Bill > S1297

Introduced Session

This bill would transform the homestead property tax reimbursement program, commonly known as the senior freeze program, from a reimbursement program into a credit program for most eligible homeowners. Currently, eligible seniors and disabled persons may apply for a senior freeze benefit that reimburses them for any property tax increases paid in the prior tax year over and above the amount of property taxes paid in the applicable base year. This bill would allow most of these eligible homeowners to realize these savings in the form of a credit directly applied to reduce the payable amount for their third and fourth quarter property tax bills for the current tax year. Currently, eligible seniors and disabled persons are provided their senior freeze benefits as a reimbursement in the following tax year. Eligible homeowners who reside in a unit in a cooperative, mutual housing corporation, or continuing care retirement community, and who do not pay property taxes directly to the municipality, would receive a rebate payment instead of a credit directly applied to the applicable property tax bill. These rebates would be paid during the current tax year for which the senior freeze benefit is sought so that these homeowners also do not have to wait until the next year to receive their senior freeze benefit. It is the intention of the sponsor that this bill would be administered in the same manner as the homestead property tax credit benefit, resulting in administrative savings to the State, as well as provide current tax year savings to eligible senior and disabled residents.

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Shirley Turner (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee (on 02/10/2020)