Northumberland County Property Tax Records

Northumberland County property tax records are maintained by the Assessment Bureau in Sunbury, the county seat in central Pennsylvania. The Bureau is responsible for generating and maintaining real estate assessments, updating county maps, and keeping property records current for all parcels within the county. Residents and researchers can search records online, visit the office in person, or submit a formal data request to obtain the property tax information they need. This guide explains what records are available, how to find them, and how the assessment and appeals process works.

Northumberland County Assessment Bureau Contact and Records

The Northumberland County Assessment Bureau is located at 399 South 5th Street, Sunbury, PA 17801. The main phone number is (570) 988-4112, and the fax number is (570) 988-4576. Additional information about the Bureau and its services is available at northumberlandcountypa.gov/assessment. The county also maintains an informational presence at northumberlandco.org.

The Bureau is staffed by a team of professionals covering assessment, field work, data entry, and property record management. Tiffany Kaseman CPE serves as Chief Assessor, with Mary-Grace Rearden as Office Supervisor. Field assessment and data collection responsibilities are handled by Meghan Laudenslager (Field Assessor), Tyler Golazeski (Property Record Registrar), and Austin Zelinski (Field Data Collector). Deb Hartman serves as Data Entry Clerk. This team oversees all aspects of property valuation and record maintenance for the county.

Property record data requests should be directed to assessmentdatarequest@norrycopa.net. This email route is the standard channel for bulk or formal data inquiries. For general questions about individual parcels, phone or in-person contact is appropriate. Note: Questions about tax balances and amounts due should be directed to the local tax collector or school district, not the Assessment Bureau.

Searching Northumberland County Property Tax Records

Northumberland County property tax records can be accessed online through the county's official website or in person at the Assessment Bureau office in Sunbury. The county's online portal allows searches by parcel number, owner name, and property address. This makes it straightforward to pull up a specific parcel and view its assessed value, ownership information, and related data without a trip to the office.

In-person visits to the Bureau at 399 South 5th Street allow residents to review property record cards, inspect assessment listings, and ask staff for clarification on individual accounts. Staff can explain how a property's assessment was determined and what records are on file. Complex or large data requests are best submitted via email to assessmentdatarequest@norrycopa.net so Bureau staff can prepare the information efficiently.

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue also maintains state-level property tax resources that can help residents understand how local assessments connect to broader state tax obligations. For a statewide directory of county assessment offices, the PA property records directory lists Northumberland County among all 67 Pennsylvania counties.

Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law establishes that public records, including property tax records, are presumed accessible. If standard access channels do not meet your needs, a formal Right-to-Know request can be submitted to the county's Open Records Officer.

How Northumberland County Property Assessments Work

The Northumberland County Assessment Bureau generates and maintains real estate assessments for all taxable property within the county. Responsibilities include assessing real estate improvements, maintaining property records, and updating county maps as ownership and parcel configurations change. When a municipality submits a zoning permit, the Bureau notes it on the relevant property record card and may dispatch a field assessor to review the improvement in person.

Assessed values are used by the county, municipalities, and school districts as the tax base for calculating property tax bills. Each taxing body sets its own millage rate annually. The Assessment Bureau provides the assessment data that feeds into this process, but it does not set tax rates and does not determine the amount shown on a property owner's tax bill. Tax bill questions go to the appropriate local tax collector or school district office.

Pennsylvania property assessment is governed by Title 72 of the PA Consolidated Statutes, which establishes the legal framework for how counties assess property, conduct reassessments, and administer appeals. Northumberland County operates within this framework, and assessments are subject to the statutory requirements and uniformity principles that apply to all Pennsylvania counties.

Note: The Assessment Bureau is responsible for valuation and records maintenance, not for collecting taxes or answering questions about tax balances owed to any taxing body.

Northumberland County Property Tax Records: What They Show

Property record cards maintained by the Northumberland County Assessment Bureau document the characteristics and assessed value of each parcel in the county. A typical property record card includes the owner's name and mailing address, the parcel identification number, the physical property address, land acreage, building square footage, construction type, age and condition of improvements, and the assessed value assigned to land and buildings separately.

