More Tax Relief On Its Way

Governor James E. McGreevey Friday announced that the first round of increased property tax relief checks under the FAIR (Fair and Immediate Relief) plan are on their way to approximately 1.3 million New Jersey residents.

“Today, we are delivering on our promise to provide New Jersey’s seniors and middle class families with more relief from the property tax burden in our state,” said Governor McGreevey. “Thanks to the FAIR plan, we are providing checks of up to $1,200 to seniors on fixed incomes and charting a course for long term property tax reform through local spending controls and a constitutional convention.”

Homeowners who are age 65 or older or disabled and have gross income of $100,000 or less, as well as tenants with gross income of $100,000 or less, can expect to receive increased Homestead Rebate Checks early this week.

Under the FAIR plan, 460,000 senior citizen homeowners will see their homestead rebate checks increase by 50 percent from $775 to a new maximum of $1,200. An additional 1.2 million working men and women earning below $125,000 will see their average relief check rise from $250 to a maximum $800. And for men and women earning between $125,000 and $200,000, relief checks will double from $250 to a new $500.

With the FAIR Plan’s merging of the Homestead Rebate and NJ SAVER programs, non-senior homeowners earning less than $200,000 and senior homeowners with income between $100,000 and $200,000 should receive increased NJ SAVER checks in October.

The checks mailed last week are part of a $14 billion commitment in this year’s budget for property tax relief. In addition to the $800 million increase in Homestead Rebate and NJ SAVER checks under the Governor’s FAIR plan, the budget provides for a $45 million increase in Senior Freeze checks and a record level of school and municipal aid.

For information about the NJ SAVER program, residents may call (609) 826-4282. To file an application, residents may call (877) 658-2972 or visit www.njsaverrebate.com. The application deadline is Aug. 16.

Residents seeking to check the status of their Homestead Rebate check may call (800) 323-4400. Information regarding all state property tax relief programs may be found at www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/relief.htm

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