TRENTON – Senior and disabled residents who qualify for a 2007 property tax reimbursement because of the recent increase in income limits for the Senior Freeze (Property Tax Reimbursement) Program now have until June 1, 2009, to file applications, Governor Jon S. Corzine announced today. The original deadline for the newly eligible applicants to file their 2007 applications was March 31, 2009.
“This property tax relief benefit is especially important to low-income senior and disabled taxpayers who are struggling to make ends meet during this time of national economic crisis,” Governor Corzine said. “We wanted to give them a little more time to file to ensure that everyone who recently became eligible has adequate time to submit their application.”
Governor Corzine signed the legislation to expand the income limits of the Senior Freeze Program in December as part of his New Jersey economic assistance and recovery package. The first phase of the expansion increased the income eligibility limits for 2007 from about $45,000 for single applicants and approximately $55,000 for married/civil union couples to $60,000 for all applicants.
As a result of the increase in the income limit for 2007, some senior and disabled New Jersey residents who did not previously qualify became eligible to apply for a reimbursement. The amount of the Senior Freeze reimbursement would be the difference between property taxes paid for the first year the applicant met all the eligibility requirements, and the property taxes for the reimbursement year.
The expansion of the Senior Freeze Program significantly increases income eligibility limits for seniors and disabled citizens for the next two tax years as well. The income limits increased to $70,000 for tax year 2008 and will increase to $80,000 for tax year 2009. The deadline for filing applications for the 2008 tax year is also June 1, 2009. Fully phased in, the expanded program will add approximately 70,000 senior and disabled residents to the program. This represents those who would be new to the program, as well as those who previously received senior freeze checks but lost eligibility because their income exceeded the original cap.
For more information on the eligibility requirements for the Senior Freeze (Property Tax Reimbursement) Program for 2007, or to obtain an application, residents can contact the Property Tax Reimbursement Hotline at 1-800-882-6597 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Information is also available on the Division of Taxation’s Web site at www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/
“This property tax relief benefit is especially important to low-income senior and disabled taxpayers who are struggling to make ends meet during this time of national economic crisis,” Governor Corzine said. “We wanted to give them a little more time to file to ensure that everyone who recently became eligible has adequate time to submit their application.”
Governor Corzine signed the legislation to expand the income limits of the Senior Freeze Program in December as part of his New Jersey economic assistance and recovery package. The first phase of the expansion increased the income eligibility limits for 2007 from about $45,000 for single applicants and approximately $55,000 for married/civil union couples to $60,000 for all applicants.
As a result of the increase in the income limit for 2007, some senior and disabled New Jersey residents who did not previously qualify became eligible to apply for a reimbursement. The amount of the Senior Freeze reimbursement would be the difference between property taxes paid for the first year the applicant met all the eligibility requirements, and the property taxes for the reimbursement year.
The expansion of the Senior Freeze Program significantly increases income eligibility limits for seniors and disabled citizens for the next two tax years as well. The income limits increased to $70,000 for tax year 2008 and will increase to $80,000 for tax year 2009. The deadline for filing applications for the 2008 tax year is also June 1, 2009. Fully phased in, the expanded program will add approximately 70,000 senior and disabled residents to the program. This represents those who would be new to the program, as well as those who previously received senior freeze checks but lost eligibility because their income exceeded the original cap.
For more information on the eligibility requirements for the Senior Freeze (Property Tax Reimbursement) Program for 2007, or to obtain an application, residents can contact the Property Tax Reimbursement Hotline at 1-800-882-6597 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Information is also available on the Division of Taxation’s Web site at www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/
