Increased Tax Relief Available for Seniors and Disabled
• Commissioner Evans Says Eligibility Income Limits Now $80,000
Apr 2, 2012 – Revenue & Finance Commissioner Thomas J. Evans today advised citizens that recent changes have been made pertaining to the New Jersey Property Tax Reimbursement Program that reimburses eligible senior and disabled persons for property tax increases. The reimbursement program has raised the income limits for all applicants, whether single, married or in a civil union.
The income limits are as follows: $80,000 or less for 2010, $80,000 or less for 2011.
The Property Tax Reimbursement Program reimburses eligible senior citizens and disabled persons for property tax increases. The amount of the reimbursement is the difference between the amount of property taxes that were due and paid for the "base year" (the first year that you met all the eligibility requirements) and the amount due and paid for the current year for which you are applying for the reimbursement, provided the amount paid for the current year was greater.
Residents who receive homestead benefits and/or property tax credits or deductions may also receive the property tax reimbursement if eligibility requirements are met. However, the total of all property tax relief benefits received (property tax reimbursement, homestead benefit, property tax deduction for senior citizens/disabled persons, and property tax deduction for veterans) cannot exceed the amount of property taxes paid on your principal residence for the same year.
Residents applying for a reimbursement must: Have been age 65 or older as of December 31, 2010, ore are receiving Federal Social Security disability benefits as of December 31, 2010, and December 31, 2011.,00000000
Seniors do not qualify if the Federal Social Security disability benefits you (or your spouse/civil union partner) were receiving were received on behalf of someone else. Seniors must have lived in New Jersey continuously since before January 1, 2001, as either a homeowner or a renter.
Senions also must have owned and lived in the home (or have leased a site in a mobile home park on which you have placed a manufactured or mobile home that you own) for which the reimbursement is being claimed since before January 1, 2008.
Another requirement: seiors must have paid the full amount of the property taxes due on the home for 2010 by June 1, 2011, and for 2011 by June 1, 2012 (if a mobile home owner, have paid the full amount of mobile home park site fees for 2010 by December 31, 2010, and for 2011 by December 31, 2011)
Still another requrement seniors must have a total annual income for both 2010 and 2011 that is $80,000 or less. These limits apply regardless of marital/civil union status. However, applicants who are married or in a civil union must report combined income of both spouses/civil union partners.
Eligible residents must file a 2011 Property Tax Reimbursement Application (Form PTR-1 or PTR-2) by June 1, 2012. To order an application call 1-800-323-4400, To ask questions call 1-877-225-1312. To check the status of an application call 1-800-882-6597.
Additional assistance is also available by contacting the Tax Collector's Office at Nutley Town Hall, (973) 284-4963.
