07-27.
How to Verify the Exact Philadelphia Account
Start with the official search portal at property.phila.gov. Prefer an official parcel, APN, folio or account number when it is available. If the first query fails, use the owner or street address and copy the identifier from the matched record instead of inventing a format.
- Confirm the situs or property location and do not confuse it with the owner’s mailing address.
- Match the legal description, subdivision, lot, block, survey, abstract or other local land identifier.
- Compare land area, property class and improvement description with the physical property.
- Check the valuation year and whether the amount is preliminary, current, certified or already billed.
- Open the map at atlas.phila.gov for location context, then rely on recorded documents and a survey for legal boundaries.
- Look for related real, personal, mineral, mobile-home or business accounts before assuming the search is complete.
Verified source: Property search ↗ · checked 2026-07-27.
Audit the Philadelphia Property Card Field by Field
When a field is wrong, report the exact field rather than asking the office to “fix the taxes.” Send Philadelphia Office of Property Assessment the account number and evidence such as a recorded deed, survey, permit, demolition record, measurements, photographs or exemption approval. A tax collector can correct a payment posting but normally cannot alter these appraisal fields.
Verified source: Property search ↗ · checked 2026-07-27.
Philadelphia property-search FAQs
What can I find on property.phila.gov?
You can search ownership, sales history, assessed value and physical characteristics and use the property details to submit an official OPA inquiry.
Who hears a Philadelphia assessment appeal?
The Board of Revision of Taxes hears formal market-value appeals. A First Level Review with OPA is a separate option and does not automatically replace a formal appeal.
When is a Philadelphia formal market-value appeal due?
The official rule is the first Monday in October of the year before the tax year being appealed, subject to the current instructions and any applicable exception.
Where do I pay Philadelphia Real Estate Tax?
Use the City’s official Real Estate Tax or Philadelphia Tax Center route. County Property Lookup does not accept payments.
How do I obtain a Philadelphia deed?
Use the City Department of Records service for recorded deeds and documents. The OPA property page is not a certified deed.
Which office changes the assessed value for a Philadelphia property?
Philadelphia Office of Property Assessment handles valuation and property-characteristic corrections. the official tax collector or treasurer can explain or collect a bill but cannot change the assessment that produced it.
Where should I pay a Philadelphia property tax bill?
Use the verified Philadelphia tax-payment destination on this page for the responsible collector or treasurer. County Property Lookup does not accept payments or collect property-account, card or banking information.
Does the Philadelphia property card prove legal ownership?
No. The Philadelphia Office of Property Assessment record is maintained for assessment administration. Use the recorder or clerk identified for Philadelphia and review the recorded deed chain for ownership, lien and title research.
What should I save after searching a Philadelphia property?
For a reproducible Philadelphia search, save the parcel or account identifier, selected tax year, complete property card, map or legal description, notice, source URL and access date. Keep tax-payment and appeal-filing confirmations as separate records.
Why can a Philadelphia property have more than one account?
Philadelphia Office of Property Assessment may maintain separate Philadelphia accounts for land, improvements, business assets, manufactured homes, minerals or other interests. Match the legal description, situs information and account type before treating separate results as one property.
How do I correct an error in a Philadelphia property record?
Contact Philadelphia Office of Property Assessment with the parcel/account number, the exact incorrect field and supporting documents. A deed error must be corrected through the official recorder or clerk, not the assessment office.
Can an online Philadelphia value be preliminary?
Yes. On the Philadelphia record, check the valuation year and whether the roll is preliminary, certified or already used for billing. Do not calculate a final tax bill from an unlabeled preliminary value.
Philadelphia sources and verification
Each Philadelphia field below was checked against the linked source. The checked date records this independent guide’s review; it does not mean Philadelphia Office of Property Assessment or another public agency endorses County Property Lookup.
| Field | Status | Official destination | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official office | Official Verified | phila.gov ↗ | 2026-07-27 |
| Office contact | Official Verified | phila.gov ↗ | 2026-07-27 |
| Property search | Official Verified | property.phila.gov ↗ | 2026-07-27 |
| Parcel/GIS map | Official Verified | atlas.phila.gov ↗ | 2026-07-27 |
| Tax payment | Official Verified | phila.gov ↗ | 2026-07-27 |
| Recorded documents | Official Verified | phila.gov ↗ | 2026-07-27 |
| Assessment appeal | Official Verified | phila.gov ↗ | 2026-07-27 |
| Exemptions or relief | Official Verified | phila.gov ↗ | 2026-07-27 |
Additional source pages
- Philadelphia Office of Property Assessment ↗
- Philadelphia property search ↗
- Philadelphia Atlas ↗
- BRT property assessment appeals ↗
- Philadelphia Homestead Exemption ↗
Revision history
- Originally published
- 2026-07-27
- Content structure and GEO review
- 2026-07-28
- Last factual field review
- 2026-07-27
Report a change for Philadelphia: use the correction form and include the affected field, current value, requested correction and an official source URL.