Senior Tax Freeze changes
Some important legislation was passed this year regarding the Senior Tax Freeze (reimburses eligible senior citizens and disabled persons for property tax or mobile home park site fee increases) as follows (note eligibility increased from $100,000 to $150,000):
Important Program Changes Coming Next Year
P.L. 2023, c.75 which was signed into law June 30, 2023, expands the income limit and simplifies the residency requirements for new Senior Freeze program applicants.
Increases the income limit for the program to $150,000; and
Eliminates the requirement that an applicant must be a New Jersey resident for 10 consecutive years
Link for details: https://www.nj.gov/treasury/taxation/ptr/
OnTheEdge For anyone who does not know this!!
I sold my house in 2019 - all the information that I read said I had to be in my new house for 5 years before I could re-apply for the senior tax freeze. Turns out that is not true. If you go on nj.gov (I really had to look around before I found this) you can apply again. So if you sold your house say in 2020 you are eligible to apply for the tax freeze for your new house in 2021
You have to submit form PTR-1C (Verification of Change of Main Home) and submit it with Form PTR-1 (Property Tax Reimbursement) Application.
Hope this helps someone!
Margaret A source informs me that filing online under the new elgibility parameters (see 1st post) will be available sometime in February or March. This link will take you to information and "File Online" page:
https://www.nj.gov/treasury/taxation/ptr/#:~:text=NJ%20Taxation&text=The%20Senior%20Freeze%20Program%20reimburses,year%20through%20the%20application%20year.
All you need to know:
https://www.nj.com/news/2024/02/senior-freeze-applications-are-coming-heres-how-to-get-your-nj-property-tax-relief.html
My question, even after reading the news release: What about the PTR-2 applications? I've been enrolled for several years, and I haven't received my PTR-2 booklet. Were they also delayed by these changes?
And, yes, I will try calling, but I'm not optimistic about reaching a person.
Perhaps someone on here would know the answer.
Lonesome Dove Lonesome Dove, you can file the PTR-2 online here:
https://www.njportal.com/Taxation/PTR/PTR2/Validate
MK The PTR booklets are mailed beginning February 12th .
2023 Applications
We will begin mailing Senior Freeze applications on February 12, 2024. If you do not receive your booklet by late March, you may contact us.
First-time filers or those who must reestablish a base year may print the PTR-1 application and/or instructions.
https://www.nj.gov/treasury/taxation/ptr/index.shtml
97XBAM "Once you’re able to dig out from the snowstorm, be sure to check your mailbox for your Senior Freeze application.
The state started to mail the applications on Monday, Feb. 12, so most taxpayers should see them arrive soon....."
^from nj.com
Mine came today. The income limit increased from $150,000 for 2022 - to $163,050 for 2023.
happiest girlPTR-2 Booklet arrived in the mail today. It would have been helpful if, in all the news articles that were written, there had just been one sentence mentioning that the PTR-2 forms were also being mailed late. Everything I read only mentioned the PTR-1 forms, which is what the first-time applicants use. Just saying.
Just called NJ.gov for a little more info. I was told that first file your taxes, then fill out the PR1 form with info from 2022-2023 taxes. Then take the PR1 form to the local municipal building to get it signed and then it gets sent to NJ for filing. Geez. Jump through hoops much?
Has anyone else done this yet?
Local Gal 
Mr. Resident Mr. Resident
Thanks It sounded somewhat labor intensive, but if you say it’s simple, I’ll take your word for it.
After the first year, you should get a PTR-2 form in the mail to complete in order to renew your participation. There is a section that your tax collector has to complete. The rest of the form is easy to fill in information from your tax form info. Just know you will need to visit your tax collector's office to get this form completed every year.
I haven't done it yet but since you can submit it online I don't think you need to go to the municipality. The forms do say you have to get your tax amounts from the municipality if you don't have them.
The paper form that I've been completing for several years requires the tax collector's confirmation, with her seal, of the taxes I paid that year. Not sure how the online form would include a verified confirmation from the tax collector. Since I do not file online, I can't comment about that.
The guy I spoke with at NJ.gov said even if you do the online form, it still has to be printed out, taken to the municipal office to be signed and notarized
Just did it online and the proof you use of taxes paid is the postcard sized tax assessment card you got in the mail in January . You just take a digital pic of it put it into your computer and click the browse files link for proof of taxes paid and click on the image of the card . Net taxes billed for 2023 were - the amount following that
is what you put in for taxes paid as it is the same number from the tax assessor . It already had the freeze amount on it and automatically subtracted the numbers to give the refund amount . Nowhere did it say a notary stamp was needed from the tax assessor . If they contact me and say it is needed I'll take the form over to get it notarized and take a pic of it and email it to them .
https://www.njportal.com/taxation/ptr
Not notarized. When the tax collector (not assessor) completes their section, they have a "seal" they use that authenticates their signature. It's similar to the seal a notary uses, but it's not the same thing as getting something notarized.
I guess if you are more tech savvy than I am AND have a printer and/or a cell phone for taking pictures of things, etc., then doing it online is good.
If you don't understand all this stuff, then you can do it the old-fashioned way, like I do.
In retrospect I should have also included a pic of the property tax bill that you receive in late July - early August since you are given a link to add a second document . If you add up local , school , county , etc. the total comes out to the same amount on the assessment card . The online option processes in 2 days so I'll know soon if I need more proof .
Filing before May 1st you will get the refund in July . After that payment goes into the Fall months - consult the schedule in the link below .
https://www.nj.gov/treasury/taxation/ptr/hoamount.shtml
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