Hunterdon County Commissioners remind seniors to apply for state property tax freeze before Oct. 31 deadline
HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ – Hunterdon County’s Commissioner Board reminds senior citizen homeowners that the income eligibility for the state’s Senior Property Tax Freeze program for 2023 filing season has been raised to $150,000 and the application filing deadline is fast approaching on Oct. 31, 2024.
“Ensuring that our seniors are aware of property tax relief programs like the Senior Freeze is important part of my responsibilities as liaison to the Division of Senior, Disabilities, and Veterans Services. The Senior Freeze Program reimburses eligible senior citizens and disabled persons for property tax or mobile home park site fee increases on their principal residence. To qualify, an applicant must meet all the eligibility requirements for the year, from the base year through the application year. The deadline for filing is coming up at the end of October, and it is important to get the word out to qualified claimants in enough time,” Hunterdon Commissioner Shaun C. Van Doren said.
The Department of Treasury’s Division of Taxation began issuing Senior Freeze reimbursement checks on July 15th, with the first wave of payments totaling over $145 million dollars. The Division will continue issuing weekly reimbursements as more applications are filed and approved.
Qualifying residents have the option to apply and check the status of their application online through a filing portal at www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/ptr. A printable version of the application can be found at www.nj.gov/treasury/taxation/ptr/printform.shtml.
Commissioner John E. Lanza, a member of the County Budget Committee said, “While the County Commissioner Board recently cut the county tax rate to the 2015 level after freezing the rate for six years, it is recognized that other government entities relying on property taxes may have raised the total tax bill. Under this program, eligible seniors will receive a payment offsetting any increases. With the new higher income eligibility standard, the Commissioners want to ensure that all eligible Hunterdon County senior homeowners are aware of the senior tax freeze and complete the application before the October 31, 2024, deadline.”
According to the State Division of Taxation website, the ‘Senior Freeze’ program reimburses enrolled participants for any property tax increases after successful enrollment. The Division eliminated the requirement for many Property Tax Reimbursment-2 filers to include proof of property taxes, as well as residents of co-ops or continuing care retirement facilities no longer have to submit proof of property taxes either. The law also eliminated the requirement that an applicant must be a New Jersey resident for ten years to qualify for the program.
For additional assistance, eligible residents can also call the Senior Freeze Property Tax Reimbursement Information Line at: 1-800-882-6597.
