Property Taxes in Reading, Pennsylvania
Median Reading, Pennsylvania effective property tax rate: 6.46%, significantly higher than the national median of 1.02%, and higher than the Pennsylvania state median of 2.75%.
Median Reading, Pennsylvania home value: $27,000
Median annual Reading, Pennsylvania tax bill: $1,540, $860 lower than the national median property tax bill of $2,400.
How are property taxes in Berks calculated?
Property taxes in Reading, Pennsylvania are calculated based on the tax assessed value, which is often lower than the actual market value due to property tax exemptions such as the homestead or senior exemption.
Understanding Reading's property tax system, exemptions, and reduction opportunities can lead to significant savings. Regardless of where you live in Reading, knowing local tax details benefits homeowners and investors.
Last Updated April 13, 2026
How Does the Reading Property Tax Calculator Work?
Use this Reading property tax calculator to estimate your annual property tax bill. Enter your property's assessed value and our calculator applies Reading's median effective tax rate of 6.46% — based on actual property records in Berks County — to generate your estimate.
Enter your property's estimated assessed value — the figure the local appraisal district uses to calculate your bill, which reflects any exemptions you hold and is typically lower than your home's market value. Our calculator applies Reading's median effective rate across all local levies, providing a more accurate estimate than applying a single county millage rate.
Your bill may vary by ZIP code within Reading: rates range from $760.00 in 19602 to $2,429.00 in 19608, primarily due to differences in school district levies and local assessment districts.
For a more precise estimate, scroll down to explore ZIP code-level tax rate trends across Reading.
About Reading Property Taxes
About Property Taxes in Reading, Berks, Pennsylvania
Reading’s median effective property tax rate of 6.46% is higher than the Pennsylvania state median of 2.75% and higher than the national median of 1.02%. This rate reflects the Berks County base levy combined with local school district levies and special taxing districts that vary by subdivision throughout the city.
Property tax rates are not uniform across Reading. Homeowners in the 19601 ZIP code carry a median effective rate of 9.42%, while those in 19605 pay 4.40%. This spread — 5.02 percentage points across the same city — reflects how school district boundaries and local assessment districts are drawn across Berks County. Understanding which part of Reading you live in can make a meaningful difference to your annual tax bill.
Reading homeowners who believe their assessed value is too high can file a formal appeal with the Tax Assessor before the August 1, 2026 deadline each year.
If your estimated bill above seems higher than expected, Ownwell can review your assessment and protest on your behalf. You only pay if we save you money.
Property Tax Rates Across Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania
As noted earlier, local government entities set tax rates, which can vary widely within a state.
Why? Because annually, each county estimates its required budget to provide services and divides that by the total value of all taxable property within its jurisdiction. This calculation results in the property tax rate.
While there are votes and laws involved in setting tax rates and budgets, in a nutshell, this is the annual process.
Below, you can compare Reading's effective property tax rate to other cities in Pennsylvania and the median property tax rates in Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Our median effective property tax rate (tax bill ÷ assessor's market value) accounts for exemptions and deductions, making it more accurate than the general median tax rate, which is the midpoint of statutory rates before adjustments.
Median Effective Reading Tax Rate
6.46%
Our median effective property tax rate (tax bill ÷ assessor's market value) accounts for exemptions and deductions, making it more accurate than the general median tax rate, which is the midpoint of statutory rates before adjustments.
Median Effective Berks County Tax Rate
4.91%
Median Effective Pennsylvania Tax Rate
2.75%
Median Effective United States Tax Rate
1.27%
Property Tax Rates Across Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Tax Rate | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19601 | 5.53% | 7.52% | 9.42% | 11.85% | 13.94% |
| 19602 | 5.92% | 7.23% | 9.18% | 11.14% | 12.78% |
| 19604 | 5.66% | 6.79% | 7.87% | 9.27% | 10.83% |
| 19605 | 2.90% | 3.68% | 4.40% | 5.90% | 7.99% |
| 19606 | 3.06% | 4.61% | 5.88% | 7.46% | 10.08% |
| 19607 | 3.02% | 3.91% | 4.84% | 6.83% | 9.35% |
| 19608 | 4.12% | 5.15% | 7.17% | 9.93% | 12.50% |
| 19609 | 4.48% | 5.02% | 5.68% | 6.20% | 6.68% |
| 19610 | 1.48% | 3.73% | 5.10% | 8.04% | 9.96% |
| 19611 | 6.12% | 7.47% | 8.69% | 9.73% | 10.75% |
Source: Ownwell
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania
When examining property taxes in Reading, Pennsylvania, understanding the distinction between market value and assessed value is crucial.
