Governor Corzine Announces Mailing of Property Tax Reimbursement Checks with Record High Average of $1,132

TRENTON, NJ – July 15, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — Governor Jon S. Corzine announced today that the mailing had begun of Property Tax Reimbursement checks for 2008 to 129,000 qualified senior and disabled homeowners, and that checks for the program — commonly known as the “Senior Freeze” — will average a record high of $1,132.

“We are very pleased to be sending this direct property tax relief to some of New Jersey’s most vulnerable residents,” Governor Corzine said. “Keeping the Senior Freeze Program fully funded in this year’s budget delivers on the commitment I have made to delivering help to our senior and disabled residents, along with all the working families in New Jersey.”

The Senior Freeze Program was funded at $172.5 million for FY 2010, up from $169 million in FY 2009. The $172.5 million is in addition to the $1.12 billion allocated for the Homestead Rebate Program, and part of over $1.73 billion in direct relief to New Jersey property taxpayers for FY10. Homestead Rebate checks for seniors and disabled residents and tenants are to be mailed at the end of July. Approximately one-half of the FY 2010 Budget of $29 billion is dedicated to spending on property tax relief. The FY10 allocations bring cumulative spending on direct relief programs in Governor Corzine’s four budgets (FY 07-FY10) to $6.9 billion.

Under the Senior Freeze Program, qualifying senior and disabled citizens are directly reimbursed by the State for the difference between the amount of local property taxes paid in the “base year” (the year that applicants became eligible and first filed for the program) and the amount of property taxes paid for the reimbursement year. Applicants originally had until June 1 to file for this benefit, but in order to encourage all eligible residents to apply Governor Corzine extended the deadline to August 17, 2009.

The Department of Treasury’s Division of Taxation today mailed out the 129,000 reimbursement checks for 2008 to qualified applicants who filed by the original June 1 deadline. Those who filed after the original deadline will receive their checks as their applications are processed. Benefits under the Senior Freeze Program are in addition to the State’s other property tax relief programs.

Every year the Division of Taxation receives thousands of applications that are missing required information or documentation. Residents who filed incomplete applications will receive information on how to make them complete. Earlier this month the Division mailed approximately 5,200 notices requesting the missing information from these applicants. Another 10,000 will be mailed this week.

“They should get the necessary information or documentation to us as quickly as possible so we can process their applications and send them the benefits for which they are eligible,” State Treasurer David Rousseau said.

Applicants with questions or who want to check the status of their reimbursement checks may call the Property Tax Reimbursement Hotline at 1-800-882-6597. Information about the program is also available on the Division of Taxation’s Web site at www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/propfrez.shtml