Governor Christie Expands Access to Property Tax Relief by Extending Homestead Benefit Filing Deadline

Trenton – November 25, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — To ensure as many New Jerseyans as possible have the opportunity to obtain property tax relief, the Christie Administration has extended the deadline for filing Homestead Benefit applications to Tuesday, December 31.

The previous deadline was Friday, November 22. The Treasury Department’s Division of Taxation has mailed out more than 1.3 million applications to homeowners for the Homestead Benefit program for calendar year 2012.

“At this point, the Division has received just about half the total number of applications it expects will be filed for calendar year 2012 and it is unlikely that all eligible filers will meet the November 22 deadline,” State Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff explained. “By extending the application deadline to December 31, we will give those who might have missed out the chance to apply and receive their benefit in 2014.”

The 2011 Homestead Benefit program paid more than $396 million in benefits to 844,096 homeowners. On average, each taxpayer received a benefit of $469.33.

To be eligible for a benefit for calendar year 2012, you must be a New Jersey resident who owned a principal residence on October 1, 2012, and paid property taxes on that home. You must also have reported $75,000 or less in New Jersey gross income for 2012 or, if you were disabled or age 65 or older on December 31, 2012, you must have reported gross income for 2012 of $150,000 or less.
The extended deadline for all homeowners to file is Tuesday, December 31, 2013.

For more information on the Homestead Benefit Program, homeowners may call the Division of Taxation’s Homestead Benefit Hotline at 1‐888‐238‐1233 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Homestead benefit information is also available on the Division’s website at www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/homestead/geninf.shtml and through its Automated Tax Information System at 1‐800‐323‐4400. Text telephone service for the hearing impaired is provided at 1‐800‐286‐6613 or 609‐984‐7300.
Homeowners should read the instructions and complete the worksheet in their application packet before attempting to file. Anyone who has sold recently or is preparing to sell their home should read the instructions carefully to avoid missing out on the Homestead Benefit.
Homeowners can file online at: www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/,or by phone at 1‐877‐658‐2972.