UNION COUNTY, N.J- Acting to ensure that as many New Jerseyans as possible receive property tax relief, Governor Chris Christie has extended the deadline for filing Homestead Benefit applications to Friday, December 14.
“We want to be certain we give New Jersey taxpayers every opportunity to take advantage of all forms of property tax relief,” said Governor Christie. “I’ve directed the Division of Taxation to ensure we provide every opportunity for taxpayers to apply for and receive their Homestead Benefit. Extending the application deadline to December 14 will give those who’ve missed the previous deadline the chance to apply and receive their benefit in 2013.”
The Governor previously extended the deadline from June 30 to October 19. This year, the Division of Taxation mailed 1.65 million application packages to taxpayers, but with the extended October 19 deadline fast approaching just
over 1 million applications had been filed. “This means that there are potentially another 650,000 New Jersey taxpayers,
or nearly 40 percent of the total, who could be eligible for the Homestead Benefit, who have yet to file,” said State Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff. 2 “These are the people we want to reach. Eligible New Jersey taxpayers can receive a valuable benefit. So far this year, property tax credits awarded through the Homestead Benefit program have averaged $477 per recipient.”
The credit will appear in the May quarter of 2013. This will allow sufficient time to process all Homestead Benefit applications that are filed prior to the extended deadline and to permit municipal tax authorities to update their tax
bills as necessary. The vast majority of homeowners will receive their Homestead Benefit as a credit on their local property tax bills, continuing the practice that began last year.
Those homeowners who either sold their home prior to filing the Homestead Benefit application, or whose principal residence was a unit in a co-op or continuing care retirement community will be issued a benefit in the form of a check or direct deposit in the May quarter of 2013.
To be eligible for a Homestead Benefit in 2012, you must have owned and occupied a home in New Jersey that was your principal residence on October 1, 2011. In addition, you must have had property taxes which were due and paid on the property during 2011, and you must have New Jersey gross income that was $150,000 or less in 2011 if you were age 65 or older or blind or disabled, and $75,000 or less if you were under age 65 and not blind or disabled.
Residents who do not have an application or who need assistance can call the Homestead Benefit Hotline (1-888-238-1233) between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Eligible homeowners who have not yet filed can do so either online at www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/ or by phone (1-877-658-2972) 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Information about the Homestead Benefit program, as well as other New Jersey property tax relief programs, is available on the Division of Taxation’s Web site at www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/relief.shtml
Phone Numbers for Tax Relief Programs
Division of Taxation’s Homestead Benefit Hotline:
1‐888‐238‐1233 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Automated Tax Information System:
1‐800‐323‐4400, available around the clock, every day of the week.3
Text Telephone Service for the Hearing Impaired:
1‐800‐286‐6613 or 609‐984‐7300
Phone filing of Homestead Benefit applications:
1‐877‐658‐2972
Web Sites for Tax Relief Programs
Online filing of Homestead Benefit applications and general information about
the Homestead Benefit program:
www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation
General Homestead Benefit information:
www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/homestead/geninf.shtml
Elizabeth’s Comments