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Deadline Approaching for NJ's Senior Freeze Property Tax Program; Now Available Online
The Department of the Treasury urges eligible residents to utilize the new online application feature for property tax reimbursements before the October 31st cutoff.
New Jersey's Department of the Treasury is calling on eligible residents to submit their applications for the Senior Freeze property tax reimbursement program before the approaching deadline of October 31. The state has also rolled out an online application system aimed at simplifying and accelerating the process.
Overview of the Program
The Senior Freeze program is designed to offer financial relief to qualifying seniors and disabled individuals by reimbursing them for increases in property taxes or mobile home park site fees.
State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio stated, "Thanks to the Senior Freeze program, many seniors across New Jersey do not need to worry about facing property tax increases year after year. It helps seniors stay in the same communities where they’ve raised families, built careers, and made a lifetime of memories."
How It Works
The program “freezes” property taxes for eligible applicants at a set base year, and then refunds any increases in the subsequent years. To be eligible for the reimbursement, taxpayers must meet continuous eligibility requirements from the base year through the current application year.
Eligibility Criteria
Residents must meet the following criteria to qualify for the program:
- 65 or older as of December 31, 2021
- Received Social Security benefits by December 31, 2021
- Continuous residence in New Jersey since December 31, 2011, or earlier
- Owned and occupied their home since December 31, 2018, or earlier
- Timely payment of property taxes for 2021 and 2022
- Meet income requirements of $94,178 or less for 2021 and $99,735 or less for 2022
Future Changes
A new law, signed by Governor Phil Murphy, will expand the program’s income limit to $150,000 and remove the 10-year residency requirement starting from next year’s filing season. However, the age and disability criteria remain unchanged.
Additional Information
Booklets with application details were mailed in February. Those who did not receive the booklet can contact the New Jersey Division of Taxation's Senior Freeze Property Tax Reimbursement Information Line at 1-800-882-6597. Payments for approved applications began on July 10 and will continue on an ongoing basis. Applicants can also check the status and amount of their reimbursement online.
The Senior Freeze program offers significant financial relief to New Jersey’s senior and disabled residents. The upcoming October 31 deadline and the new online application option provide an accessible opportunity for eligible citizens to gain valuable tax relief.
For more information, residents can visit the New Jersey Division of Taxation's Senior Freeze program webpage, which provides details on eligibility requirements, application procedures, and more.
