2008 Homestead Rebate Information for Homeowners Under Age 65 and NOT Disabled on December 31, 2008

Eligibility
If you were under age 65 and NOT disabled on December 31, 2008, you are eligible for a 2008 New Jersey homestead rebate if your domicile (or permanent legal residence) is in New Jersey and you meet the following conditions:

• Have New Jersey gross income for 2008 of $75,000 or less before exemptions and deductions. This does not include income that is not subject to New Jersey gross income tax such as Social Security, Railroad Retirement benefits, or unemployment compensation. View list of other nontaxable income. The $75,000 income limit applies to a single individual, a married/civil union couple living in the same residence, and a married/civil union partner maintaining a residence separate from their spouse/civil union partner.
• Own and occupy a home in New Jersey that was your principal residence on October 1, 2008;
• The home must be subject to local property taxes, and 2008 property taxes must have been paid. However, the State Budget mandates that the 2008 rebate will be calculated using 2006 property taxes. See Rebate Amounts by Income Limits for Homeowners Under Age 65 and NOT Disabled.

New Jersey residents are not eligible for a homestead rebate if no property taxes are paid on their dwellings. This includes:

• Homeowners completely exempt from paying property taxes on their principal residence. This can include certain disabled veterans and their unmarried surviving spouses/surviving civil union partners/surviving domestic partners who may claim a 100% exemption from local property taxes under certain conditions.
• Homeowners who made P.I.L.O.T. (Payments-in-Lieu-of-Tax) payments to their municipality. These payments are not considered property taxes for purposes of the homestead rebate.

How to File
Eligible homeowners had until the extended due date of November 2, 2009, to file their applications." 

NOTE: Homeowners do NOT file their homestead rebate applications with the New Jersey income tax return. Only tenants use Form TR-1040 in the resident income tax return packet and only tenants file their homestead rebate applications electronically at the same time they file their New Jersey tax returns.

Rebate Amount
The amount of the rebate is based on an applicant’s income, filing status, property taxes, and whether the applicant was age 65 or older or eligible to claim an exemption as blind or disabled for tax year 2008. The State Budget mandates that the 2008 rebate will be calculated using 2006 property taxes. Under the terms of the Budget, 2008 rebate amounts will be no greater than those paid for 2006 (when rebates were also based on 2006 property taxes) unless there has been a change in an applicant’s filing characteristics.

• Rebate Amounts by Income Limits for Homeowners Under Age 65 and not Disabled
• View Schedule of Rebate Payment Dates for Homeowners Under Age 65 and NOT Disabled on December 31, 2008
• Homestead Rebate Frequently Asked Questions

Send an e-mail about your Homestead Rebate

Information for Homeowners Age 65 or Older and/or Disabled