Philadelphia OPA Property Lookup, Real Estate Tax Balance and Deed Record Help
Use official City of Philadelphia resources to search OPA assessment records, check property tax balance, review Real Estate Tax payment options, find deed records, understand exemptions and file an assessment appeal when the property value appears wrong.
Philadelphia property searches can feel confusing because the City uses different official systems for different jobs. The Office of Property Assessment handles assessed value and property details. The Department of Revenue / Tax Center handles Real Estate Tax balance and payment. The Department of Records handles deed and recorded document records. The Board of Revision of Taxes handles assessment appeals.
🏠 Search OPA property assessment records
Use this for: assessed value, building description, square footage, sales history, ownership clues and OPA/BRT account number lookup.
Best official path: open the official Philadelphia property search and search by address, city block or OPA/BRT account number.
Before using the result: compare the OPA record with the tax balance page if your question is about money owed or payment status.
Philadelphia Property Assessor Quick Facts Before You Search
The City of Philadelphia does not use the exact same local office wording that some counties use. For assessment records, the key office is the Office of Property Assessment, commonly called OPA. OPA determines the assessed dollar value of real property in Philadelphia, and that value is used in calculating Real Estate Tax.
For property tax balance and payment, use the official Philadelphia tax balance and Real Estate Tax pages. For deeds and recorded documents, use the Department of Records and Philadox. For assessment appeals, use the Board of Revision of Taxes.
What This Philadelphia Property Records Guide Covers
How to Search Philadelphia OPA Property Records Online
The official Philadelphia property search is the best starting point for basic property assessment research. It can help you check assessed value, physical property characteristics, building description, square footage, sales history and related property details.
Open the official property search
Go to the official Philadelphia Property Search website. This is the direct route for OPA-related public property information.
Search by the cleanest detail you have
You can search by address, city block or OPA/BRT account number. If the full address does not work, try the street number and street name only.
Check the assessment details carefully
Review assessed value, building details, sales history and physical characteristics. If something looks wrong, save the page details before contacting OPA or filing an appeal.
Use OPA number for tax lookup
If your goal is tax balance, copy the 9-digit OPA property number and use it on the official tax balance lookup page.
How to Look Up Philadelphia Real Estate Tax Balance and Payment Info
Assessment value and tax balance are connected, but they are not the same thing. OPA determines value. The tax balance lookup and Philadelphia Tax Center show Real Estate Tax amounts due, outstanding balances, payment options and voucher routes.
Open the official tax balance lookup
Enter address or OPA number
The City instructs users to enter the property address or 9-digit OPA property number. Using the OPA number is usually cleaner when you already found the property on the OPA search.
Review the balance chart
Check the amount due, tax year, payment options and any available voucher option. Do not pay until the address and property number match your target property.
Use the Real Estate Tax page for payment rules
Open the official Philadelphia Real Estate Tax page for payment, mail and Tax Center guidance.
Philadelphia Deed Records and Recorded Property Documents
OPA property information is useful for assessment research, but it is not the same as a deed record or title search. For deeds, mortgages, liens and recorded property documents, use the City of Philadelphia Department of Records.
Open the deed-copy service page
Start with the official page to get a copy of a deed or recorded document.
Use Philadox for online document search
Use Philadox to search deeds and other property records from 1974 to the present. Online document printing may require a paid subscription.
Gather deed search details
Helpful details include property address, grantor, grantee, deed date and document ID number. Older records before 1974 may require special handling or City Archives help.
Do not treat OPA as a title report
OPA can show assessment and property details, but recorded legal documents belong with Department of Records research. For legal title questions, use a title company or attorney.
How to Appeal a Philadelphia Property Assessment
If the assessed value appears wrong, Philadelphia property owners can review the appeal route through the Board of Revision of Taxes. Strong appeals usually focus on market value, uniformity with comparable properties, or incorrect property characteristics.
Save your OPA record first
Open Philadelphia Property Search, save the property page, and note the assessed value, OPA number and property characteristics.
Collect evidence
Useful evidence may include comparable sales, photos, repair condition, square footage errors, building description errors or documentation showing the assessed value is not uniform with similar nearby properties.
Open BRT appeal instructions
Use the official Board of Revision of Taxes property assessment appeals page for forms, filing place and hearing information.
Check deadline rules before filing
The BRT page explains filing timing and exceptions. Do not rely on old blog posts or copied deadlines because your situation may depend on the notice date, sale date or tax year.
Philadelphia Property Tax Relief, Exemptions and Abatements
Philadelphia offers property tax-related programs for eligible households and properties. Depending on your situation, you may need Homestead Exemption, abatement, nonprofit exemption, tax relief, payment agreement or other City guidance.
Owner-occupied homeowners should review the OPA services page for Homestead Exemption and related property tax savings options.
