Official Site of The State of New Jersey

ICYMI: Treasury Announces New Online Portal to Modernize Farmland Assessment Program

(TRENTON) — In a significant step to reform New Jersey’s Farmland Assessment program, Treasury’s Division of Taxation is preparing to launch a new online application portal with the goal of improving eligibility enforcement and reducing instances of improperly granted benefits.

The Farmland Assessment program allows farmland and woodland acres that are actively devoted to an agricultural or horticultural use to be assessed at their productivity value, so that farmers may pay lower taxes on those portions of their properties. Tax assessors determine which properties qualify as farmland, then farmers apply for the program by paper application.

Recognizing a need for modernization, the Division of Taxation – working in close partnership with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and New Jersey Department of Agriculture - is creating an online filing system currently in the testing phase. The portal is set to launch in 2026 for the assessment in Tax Year 2027.

By centralizing applications in a digital system, staff will be able to more effectively audit applications approved by tax assessors, reduce the time required for application reviews, and allow greater focus on physical inspections of applicants’ properties.

This streamlined approach to the application process is designed to protect the integrity of the successful Farmland Assessment program, which since 1964 has provided incentive for landowners to safeguard property used for agricultural purposes, in a testament to New Jersey’s roots as the Garden State. Farmers, landowners, tax assessors, and taxpayers stand to benefit from a simplified, reformed system that discourages improper applications and ensures qualified candidates are granted benefits.

“With the launch of this online portal, the Farmland Assessment program will become more efficient at all stages of the process,” said State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio. “This much-needed modernization will support the success of this program and farmers throughout the Garden State for years to come.”

“Modernizing the Farmland Assessment application process is a critical step in enhancing this decades-old program, enabling more inspections and strengthening the program’s accessibility and integrity,” said New Jersey Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette. “By reducing paperwork and moving to a streamlined, digital system, staff can spend less time on administrative tasks and more time where it matters most, on the ground stewarding New Jersey’s forest resources.”

“This is a big step forward in reducing the paperwork many New Jersey farmers face in their operations,” said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn. “The program will link each farm with all parcels recorded to the owner, reducing the number of forms a producer must file and cutting down on time and paperwork.”

“Governor Murphy and his Administration have worked hard to make the farmland assessment more effective,” said Jack Curtis, a retired educator who was a special guest at the last State of the State. “By championing legislation, increasing the sales threshold, and creating this online filing system, the Governor has demonstrated his commitment to accountability and responsiveness.”

For updates on the application portal as it nears launch, please visit the New Jersey Division of Taxation website.