|  TRENTON – State
Treasurer John E. McCormac announced today that New Jersey homeowners
can expect to begin receiving applications for the new, larger NJ
SAVER checks on July 6, 2004. The Division of Taxation will mail
1.7 million 2003 NJ SAVER application packets over a two-week period.
The deadline for filing these applications is August 16, 2004.
New Jersey residents who owned a home that was their principal residence
on October 1, 2003, and paid property taxes on that home may be eligible
for the 2003 NJ SAVER rebate.
“The Governor’s FAIR plan will provide instant and direct
property tax relief to nearly 2 million middle-class families and seniors
- those most affected by the property tax crisis - through a millionaire's
tax on those who can best afford it,” said Treasurer McCormac. “Not
a single dollar raised by the FAIR Plan will go to more government
spending.”
The mailing of the applications, which usually occurs in early May,
was modified this year in order to give the Division of Taxation sufficient
time to implement processing and programming changes in anticipation
of the FAIR plan. Under the FAIR property tax relief plan, 93 percent
of New Jersey homeowners, including 458,000 senior citizens, will receive
larger rebate checks this year. More than 1.1 million homeowners who
received NJ SAVER rebates that averaged $250 last year will receive
checks of up to $800. Approximately 190,000 families with income between
$125,000 and $200,000 will see their average rebate check from last
year double, to $500. As in recent years, the rebates will be limited
to filers with gross incomes under $200,000.
“All potentially eligible New Jersey homeowners should be sure
to file their application,” said Treasurer McCormac. “Once
the budget is enacted with the FAIR changes in place, the Division
of Taxation will apply all program changes to timely filed applications
and prepare checks for mailing.
The increased benefits are part of the Governor’s three-pronged
FAIR plan, which provides immediate property tax relief, requests a
freeze on government spending, and calls for a blueprint for lasting,
long-term property tax reform.”
Treasurer McCormac
noted that in anticipation of the FAIR plan’s
adoption, some NJ SAVER applications have been modified to capture
additional income information, which will be used to calculate the
benefit in relation to a filer’s property taxes.
The NJ SAVER rebate
automated telephone filing system and the Internet filing application
are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. “Once
they receive their applications, homeowners can file for the NJ SAVER
rebate by phone by calling 1-877-658-2972, or online at www.njsaverrebate.com,” said
Robert K. Thompson, Director of the Division of Taxation. The filing
deadline is August 16, 2004. Anyone who believes that they are eligible
for a 2003 NJ SAVER rebate but does not receive their application packet
by July 26, may call the NJ SAVER Rebate Hotline (609-826-4282) to
have one mailed to them. NJ SAVER checks will be mailed in the fall.
For
more information on the NJ SAVER Rebate Program homeowners may call
the NJ SAVER Rebate
Hotline at 609-826-4282 from 8:30 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. NJ SAVER rebate information is also
available on the Division of Taxation’s Web site at www.njsaverrebate.com or
through the Division’s Automated Tax Information System at
1-800-323-4400. TTY service is provided for the hearing impaired at
1-800-286-6613 or 609-984-7300.
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