Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts' Urgent Reminder: Tomorrow Is Deadline For Property Tax Rebate Applications

ROBERTS' URGENT REMINDER: TOMORROW IS DEADLINE
FOR PROPERTY TAX REBATE APPLICATIONS

(TRENTON) - Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr., urged New Jersey homeowners and tenants to remember that the deadline for filing their property tax rebate applications is tomorrow, Wednesday, October 31.

"This year's rebate checks constitute unprecedented levels of property tax relief and residents who have yet to apply should pull out the stops over the next 24 hours and do so," said Roberts (D-Camden).  "There was an estimated pool of $200 million in unclaimed property tax rebate checks at the beginning of this month and it is a matter of absolute urgency that people apply for their checks by tomorrow."

Roberts noted that the deadline for seniors and disabled residents to file their 2006 property tax reimbursement ("Senior Freeze") applications is October 31 as well.  The rebate and reimbursement programs are separate programs, and residents who qualify must file separate applications for each program.

News reports in the past couple weeks indicated that the Division of Taxation's hotlines for answering questions about the state's property tax rebate program have occasionally experienced heavy volume, resulting in callers receiving tape messages of apology.

Roberts said last-minute callers should make repeated calls to make sure they file their rebate applications by the deadline.  Roberts said it is imperative that residents get the rebates they deserve, since this year's checks are the largest ever to be provided by the state.

"People who may have thought it was not worth their while to apply in the past need to think twice this year," said Roberts.  "They could potentially be missing out on as much as $2,000."

The property tax rebate program was expanded and enhanced this year to provide benefits to 1.9 millions homeowners - about 95 percent of all homeowners in the state.  Over 800,000 tenants also are eligible to receive rebate checks this year.

Roberts cited some of the notable changes of how this year's checks are different from last year's:

• Non-senior homeowners are eligible for rebates averaging $966, an amount three times greater than the average amount for this group of taxpayers last year -- $285.
• Non-senior tenants are eligible to receive as much as $350, an amount that is four-and-a-half times greater than last year's $75 maximum.
• The average check for senior/disabled homeowners is $1,275, up from last year's average of $1,150.

Homeowners with incomes below $250,000 are eligible for property tax cuts that could be as high as 20 percent off their local tax bill.  The amount of money for renters' rebates, meanwhile, was doubled; eligible senior tenants may receive checks up to $850 and non-senior tenants may receive checks up to $350.  Meanwhile, eligible senior citizen homeowners and homeowners with disabilities are guaranteed to receive either the amount of property tax savings they currently receive or the amount provided under the new program - whichever is greater.

The improved rebate program was the capstone of the past year's landmark legislative effort to lower property taxes in the short-term while instituting long-term reforms to make the tax savings sustainable.  The rebates were complemented by laws that included the establishment of a state comptroller to combat wasteful practices and corruption; the placement of a four-percent cap on property tax levies for schools, municipalities, and counties; and a crackdown on pension system abuses like padding, boosting and tacking.

Homeowners and tenants who have yet to apply for their rebates still have until October 31 to file their applications.  Homeowners may file (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) by phone (1-877-658-2972) or online at www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation.

Tenants can complete and file a paper Homestead Rebate Application, Form TR-1040. Copies of Form TR 1040 and instructions are available on the Division of Taxation's Web site at www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/prntgit.htm. Tenants also can use NJ WebFile, the Division's free Internet filing system, which is available at www.njwebfile.com.

Residents who have already filed can check on the status of their rebates by calling 1-877-658-2972, or online at www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/homestead/06hrintro.htm.

Residents seeking more information about the rebate checks and other New Jersey property tax relief programs can go to the Division of Taxation's Web site - www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/relief.htm -- or they can call 1-888-238-1233.

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