SENATE, No. 1318

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 10, 2020

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  SHIRLEY K. TURNER

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Increases annual income limitation to receive senior and disabled citizens’ property tax deduction to $15,000.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


An Act concerning deductions from real property taxes for certain residents of the State and amending P.L.1963, c.172.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    Section 2 of P.L.1963, c.172 (C.54:4-8.41) is amended to read as follows:

     2.    Every person, a citizen and resident of this State of the age of 65 or more years, or less than 65 years of age who is permanently and totally disabled, having an annual income not in excess of the limitations provided in this section and residing in a dwelling house owned by him which is a constituent part of his real property or residing in a dwelling house owned by him which is assessed as real property but which is situated on land owned by another or others, or residing as a tenant shareholder in a cooperative or mutual housing corporation, shall be entitled, annually, on proper claim being made therefor, to a deduction against the tax or taxes assessed against such real property, to an amount not exceeding the amount of said tax, the proportionate share of said tax attributable to his unit, or the sum provided in this section, whichever is the lesser, but no such deduction from taxes shall be in addition to any other deduction or exemption from taxes to which said person may be entitled, except a veteran's deduction provided under P.L.1963, c.171 (C.54:4-8.10 et seq.).  A citizen and resident granted a deduction pursuant to this section may receive in addition any homestead rebate or credit provided by law.

     For the purposes of this section, the annual income limitation shall be: $5,000.00 for any year prior to 1981; $8,000.00 for the year 1981; $9,000.00 for the year 1982; [and] $10,000.00 for [year] the years 1983 through 2018; and $15,000.00 for the year 2019 and each year thereafter.

     The sum deducted pursuant to this section shall not exceed:  in any year prior to 1981, $160.00; in the year 1981, $200.00; in the year 1982, $225.00; and in the year 1983 and in each year thereafter, $250.00.

     For the purposes of this act:

     a.     The income of a married person shall be deemed to include an amount equal to the income of the spouse during the applicable income year, except for such portion of that year as the two were living apart in a state of separation, whether under judicial decree or otherwise.

     b.    The requirement of ownership shall be satisfied by the holding of a beneficial interest in the dwelling house where legal
title thereto is held by another who retains a security interest in the dwelling house.

(cf:  P.L.1989, c.252, s.2)

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately, but shall remain inoperative until the approval by the voters of a constitutional amendment authorizing the increase in the annual income limitation to receive the annual $250 property tax deduction provided for herein.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill would amend current law to increase the annual income threshold for eligibility to receive the senior and disabled persons $250 property tax deduction from $10,000 to $15,000 once that increase is authorized by constitutional amendment.