 TRENTON
-- State Treasurer Bradley I. Abelow announced today that the Division
of Taxation has begun mailing 2005 Property Tax Reimbursement (PTR)
checks. Checks for the PTR Program – also known as the “Senior
Freeze” program -- will average $791 this year.
“The Senior
Freeze program is fully funded in this year’s budget as part of
Governor Corzine’s commitment to easing the property tax burden,
particularly for New Jersey’s most vulnerable citizens,”
said.Treasurer Abelow, who noted that $15.3 billion, or nearly one-half
of the $30.8 billion State budget for FY 2007, will be used for property
tax relief. The Senior Freeze program was funded at $118 million for
FY 2007, up from $98.4 in FY 2006.
Under the program, qualifying senior and disabled citizens are directly
reimbursed by the State for the difference between the amount of local
property taxes paid in the “base year” (the year that applicants
became eligible and first filed for the program) and the amount of property
taxes paid for the reimbursement year. Applicants had until June 1 to
file for this benefit, but in order to encourage all eligible residents
to apply, the deadline was extended to August 15.
The Division today mailed out 113,803 checks, which will reach applicants
who filed by the original June 1 deadline. As in previous years when
the due date was extended, many other homeowners who filed after the
original deadline will receive checks as their applications are processed.
Last year, 58,234 checks were issued after the general mid-July mailing.
The Division of Taxation annually receives thousands of applications
with missing information or required documentation. Residents who filed
incomplete applications will receive information on how to correct the
problem. The Division will be sending notices requesting the required
information from these applicants.
“The sooner
they return the requested information to us, the sooner we can process
their application and send them the benefits for which they are eligible,”
Treasurer Abelow said.
Applicants with questions or who want to check the status of their reimbursement
checks may call the Property Tax Reimbursement Hotline at 1-800-882-6597.
Information about the Program is also available on the Division of Taxation’s
Web site at www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/propfrez.htm.
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