Filing Deadlines Extended for 2007 Homestead Rebate and Senior Freeze Program Applications

TRENTON – State Treasurer David Rousseau today announced that the deadline for New Jersey’s senior and disabled homeowners to file 2007 Homestead Rebate applications has been extended to August 15, 2008. The deadline for filing a 2007 Senior Freeze (Property Tax Reimbursement) application has also been extended to August 15. The original deadline for applications for both relief programs was June 2, 2008. 

“The June deadline is almost here and we are aware that many of our senior and disabled residents really need some more time to submit their property tax relief applications,” Rousseau said. “With this extension, they will have plenty of additional time to file for both the Homestead Rebate and Senior Freeze programs.”

New Jersey residents who owned a home as their principal residence on October 1, 2007, paid property taxes on that home, and meet certain income limits may be eligible for the 2007 homestead rebate. Applications for this program were mailed to senior and disabled homeowners in late April and early May.

Under the proposed Fiscal Year 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.

Homeowners who are 65 or older or disabled and have received a homestead rebate application but have not yet filed can do so by phone by calling 1-877-658-2972, or they can file online through the Division of Taxation’s Web site at www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation.

The automated phone and Internet filing systems are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week during the filing period. Those homeowners who were aged 65 or older or disabled as of December 31, 2007, and have questions about the homestead rebate, or have not received a 2007 application and believe they are eligible, should call the Homestead Rebate Hotline at 1-888-238-1233. Representatives are available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The homestead rebate application deadline has also been extended for all eligible tenants, whether they’re seniors or disabled or not. The tenant rebate application (Form TR-1040), which is filed with the applicant’s New Jersey income tax return, was due on April 15, 2008.

For taxpayers who have already filed their 2007 New Jersey income tax returns, but did not complete the tenant rebate application even though they are eligible, the new filing deadline is August 15. Tenants who are not required to file a New Jersey income tax return, or who are filing their return under extension can still file only Form TR-1040 to apply for a homestead rebate, and have until October 31 to do so.

Information about the 2007 tenant rebate and the application are available on the Division of Taxation’s Web site. Tenants who need to speak to a Division representative can contact the Customer Service Center at 1-888-213-8623 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information on the 2007 Senior Freeze (Property Tax Reimbursement) Program, 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 about the Senior Freeze Program is also available on the Division of Taxation’s Web site at www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/propfrez.htm.

Checks for senior and disabled homeowners who file their applications by the original filing deadline of June 2 are scheduled to be mailed in mid-July for the Senior Freeze and early August for the homestead rebate. Checks for senior or disabled homeowners who file applications after the original June 2 deadlines will be processed and delivered as quickly as possible thereafter. Homestead rebate checks for tenants, who filed their applications with their income tax returns, are scheduled to be mailed in early August.