The market value is what a willing buyer would pay to a willing seller in an open and competitive market, often influenced by location, property condition, and economic market trends. Berks County estimates the market value for tax purposes.
The assessed value is the market value minus any applicable exemptions or limits determined by local laws and offerings. The tax assessed value is the figure used to calculate your property taxes or the amount multiplied by your tax rate to get your tax bill.
Assessment notices:
In Berks County, assessment notices are sent in the spring each year. They'll typically reach your mailbox by the middle of March.
Each property owner receives an assessment notice that contains both the market value and assessed value, along with an estimate of your property tax bill. For context, Reading’s median home price is $27,000, and tax bills vary widely across the county, from $760 in 19602 to $2,429 in 19608. The median tax bill is $1,540, compared with the national median property tax bill of $2,400.
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania
Source: Ownwell
$7,700
$36,550
$65,400
Median Reading Market Value
$27,000
Median Berks County Market Value
$31,900
Median Pennsylvania Market Value
$118,310
Median United States Market Value
$274,101
Property Tax Assessment Values Across Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Home Price | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19601 | $5,300 | $7,000 | $9,600 | $13,000 | $27,300 |
| 19602 | $5,500 | $6,200 | $7,700 | $14,000 | $17,500 |
| 19604 | $9,300 | $12,000 | $14,700 | $16,300 | $20,560 |
| 19605 | $21,000 | $25,400 | $32,200 | $39,200 | $48,100 |
| 19606 | $14,000 | $22,500 | $28,950 | $36,800 | $48,700 |
| 19607 | $20,000 | $24,400 | $30,400 | $39,000 | $56,900 |
| 19608 | $23,000 | $27,000 | $33,600 | $40,450 | $58,200 |
| 19609 | $25,000 | $27,700 | $32,400 | $35,700 | $39,000 |
| 19610 | $23,200 | $28,100 | $39,000 | $70,400 | $90,800 |
| 19611 | $15,000 | $16,100 | $18,800 | $25,500 | $30,100 |
Source: Ownwell
Property Tax Bills Across Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania
Reading property tax bills are calculated by applying the local tax rate to the assessed value of a home, which is based on the market value determined by the county. For homeowners in Berks County, the size of the bill depends on how a property is assessed, along with any local levies that apply.
The median home price in Reading is $27,000, and the property tax bill can vary widely across the city. The 25th percentile tax bill is $1,071, while the 75th percentile is $2,132. At the high end, the 90th percentile reaches $2,896.
These bills directly affect homeowners by changing the amount they owe each year, even when home values are relatively modest. In Reading, the highest median tax bill is $2,429 in ZIP code 19608, while the lowest median tax bill is $760 in ZIP code 19602.
Median Reading Tax Bill
$1,540
Median Berks County Tax Bill
$1,471
Median Pennsylvania Tax Bill
$3,050
Median United States Tax Bill
$3,209
Property Tax Bills Across Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania
| Zip | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median Tax Bill | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19601 | $491 | $654 | $972 | $1,281 | $1,740 |
| 19602 | $456 | $586 | $760 | $972 | $1,285 |
| 19604 | $706 | $855 | $1,056 | $1,284 | $1,953 |
| 19605 | $920 | $1,150 | $1,509 | $1,931 | $2,440 |
| 19606 | $905 | $1,255 | $1,642 | $2,128 | $2,713 |
| 19607 | $998 | $1,195 | $1,567 | $2,053 | $2,915 |
| 19608 | $1,401 | $1,854 | $2,429 | $3,149 | $4,078 |
| 19609 | $1,368 | $1,529 | $1,748 | $2,056 | $2,307 |
| 19610 | $1,161 | $1,525 | $2,227 | $2,824 | $3,844 |
| 19611 | $1,230 | $1,445 | $1,710 | $2,087 | $2,691 |
Source: Ownwell
Don't miss the deadline to appeal!
Dates | |
|---|---|
| Appeal Deadline | August 1 |
Links | |
|---|---|
| Berks Tax Assessor | |
| Website | propertyrecords.berkspa.gov |