If the property has new construction or improvement-related questions, check OPA abatement resources before assuming the tax bill is final.
Use the tax balance lookup before applying for payment help so you know the current amount due.
Check the Property and Real Estate Taxes service page for City tax help and payment-related services.
Philadelphia Property Search Tips That Save Time
Start with the house number and street name only. Avoid apartment details, punctuation and extra words until the system returns a smaller list.
After finding the property, save the 9-digit OPA property number. It helps when checking the tax balance.
For deed copies, collect property address, grantor, grantee, deed date and document ID number when available.
Save comparable sales and property photos before filing. A clear evidence packet is stronger than a general complaint.
Do not pay from a search-engine result. Use the official Philadelphia tax balance and Tax Center route.
If ownership looks outdated, compare OPA, Department of Records and tax balance records because systems may update differently.
Official Philadelphia Property Assessor, Tax and Deed Links
🏠 Philadelphia Property Search
Search property information by address, city block or OPA/BRT account number.
Open Property Search🏢 Office of Property Assessment
OPA determines assessed property values and handles assessment-related programs.
Open OPA💵 Tax Balance Lookup
Look up Real Estate Tax balance by address or 9-digit OPA property number.
Open Tax Lookup💳 Real Estate Tax
Find payment, mail and Tax Center guidance for Philadelphia Real Estate Tax.
Open Tax Page📄 Department of Records
Access Philadelphia real estate documents and public land records services.
Open Records⚖️ BRT Appeals
Review assessment appeal rules, filing place, hearing information and forms.
Open AppealsPhiladelphia Property Records Office Contacts
Best for: assessed value, OPA account questions, property characteristics, exemptions and assessment questions.
Address: 601 Walnut St., Suite 300 W, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Phone: 215-686-4334
Assessment hotline: 215-686-9200
Best for: deeds, recorded documents, City land records and document-copy help.
Address: City Hall, Room 156, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: 215-686-2262
Email: records.info@phila.gov
Mail / in person address: City Hall, Room 154, 1400 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19107
Deed copy help: 215-686-2292
Email: deedcopy.info@phila.gov
Best for: assessment appeals and market value appeal hearings.
Address: The Curtis Center, 601 Walnut Street, Suite 325 East, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Email for appeals: appealinquiry@phila.gov
Map to Philadelphia OPA and Property Appeal Offices
OPA and the Board of Revision of Taxes are both listed at 601 Walnut Street, but in different suites. The Department of Records is based at City Hall. If you plan to visit, check the official office page first because document services, payment options and counter hours can differ by department.
Office of Property Assessment
601 Walnut St., Suite 300 W, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Department of Records
City Hall, Room 156, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Philadelphia Property Assessor FAQs for OPA, Tax Records and Deeds
How do I search Philadelphia property assessor records?
Use the official Philadelphia Property Search website. Search by address, city block or OPA/BRT account number, then review assessed value, property details and sales history.
What is the Philadelphia OPA?
OPA means Office of Property Assessment. It determines the assessed dollar value of real property in Philadelphia, and that value is used to calculate Real Estate Tax.
How do I look up Philadelphia property tax balance?
Use the official property tax balance lookup and enter the property address or 9-digit OPA property number. Review the balance chart before choosing payment or voucher options.
Is OPA value the same as tax balance?
No. OPA value is the assessed property value. Tax balance is the amount of Real Estate Tax due after applying tax rules, payments and any eligible programs.
Where can I find Philadelphia deed records?
Use the Department of Records and Philadox. Philadox allows online searching of deeds and other property records from 1974 to the present.
How do I appeal a Philadelphia property assessment?
Review the Board of Revision of Taxes property assessment appeal page. Appeals should show that market value is wrong, value is not uniform with similar properties, or property characteristics are substantially incorrect.
What phone number should I call for OPA questions?
For general OPA contact, call 215-686-4334. For assessment questions, the OPA hotline is listed as 215-686-9200.
Can I pay Philadelphia Real Estate Tax online?
Yes. Use the official Philadelphia Real Estate Tax page and Tax Center property route. Confirm the property address and OPA number before making payment.
Why does the owner name look different across records?
OPA, tax and recorded deed systems may update on different timelines. Check Department of Records documents if you need deed-level ownership verification.
Should I use third-party property record websites?
Use official City of Philadelphia sources first. Third-party sites may be outdated, incomplete or unclear about whether they show assessment, tax or deed information.
Best Way to Search Philadelphia Property Assessment and Tax Records
The safest research order is simple: start with Philadelphia Property Search for OPA assessment details, then use the tax balance lookup for Real Estate Tax amounts due, then use Department of Records or Philadox if you need deed-level information.
If the value appears incorrect, do not rely only on opinion. Save your OPA record, collect comparable sales or correction evidence, and review the Board of Revision of Taxes appeal instructions before filing.