Governor Corzine Announces Homestead Rebate Checks Averaging $1,300 Mailed to Senior and Disabled Homeowners and Tenants

TRENTON, NJ – July 31, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — Governor Jon S. Corzine today announced that more than 540,000 New Jersey senior and disabled homeowners will begin receiving Homestead Rebates that average about $1,300 for most recipients.  “This year’s State Budget dedicates more than $1.1 billion in direct property tax relief to New Jersey homeowners and tenants,” said Governor Corzine. “Despite significant reductions in spending, we were able to preserve rebates for most of last year’s recipients, including all seniors.” 

The 2008 rebate checks for eligible homeowners and tenants who were age 65 or older or disabled on December 31, 2008, and who filed their applications by June 1 are expected to start arriving in mail boxes Saturday, August 1. Rebate checks for senior/disabled applications filed after June 1 will be processed and issued as quickly as possible. 

Approximately 455,000 homeowners who were age 65 or older or disabled as of December 31, 2008, and had income of $150,000 or less will receive checks averaging about $1,300. For these homeowners the rebate is the greater of either a percentage of the first $10,000 of property taxes paid in 2006, or an amount determined under the alternate rules used in previous years. 

The percentage of property taxes is dependent upon income. For residents with income of $100,000 or less, 20 percent of the first $10,000 of property taxes paid in 2006, and for residents with income between $100,001 and $150,000, 10 percent of the first $10,000 of property taxes paid in 2006. The alternate rules provide senior and disabled homeowners with rebates ranging from $500 to $1,200, depending on their income and the amount of their 2006 property taxes. 

Under the terms of the FY 2010 Budget, homeowner rebate amounts for 2008 will be no greater than those paid for 2006 (when rebates were also based on 2006 property taxes) unless there has been a change in an applicant’s filing characteristics. “Filing characteristics” means a reduction in income range, a change in age/disability status or filing status, or an increase in percentage of ownership. 

Rebate checks for eligible non-senior/ non-disabled homeowners that were restored to the FY2010 Budget are scheduled to be mailed in October. The mailing of rebate applications for non-senior/ non-disabled homeowners began at the beginning of this week and the applications are expected to arrive in mailboxes statewide by the end of next week.  The filing deadline for non-senior/non-disabled homeowners is September 1, 2009. Non-senior homeowners with incomes between $50,000 and $75,000 will receive checks averaging about $700, while those non-seniors with incomes below $50,000 will receive rebate checks averaging $900. 

Information about the Homestead Rebate Program is available by calling the Homestead Rebate Hotline (1‑888‑238‑1233 for homeowners or 1‑888‑213‑8623 for tenants) from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

Homeowners and tenants can find out the status of their rebate check by calling 1‑877‑658‑2972, or online at www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/homestead/hrintro.shtml. Rebate check information for homeowners who are under 65 and not disabled will not be available either online or by phone until October. 

Homeowners who still have not filed their rebate applications can do so by phone (1‑877‑658‑2972) or online at www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/. The automated telephone filing system and Internet filing application are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The tenant rebate application and instructions are available on the Division of Taxation’s Web site for those senior and disabled tenants who have not yet filed. 

Information regarding all State property tax relief programs may be found at www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/relief.shtml.

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For More Information:
Robert Corrales
Phone: 609-777-2600