JACKSON — With a June 1 deadline for filing a Property Tax Reimbursement application, senior citizens in Jackson were recently informed about the requirements for participation in the program, which is also known as the property tax freeze.
Jackson tax collector Michael W. Campbell discussed the program on March 27 at the Melvin Cottrell Center for Senior Citizens and the Disabled. He said some senior citizens may qualify for a rebate of several hundred dollars by taking advantage of the program.
“This program has been in effect for about 11 years,” he said. “The government intended to reimburse seniors and disabled people. The program is not designed for everybody, but if you qualify, it’s a great program.”
Campbell said the aim of the program is to cap the level of property taxes paid by a qualifying individual.
Eligibility requirements for the 2009 property tax reimbursement were noted. All applicants had to have been 65 years old or older on Dec. 31, 2008, or if they were under 65 they had to have been receiving federal Social Security disability benefits as of Dec. 31, 2008 and Dec. 31, 2009.
Additionally, the resident had to have lived in New Jersey continuously since before Jan. 1, 1999, as a homeowner or a renter, and must have owned and lived there since before Jan. 1, 2006. That includes people who leased a site in a mobile home park for a manufactured or mobile home that was owned by the resident.
Individuals may not apply for a reimbursement on property taxes they paid for a second home or a vacation home, for property they rent to someone else, or a property that consists of more than four units or a property that has four units or less and has a commercial unit.
It was noted that the New Jersey Property Tax Reimbursement program is not the same as the state’s Homestead Rebate program. A separate application must be filed every year for each program.
Details: Visit www.state.nj.treasury/taxation. propfrez.shtml or call 1-800-882-6597, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:40 p.m.