CODEY & ROBERTS URGE RESIDENTS TO APPLY FOR $200 MILLION WORTH OF UNCLAIMED REBATES

Legislative Presiding Officers Say Record-Setting Amounts of Property Tax Relief Are Too Substantial to Be Ignored by Homeowners, Seniors, Renters

(TRENTON) - Senate President Richard J. Codey and Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr. today announced that roughly 200,000 taxpayers have yet to apply for the state's newly expanded property tax rebate program to claim the estimated $200 million in rebate money that remains sitting in the state treasury.

With the final bulk mailing of 1.1 million rebate checks delivered to New Jersey residents last week, Codey and Roberts are dedicated to making sure that all remaining eligible senior citizens, working middle-income homeowners and tenants either receive their requested check or file an application by the October 31 deadline.

"These unprecedented levels of property tax relief are real, but only if you apply for it," said Codey (D-Essex).  "Anyone who has not received a check in the mail yet, likely hasn't applied and they should go online or contact Treasury immediately to file an application."

"This is the most substantial property tax relief program in state history," said Roberts (D-Camden).  "It is a matter of absolute urgency that this outstanding pool of $200 million gets back to the property taxpayers who need help the most."

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.

Codey and Roberts expressed concern that many residents still may not be aware of the substantial changes that were made in the rebate program this year.
"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."

"Come the holiday season, people will be kicking themselves if they realize they were eligible and did not apply.  It's absolutely urgent that they look into it now before it's too late," said Codey.

Codey and Roberts noted how different this year's checks are 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.  Overall, 46 separate relief and reform measures were enacted to address New Jersey's high property taxes.

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/06h....

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.
--30--