Lacey Township, New Jersey - Tax Rebates and Deduction Programs

There are two separate and distinct property tax relief programs available to New Jersey homeowners.

Property Tax Reimbursement Program (forms are sent out by the State in January) For information call 1-800-882-6597

This program is designed to freeze the burden of increasing real estate taxes for qualified applicants by establishing a base year of eligibility and comparing that “base” with any subsequent year, the difference to be refunded by the State annually. Eligibility must be continuous otherwise a new base year must be established.

Qualifications are as follows:

1) Must make application annually (with the state)

2) Homeowners age 65 or older or receiving Federal Social Security Disability Benefits and who paid property taxes on their principal residence in New Jersey;

3) Applicants must be NJ residents for at least 10 years, and living in their current home for the last 3 years;

4) Applicant must meet certain income limits for both the “base year” (year applicant first became eligible) and the application year. Income requirements are set by the State annually;

5) Property taxes must be paid in full within the year applied for.

Homestead Rebate for the year 2006

In May the 2007 homestead rebate applications were mailed to those homeowners that could be identified as senior (age 65 or older on December 31, 2006) or disabled homeowners. The Division of Taxation is now in the process of mailing applications to nonsenior and nondisabled homeowners. The mailing of the application packets will be staggered over a two-week period beginning this week. The deadline for filing is August 15, 2007.

The homestead rebate application delivery dates by county are as follows:

County Expected Delivery Date

Cape May, Union - June 27

Bergen, Burlington, Cumberland, Warren - June 29

Gloucester, Mercer, Middlesex, Passaic - July 3

Morris, Ocean - July 6

Atlantic, Essex, Monmouth, Sussex - July 9

Camden, Hudson, Hunterdon, Salem, Somerset - July 11

With very few exceptions, homeowner rebate applications must be filed by phone or over the Internet. Homeowners who receive a packet should read it carefully, and if they meet the eligibility requirements, complete the worksheet in the packet prior to filing.

Some senior and disabled homeowners may receive an application packet in this mailing, even though they have already filed for their 2006 homeowner rebate. Homeowners who have already filed their applications online or by phone and received a confirmation number, or who have completed and mailed in a paper application, should NOT file again.

Applicants must meet the following conditions to be eligible for a 2006 homestead rebate:

· Own and occupy a home in New Jersey that was their principal residence on October 1, 2006;

· Have gross income for 2006 of $250,000 or less;

· The home must be subject to local property taxes, and 2006 property taxes must have been paid by December 31st 2006.

Eligible homeowners will receive a percentage of the first $10,000 of their property taxes up to a maximum of $2,000: 20% for income of $100,000 or less, 15% for income between $100,001 and $150,000, and 10% for income between $150,001 and $250,000. Homeowners who were age 65 or older or disabled as of December 31, 2006, will receive the larger of either the amount determined by the percentage-of-property taxes formula, or the amount they would have received under the rebate rules in place for tax years 2004 and 2005.

The homeowner rebate automated telephone filing system (1-877-658-2972) and Internet filing application on the Division of Taxation Web site (www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/) will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week during the filing period. Any homeowner who believes that they are eligible for a 2006 homeowner rebate, but who has not received their application packet by July 16, may call the Homestead Rebate Hotline at 1-888-238-1233 for assistance.

Members of the public with questions should be referred to the following:

Homestead Rebate (for homeowners):

· To file applications by phone: 1-877-658-2972

· To file applications online: www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/

· To ask questions: 1-888-238-1233

TTY Equipment Users: 1-800-286-6613 or 609-984-7300

E-mail address for homestead rebate questions: nj.homesteadrebate@treas.state.nj.us

E-mail address for general tax questions: nj.taxation@treas.state.nj.us

Agents are available during normal business hours from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday to answer questions or to assist homeowners in filing their applications.

Information about the Homestead Rebate Program is available on the Division of Taxation Web site:

General information for homeowners:

www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/homestead/06hrhomeownergeninf.htm

Income criteria and rebate amounts for homeowners:

www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/homestead/06hrhomeowneramounts.htm

List of “Frequently Asked Questions”

www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/pdf/homestead/06hrfaq.pdf