Homestead Rebate Information

New Jersey homeowners who were 65 or older, blind, or disabled as of December 31, 2007, will begin receiving their 2007 New Jersey homestead rebate application packets this week. Residents who receive a packet should read it carefully, and if they meet the eligibility requirements, complete the worksheet prior to filing either by phone or online. Homestead rebate checks are scheduled to be mailed to qualified senior and disabled applicants on or about July 31, 2008.

The applications are being mailed in two groups. Senior and disabled homeowners in Bergen, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, Middlesex, Passaic, Union, and Warren counties can expect to begin receiving their applications by May 1. Those in Atlantic, Camden, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Salem, Somerset, and Sussex can expect to see their applications beginning on May 5.

Under changes proposed in the FY 2009 budget, homeowners with gross income of $150,000 or less would qualify for a rebate this year, reduced from last year's income eligibility limit of $250,000. For residents with incomes of $100,000 or less, the rebate remains at 20 percent of the first $10,000 in property taxes paid in 2006. Under the proposed changes homeowners with gross income of between $100,001 and $150,000 would receive rebates of 10 percent of the first $10,000 of property taxes paid in 2006, instead of the 15 percent they received last year.

Senior or disabled homeowners would receive the greater of a percentage of their property taxes (as described above) or an amount calculated under last year's alternate rules. Those rules provided senior and disabled homeowners with rebates ranging from $500 to $1,200, depending on their income and the amount of property taxes paid.

Senior and disabled homeowners will have until June 2, 2008, to file their applications for the 2007 homestead rebate and must meet the following conditions to be eligible:

*Own and occupy a home in New Jersey that was their principal residence on October 1, 2007;

*Have gross income for 2007 that does not exceed the threshold (for 2006 the income threshold was $250,000 or less but the proposed State Budget for FY 2009 would change the limit to $150,000);

*The home must be subject to local property taxes, and 2007 property taxes must have been paid.

The homeowner rebate automated telephone filing system (1-877-658-2972) and Internet filing application on the Division of Taxation Web site (www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/) will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week during the filing period.

We have made every effort to identify those homeowners who were 65 years of age or older as of December 31, 2007, however, some homeowners who turned 65 or became disabled during 2007 may have been missed. Any
eligible homeowner who was 65 or older or blind or disabled as of December 31, 2007, who does not receive their application packet by May 14 should call the Homestead Rebate Hotline at 1-888-238-1233 for assistance. Alternatively, once you or your staff have verified that the constituent was 65 or older or disabled as of December 31, 2007, you may fax or e-mail the constituent's name, social security number, date of birth and their address on October 1, 2007, to the fax number or e-mail address shown below.

If you or your staff have any questions about the Homestead Rebate Program, please call our Legislative Hotline at 609-633-8433 or send an e-mail to nj.propertytaxrelief@treas.state.nj.us. This telephone number and e-mail address are for your use only - please do not give them to the public. Members of the public should be referred to the following:

Homestead Rebate (for Homeowners):

--To file applications by phone: 1-877-658-2972

--To file applications online: www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/

--To ask questions: 1-888-238-1233

--Text Telephone Service (TTY/TDD) for Hard-of-Hearing Users:
1-800-286-6613 or 609-984-7300

E-mail address for homestead rebate questions:
nj.homesteadrebate@treas.state.nj.us

E-mail address for general tax questions:
nj.taxation@treas.state.nj.us

Agents are available during normal business hours from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday to answer questions or to assist homeowners in filing their applications.

Information for homeowners is available on our Web site at http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/homestead/hrhownergeninf.htm
Additional information will be posted once the State budget has been finalized."