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue provides state-level guidance on how local property assessments connect to statewide tax programs and obligations.

Field reviewers from the Bureau visit properties when zoning permits indicate new construction or significant improvements. These visits allow the Bureau to verify that property record cards accurately reflect current conditions on the ground. Accuracy in this data is important because assessed values directly affect the tax obligations of property owners and the revenue available to local taxing bodies.

County maps maintained by the Assessment Bureau track parcel boundaries, lot splits, consolidations, and other changes to the county's land base. These maps are essential for identifying properties, resolving boundary questions, and supporting land use planning across the county's municipalities.

Assessment Appeals in Northumberland County

Property owners who believe their assessed value is inaccurate have the right to appeal to the Board of Assessment Appeals. The Board is a separate body from the Assessment Bureau and provides an independent review of challenged assessments. Property owners, taxing bodies, and other interested parties may all file appeals under Pennsylvania law.

The appeal process typically begins with a written application submitted to the Board of Assessment Appeals within the applicable deadline. Pennsylvania law generally requires appeals to be filed by a set annual deadline, and late filings are not accepted. Property owners who receive a notice of change in assessment have a limited window, typically 40 days from the notice date, to file an appeal of that specific change.

Strong appeals are supported by evidence such as recent sales of comparable properties, an independent appraisal, or documentation of property defects that affect market value. The PA Consolidated Statutes, Title 72 governs the appeals process statewide. If an owner disagrees with the Board's decision, further appeal is available to the Court of Common Pleas in Northumberland County. The Pennsylvania court system provides information on procedures at that level.

Tax Relief Programs for Northumberland County Property Owners

Northumberland County property owners may qualify for several state-sponsored tax relief programs. The Homestead and Farmstead Exclusion, enacted under Act 72 of 2004, allows school districts to reduce the assessed value of a qualifying primary residence or farm building. The Assessment Bureau determines Homestead and Farmstead exclusion status, making it a key point of contact for owners seeking this benefit. Applications are submitted through the Bureau, and owners who have recently purchased their home should apply promptly.

The Clean and Green program, established under Act 319 of 1974, provides preferential use-value assessment for qualifying agricultural land, agricultural reserve, and forest reserve. Properties must contain 10 or more contiguous acres or demonstrate the capacity to generate at least $2,000 in annual farm income. Enrollment in Clean and Green can result in substantially reduced assessments for qualifying rural parcels, making it one of the most significant tax relief mechanisms available in Northumberland County.

Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law ensures that property tax records held by the Assessment Bureau are presumed public and accessible to residents making lawful requests.

The Pennsylvania Property Tax/Rent Rebate program, administered by the PA Department of Revenue, provides annual rebates to eligible seniors 65 and older, widows and widowers 50 and older, and disabled individuals 18 and older. The program is income-based and requires an annual application. The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development supports county and local governments administering related programs.

Note: Homestead and Farmstead determinations are made by the Assessment Bureau, so owners should contact the Bureau directly at (570) 988-4112 when applying for these exclusions.

Northumberland County Recorder of Deeds and Tax Claim Bureau

The Northumberland County Recorder of Deeds maintains the official public record of all instruments affecting real property title in the county. Deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and related documents are recorded, indexed, and preserved in the Recorder's office. Ownership history and encumbrances are documented here, complementing the assessment data held by the Bureau. Together, these two offices provide a complete picture of any parcel's ownership, legal status, and tax obligations.

The Tax Claim Bureau is responsible for collecting delinquent real estate taxes on behalf of all taxing bodies in the county. When property taxes go unpaid, the Tax Claim Bureau initiates the statutory collection process, which can ultimately result in a tax sale. Property owners facing delinquency should contact the Tax Claim Bureau early to understand repayment options and avoid a sale. The Assessment Bureau's records feed directly into this process, as the assessed values it maintains determine the tax base from which delinquencies are calculated.

Public access to recorded documents in the Recorder's office is governed by Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law. Records are presumed public unless a specific exemption applies. The PA Department of Community and Economic Development offers guidance on how county offices coordinate to serve the public and manage property records effectively.

Nearby Counties

Northumberland County is bordered by several central Pennsylvania counties, each maintaining its own property tax records and assessment office.

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