The following was submitted by Hopewell Township Mayor Michael Ruger:
As you may have read in the news, the state is currently working on enhanced property tax relief for seniors in New Jersey. This has raised some important questions from Hopewell Township residents on what current programs exist to support our senior residents.
The two main programs are ANCHOR and the Senior Freeze, both of which are administered by the State, as well as several programs administered by Hopewell Township.
The Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters (ANCHOR) program replaced the Homestead Benefit Program that some may have been aware of. This program provides property tax relief to all New Jersey residents who own or rent a home and who meet certain requirements, such as income limits and paid property taxes. The ANCHOR program applies to your principal residence only. If you applied by last February, you should have received your check already. We will share information when the next year’s program becomes available.
The Senior Freeze program reimburses part of the increase of your property taxes. The deadline for applying for this program is October 31, 2023, and it applies to your 2022 taxes on your primary residence. To be eligible for this program you must have been 65 years or older on December 31, 2021, or receiving Social Security disability benefits. You must have been a continuous New Jersey resident as a renter or a homeowner since the end of 2011 (though not in the same home), and you must have owned and lived in your current home since the end of 2018. Your taxes must have been fully paid for 2021 and 2022. There are also income requirements to participate in this program.
There are a few other State programs that are administered by Hopewell Township, including a $250 tax reduction available to senior citizens, disabled residents, and veterans. Each of these programs may also be available to surviving spouses. Additionally, if you are an honorably discharged veteran who was 100% disabled during active duty service, you may be eligible for a 100% property tax exemption. This, too, may be available to a surviving spouse. And if you are a serviceperson, deployed or mobilized for active service in time of war, you may be eligible to defer your taxes until your return. You can designate someone who can apply for this program for you.
Other property assessment, exemption, and abatement programs based on improvements, ownership, and/or location of property are also available. Information about these and all other programs listed above can be found here- https://www.nj.gov/treasury/taxation/relief.shtml. A printable brochure can be found here- https://www.nj.gov/treasury/taxation/pdf/lpt/ptbenefitsbrochure.pdf.
If the new programs being discussed at the State level are adopted, we will provide an update .
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me at [email protected] or 609-577-1247 or to our Tax Collector, Mary Kennedy-Nadzak, at [email protected] or 609-737-0605 x6450.
