Cardinale's Office to Assist with Senior Tax Freeze

Are you a senior resident in the 39th District? Do you need help with your application for the New Jersey property tax reimbusement program, also known as the Senior Tax Freeze? If you answered yes to both of those questions, Sen. Gerald Cardinale's office will be able to assist you in the process.

You may be eligible for a reimbursement of the difference between the amount of property taxes you paid for the base year (the year you first became eligible) and the amount paid for the year for which you are applying for a reimbursement if you met all the following requirements for the base year and for each succeeding year, up to and including the year for which you are claiming the reimbursement:

• You are age 65 or older or receiving Federal Social Security disability benefits; and
• You have lived in New Jersey continuously for at least the last 10 years, as either a homeowner or a renter; and
• You have owned and lived in your home (or have leased a site in a mobile home park on which you have placed a manufactured or mobile home that you own) for at least the last 3 years; and
• You have paid the full amount of property taxes (or site fees if you are a mobile home owner) that were due on your home for the base year and for each succeeding year, up to and including the year for which you are claiming the reimbursement; and
• You meet the income limits for the base year and for each succeeding year, up to and including the year for which you are claiming the reimbursement.

Residents applying for the 2010 reimbursement must have total income for 2009 that is $80,000 or less. These limits apply regardless of marital/civil union status. However, applicants who are married or in a civil union must report combined income of both spouses/CU partners.

If your residence is in a multiple-unit building that you own, and the building has more than four units, you are not eligible for a property tax reimbursement. You are also not eligible if the building has four units or less but more than one commercial unit.

Click here to download an application for the Senior Tax Freeze. Copies of the instructions and application can also be found at right. The deadline to submit applications is June 1, 2011.

The district office of Senator Gerald Cardinale is available to help you apply for your property tax reimbursement through the Senior Tax Freeze. Questions can be referred to Cardinale's Office.