Treasury Begins Mailing Applications for 2023 Senior Freeze Property Tax Reimbursement Program

Major Boost to Income Eligibility Limit Means More Residents Will be Eligible This Year

(TRENTON) – The Department of the Treasury’s Division of Taxation on Monday began mailing applications for the 2023 Senior Freeze Property Tax Reimbursement program, which has been significantly expanded for the 2023 filing season to increase the income eligibility limit substantially and simplify the residency requirement for new applicants.

Senior Freeze reimburses qualifying seniors and disabled residents for increases in property taxes or mobile home park site fees on their principal residences. A new law passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor Phil Murphy, which was also part of the Governor’s FY23 budget proposal, expanded the program to increase the income limit for the program to $150,000 (previously $99,735 for the 2022 season), and eliminate the requirement that an applicant must be a New Jersey resident for 10 consecutive years.

The deadline to file 2023 applications is October 31, 2024.

“With Senior Freeze, senior and disabled residents can choose to stay in the communities they call home without worrying about annual property tax increases,” said State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio. “This program makes it easier for many seniors living on a fixed income to remain close to their families and friends, and continue enjoying all the Garden State has to offer. We are pleased to be expanding the eligibility criteria this season to offer this benefit to more New Jerseyans.”

The Senior Freeze program is designed to relieve the burden of increasing property taxes for qualified applicants by establishing a base year of eligibility, and “freezing” the property tax at that level by comparing that base with any subsequent year. The difference is then refunded by the State annually.

In order to qualify for the reimbursement, taxpayers must meet all the eligibility requirements for each year from the base year through the current application year. Eligibility must be continuous, otherwise a new base year must be established.

To be eligible for the 2023 Senior Freeze, a taxpayer must:

• Be age 65 or older on December 31, 2022, or receive Social Security disability payments on December 31, 2022, and also on December 31, 2023; and
• Own and live in their home or leased a site in a mobile home park for a manufactured or mobile home that they owned since December 31, 2019, or earlier; and
• Paid all 2022 property taxes by June 1, 2023, and all 2023 property taxes by June 1, 2024; and
• Their annual income was $150,000 or less in 2022 and $163,050 or less in 2023. With some exceptions, all income must be taken into account, including Social Security, pension, etc.

Applications for the current 2023 Senior Freeze program will be mailed to the last address from which taxpayers filed. Anyone who does not receive a booklet by March 15 should contact the New Jersey Division of Taxation’s Senior Freeze Property Tax Reimbursement Information Line for assistance at 1-800-882-6597 (The U.S. Postal Service does not forward application booklets).

Additionally, qualifying residents have the option to apply online through a new direct online filing service created by the Treasury in 2023. Applicants can access the online filing portal at njportal.com/taxation/ptr.

Treasurer Muoio also encourages residents to learn more about the many other New Jersey property tax relief programs available.