Thursday, September 14, 2017

NEW JERSEY HOMESTEAD BENEFIT UPDATE

Here is the latest word on the 2015 New Jersey Homestead Benefit, to be distributed in 2018 -
 
The Division of Taxation will mail 2015 Homestead Benefit packets over a three-week period in September 2017 -
 
Cape May, Mercer, Ocean counties = Saturday, September 16
 
Monmouth, Somerset, Union counties = Tuesday, September 19
 
Hunterdon, Middlesex, Passaic, Sussex counties = Thursday, September 21
 
Camden, Hudson, Morris counties = Saturday, September 23
 
Burlington, Essex, Gloucester, Salem counties =Tuesday, September 26
 
Atlantic, Bergen, Cumberland, Warren counties =Thursday, September 28
 
Using the same delivery schedule, NJDOT will send an email with instructions for downloading the packet to those filers who requested electronic delivery.
 
If you did not receive your application or an email message, wait at least one week after the expected delivery date for your county before contacting the Division. Call the Homestead Benefit Hotline at 1-888-238-1233, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except State holidays, or visit a Regional Information Center for help.
 
The filing deadline is November 30, 2017.
 
You may be eligible for a Homestead Benefit if you met these requirements:
 
·        You were a New Jersey resident; and
·        You owned and occupied a home in New Jersey that was your principal     residence on October 1, 2015; and
·        Property Taxes for 2015 were paid on that home; and
·        You met the 2015 income requirements
 
To meet the income requirements your 2015 New Jersey Gross Income – from Line 28 of your 2015 NJ-1040 - cannot be more than –
 
·        $150,000 for homeowners 65 or older or blind or disabled on December 31, 2015; or
·        $75,000 for homeowners under 65 and not blind or disabled on December 31, 2015.
 
If you were not a homeowner on October 1, 2015, you are not eligible for a Homestead Benefit, even if you owned a home for part of the year.
 
You are not eligible unless you are required to pay Property Taxes on your home. For example, you are not eligible if -
 
·        You are completely exempt from paying Property Taxes on your principal residence (such as certain totally and permanently disabled war veterans).
·        You made P.I.L.O.T. (Payments-in-Lieu-of-Tax) payments to your municipality. These payments are not considered Property Taxes for purposes of the Homestead Benefit.
 
If you sold your home, or plan to close on the sale on or before November 30, 2017 - if you no longer own the home that was your principal residence on October 1, 2015, or you plan to close on or before November 30, 2017, you must answer “No” to the question asking whether you still own the property when filing the Homestead Benefit application or you risk losing your benefit.
 
If you sell your home after filing your application - the Homestead Benefit will reduce the tax bill of the person who owns the property on the date the benefit is paid. This means that if you indicated you still own the home when filing your application, and later sell it, the only way to receive your 2015 Homestead Benefit is to take credit for the benefit at the closing of your property sale. If you plan to sell your home, discuss these instructions with your attorney or closing agent so they can negotiate on your behalf.
 
Your 2015 Homestead Benefit is based on your –
 
·        2015 New Jersey Gross Income,
·        2015 filing status (single; married, filing jointly; head of household; etc.),
·        Age/disability status (whether you were 65 or older and/or disabled on December 31, 2015),
·         Property Taxes paid in 2006 on your principal residence.
 
In most cases your 2015 Homestead Benefit as a credit on an installment of your quarterly property tax bill.  Your tax collector issues you a property pax bill or advice copy reflecting the amount of your benefit.
 
You will receive a check or direct deposit only if –
 
·        Your home was a unit in a co-op or a continuing care retirement community; or
·        You indicated that you no longer owned your home. (See Homeowners Who Sold or Plan to Sell Their Homes for more information.)
 
TTFN
 
 
 

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