Deadline extended for seniors to apply for property tax reimbursement program

Are you a New Jersey resident over the age of 65? If so, did you know that you could be protected from future property tax increases, including those proposed by annual school budgets and the upcoming high school referendum? The state now offers the Senior Freeze program, which reimburses eligible senior and disabled homeowners the difference between the amount of local property taxes paid in “the base year” (the year they became eligible and first filed for the program) and the amount of property taxes paid for the reimbursement year. This year’s Senior Freeze application deadline had been extended from June 1 to August 15. If you file by August 15 and are found eligible, you could have your future property taxes frozen at the 2005 amount, as long as the state continues the program. Who’s eligible? You may be if: • You are age 65 or older or receiving Federal Social Security disability benefits, and • You have lived in New Jersey continuously for 10 years as a homeowner or a renter, and • You have owned and lived in the same home for the last three years, and • You have paid the full amount of property taxes that were due on your home for the base year and for each succeeding year, up to and including the year for which you are claiming the reimbursement; and • You meet the income limits for the base year and for each succeeding year, up to and including the year for which you are claiming the reimbursement. Residents applying for the 2005 reimbursement must have a total income that is less than $40,869 (single) or $50,113 (married) in 2004, and had a total annual income of less than $41,972 (single) or $51,466 (married) in 2005. Filers must continue to meet all eligibility requirements and must file an application each year to receive the reimbursement. For your convenience, applications for the 2005 Senior Freeze (Property Tax Reimbursement) are available in the main offices of all Sparta schools. You can also receive an application and more information on the program by contacting the Property Tax Reimbursement Hotline at 1-800-882-6597 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or by logging on to the Division of Taxation’s Web site at www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/propfrez.htm.