54:4-8.58a - Homestead rebate determination in tax years 2003 to 2005; rebates or credits for tax year 2006 and after
54:4-8.58a Homestead rebate determination in tax years 2003 to 2005; rebates or credits for tax year 2006 and after.
3. a. For tax year 2003, the director shall determine the amount of the homestead rebate that shall be paid to each claimant pursuant to P.L.1990, c.61 (C.54:4-8.57 et al.), and P.L.1999, c.63 (C.54:4-8.58a et al.), as amended by P.L.2004, c.40, based upon the information provided by the individual applicant in the application for either a NJ SAVER rebate or for a homestead rebate, or from any other information as may be available to the director in order that each individual applicant shall be paid the homestead rebate that may be allowed to the claimant pursuant to sections 3 through 5 of P.L.1990, c.61 (C.54:4-8.59 through 54:4-8.61), as the director determines is appropriate.
b. (1) For tax year 2003, a resident of this State who has paid property taxes for the tax year on a homestead that is owned as such, who has filed an application for an NJ SAVER rebate pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1999, c.63 (C.54:4-8.58a et al.), or pursuant to that act as amended and supplemented by P.L.2004, c.40, and who meets the prerequisites for an NJ SAVER rebate at 12:01 A.M. on October 1, 2003 for that tax year, shall be considered to have applied for a homestead rebate and shall be allowed a homestead rebate instead of an NJ SAVER rebate for that tax year pursuant to P.L.1990, c.61 (C.54:4-8.57 et al.), and P.L.1999, c.63 (C.54:4-8.58a et al.), as amended by P.L.2004, c.40. An application for an NJ SAVER rebate shall be allowed as a homestead rebate for a homestead the title to which is held by a partnership, to the extent of the applicant's interest as a partner therein, and by a guardian, trustee, committee, conservator or other fiduciary for any individual who would otherwise be eligible for an NJ SAVER rebate. An application for an NJ SAVER rebate shall not be allowed for a homestead, the title to which is held partially or entirely by a corporate entity of any type, except as otherwise specifically allowed for applications from residents of properties owned by continuing care retirement community, cooperative or mutual housing corporations.
(2)For tax year 2004 and tax year 2005, any rebates applied for and paid pursuant to P.L.1990, c.61 (C.54:4-8.57 et al.), and P.L.1999, c.63 (C.54:4-8.58a et al.), as amended and supplemented by P.L.2004, c.40, shall be homestead rebates.
(3)For tax year 2006 and for tax years thereafter, any homestead benefit applied for and provided pursuant to this act shall be a rebate or credit, as annually determined by the Director of the Division of Taxation.
L.1999, c.63, s.3; amended 2004, c.40, s.3; 2007, c.62, s.22.
54:4-8.59 Homestead rebate or credit, amount; eligibility; determination.
3. a. A resident of this State shall be allowed a homestead rebate or credit for the tax year equal to the amount determined as a percentage of property taxes not in excess of $10,000 paid by the claimant in that tax year on the claimant's homestead, rounded to the nearest whole dollar, as follows:
For Resident Taxpayer With
Tax Year Gross Income:
not overPercentage:
$100,00020%
over $100,000
but not over $150,00015%
over $150,000
but not over $250,00010%
b. (1) A resident who is 65 years of age or older at the close of the tax year, or who is allowed to claim a personal deduction as a blind or disabled taxpayer pursuant to subsection b. of N.J.S.54A:3-1, shall be allowed a homestead rebate or credit for the tax year equal to the greater of (a) the amount determined pursuant to subsection a. of this section or (b) the amount equal to an amount by which property taxes paid by the claimant in that tax year on the claimant's homestead exceed 5% of the claimant's gross income, rounded to the nearest whole dollar, but within the appropriate range, but not more than the amount of property taxes actually paid, as follows:
With Tax Year Gross Income:Range:
not over $70,000.$1,200 to $1,000
over $70,000
but not over $125,000$800 to $600
over $125,000
but not over $200,000$500
(2)Notwithstanding any provision of this act to the contrary, a homestead rebate or credit shall be allowed pursuant to this section in relation to the amount of the property taxes actually paid during the tax year for the homestead owned and occupied as such at 12:01 a.m. on October 1 of the tax year, whether paid for the entire tax year by the claimant or by any pre-October 1 owner or owners of that homestead during that tax year.
c. (1) If title to a homestead is held by more than one individual as joint tenants or tenants in common, each individual shall be allowed a homestead rebate or credit pursuant to this section only in relation to the individual's proportionate share of the property taxes assessed and levied against the homestead. The individual's proportionate share of the property taxes on that homestead shall be equal to the share of that individual's interest in the title. Title shall be presumed to be held in equal shares among all co-owners, but if the claimant satisfactorily demonstrates to the director that the title provides for unequal interests, either under the conveyance under which the title is held, or as otherwise may be demonstrated, that claimant's share of the property taxes paid on that homestead shall be in proportion to the claimant's interest in the title.
(2)Eligible claimants shall include individuals within any of the filing categories set forth in N.J.S.54A:2-1 and any individual or individuals not required to file a gross income tax return because their gross income was below the minimum taxable income threshold established in N.J.S.54A:2-4 and N.J.S.54A:8-3.1. In the case of a married individual filing a separate New Jersey gross income tax return, if the spouse of the claimant maintains the same homestead as the claimant and also files a separate gross income tax return in this State the homestead rebate or credit claimed under this subsection shall be equal to one-half of the amount of the homestead rebate or credit allowable had the spouses filed a joint return and homestead rebate or credit application.
(3)An application for a homestead rebate or credit shall be allowed for a homestead the title to which is held by a partnership, to the extent of the applicant's interest as a partner therein, and by a guardian, trustee, committee, conservator or other fiduciary for any individual who would otherwise be eligible for a rebate or credit. An application for a homestead rebate or credit shall not be allowed for a homestead, the title to which is held partially or entirely by a corporate entity of any type, except as otherwise specifically allowed for an application from a resident of a property owned by a continuing care retirement community, or a cooperative or mutual housing corporation.
d.If the homestead of a claimant is a residential property consisting of more than one unit, that claimant shall be allowed a homestead rebate or credit pursuant to this section only in relation to the proportionate share of the property taxes assessed and levied against the residential unit occupied by that claimant, as determined by the local tax assessor.
e.Nothing in this section shall preclude a co-owner, who is other than a husband or wife claiming a homestead rebate or credit on the same homestead, from receiving a homestead rebate or credit determined pursuant to this section if another co-owner claims a homestead rebate or credit pursuant to this section, provided however, that each claim for a homestead rebate or credit determined pursuant to this section shall be separately subject to the provisions of subsections c. and d. of this section.
f.(Deleted by amendment, P.L.2004, c.40.)
g.(Deleted by amendment, P.L.2004, c.40.)
h.(Deleted by amendment, P.L.2007, c.62.)
L.1990, c.61, s.3; amended 1999, c.63, s.5; 2001, c.159, s.1; 2004, c.40, s.4; 2007, c.62, s.23.