NJ's Homestead Rebate - don't lose it!

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This post is from NJ Money Help.

I missed the New Jersey Homestead Rebate deadline. What now?

Q. I was denied the 2016 Homestead Rebate because I filed late. The application was literally lost under a pile of “too much to do” on my desk. How can they deny it to us under any circumstances?
— Unhappy homeowner

A. We can relate to that “too much to do” pile on your desk, but we’re afraid that won’t cut it.

A deadline is a deadline.

Generally, tax refunds are not issued unless the taxpayer files a tax return requesting the tax refund that they are entitled to receive, said Neil Becourtney, a certified public accountant and tax partner with CohnReznick in Eatontown.

He said for income tax purposes, an individual taxpayer has three years from the due date of the federal and New Jersey income tax return to file for a refund.

“If a taxpayer fails to file their federal or New Jersey personal income tax returns within this three-year time frame, they will lose out on any tax refunds to which they were entitled,” he said.

Unfortunately, the New Jersey Homestead Benefit program is based on income thresholds that need to be verified, requiring eligible homeowners to file a form each year with the New Jersey Division of Taxation.

The deadline for filing a 2016 Homestead Benefit application was Nov. 30, 2018.

The application called for the entry of your 2016 gross income, which could not have exceeded $150,000 if age 65 or older or blind or disabled, or $75,000 if under age 65 and not blind or disabled, Becourtney said.

This is explained in detail on the Division of Taxation’s website.

Unfortunately, you’re out of luck.

“In the future, I recommend that you file it the day it arrives in your mail,” Becourtney said. “I file the form for a few of my elderly clients who forward their forms to me – it only takes about five minutes to complete.”

Email your questions to Ask@NJMoneyHelp.com.

This story was originally published on July 11, 2019.

So, New Jersey homeowners, it goes something like this: you snooze, you lose.

For your real estate purchase or mortgage refinance or

if you have questions about what you see here, contact

Stephen M. Flatow, Esq.

Vested Land Services LLC

165 Passaic Avenue, Suite 101

Fairfield, NJ 07004

Tel 973-808-6130 - Fax 973-227-0645

E-mail sflatow@vested.com

@vestedland

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Rebate Filing Date Extended

New Jersey's Governor Jon S. Corzine has announced today that the deadline for filing 2008 "Senior Freeze" (Property Tax Reimbursement Program) and Homestead Rebate applications has been extended until November 2, 2009.

"With the deadlines for these programs approaching, many potential applicants still need time to file," said Governor Corzine. "This extension will help to ensure that everyone who is eligible gets the chance to participate," he said.

According to the Governor's press release, rebate checks are already on the way to eligible senior and disabled residents who applied for property tax relief benefits under the Senior Freeze and Homestead Rebate Programs. Checks for those who filed after the original deadline "will be processed and issued as quickly as possible."

"Homestead Rebate checks for nonsenior and nondisabled homeowners are scheduled to be issued in October. "

"Information about the Homestead Rebate Program is available by calling the Homestead Rebate Hotline (1-888-238-1233 for homeowners or 1-888-213-8623 for tenants) from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

"Status of rebate checks can be found by calling 1‑877‑658‑2972, or online at www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/homestead/hrintro.shtml. Rebate check information for homeowners who are under 65 and not disabled will not be available either online or by phone until October.

"Homeowners who still have not filed their Homestead Rebate applications can do so by phone (1‑877‑658‑2972) or online at www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/. The automated telephone filing system and Internet filing application are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The tenant rebate application and instructions are available on the Division of Taxation's Web site for those senior and disabled tenants who have not yet filed.

"For more information on the Senior Freeze (Property Tax Reimbursement) Program, to obtain an application, or to check the status of a reimbursement check, contact the Property Tax Reimbursement Hotline at 1-800-882-6597 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Information about the Program is also available on the Division of Taxation's Web site at www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/propfrez.shtml. "

For your next title order
or if you have questions about what you see here,

contact Stephen M. Flatow
Vested Title Inc.
648 Newark Avenue, P.O. Box 6453, Jersey City, NJ 07306
Tel 201-656-9220 - Fax 201-656-4506
E-mail vti@vested.com - www.vested.com

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