The Hunterdon County Commissioners are urging senior homeowners to take advantage of the enhanced benefits under New Jersey’s Senior Property Tax Freeze program.
The reminder comes as the October 31 deadline approaches.
The income eligibility limit has been raised to $150,000 for the 2023 filing season, which will offer more seniors the opportunity to freeze property tax increases, officials said.
Commissioner Shaun Van Doren, liaison to the division of senior, disabilities, and veterans services, noted the importance of spreading awareness about the program.
“The Senior Freeze Program reimburses eligible senior citizens and disabled persons for property tax or mobile home park site fee increases on their principal residence,” Doren said.
The New Jersey Department of Treasury’s Division of Taxation started distributing reimbursement checks on July 15, with the initial wave of payments exceeding $145 million. Weekly reimbursements will continue as more applications are processed.
Residents can apply and check their application status online via the state’s filing portal at www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/ptr, or access a printable version of the application at https://www.nj.gov/treasury/taxation/ptr/printform.shtml.
Commissioner John Lanza, a member of the county budget committee, said despite the county’s efforts to reduce the tax rate to its 2015 level, increases from other governmental entities might still impact the total tax bill.
“Under this program, eligible seniors will receive a payment offsetting any increases. With the new higher income eligibility standard, the commissioners want to ensure that all eligible Hunterdon County senior homeowners are aware of the senior tax freeze and complete the application before the October 31, 2024, deadline,” he said.
Program changes this year include the elimination of several documentation requirements. Residents of co-ops or continuing care retirement facilities, as well as many Property Tax Reimbursement-2 filers, no longer need to submit proof of property taxes. Additionally, the requirement for applicants to have been New Jersey residents for ten years has been removed.
For further assistance, eligible residents can contact the Senior Freeze Property Tax Reimbursement Information Line at 1-800-882-6597.
Leave a Comment