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***THE PHOENIX HOUSE IS CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS ***ALL OFFICES & DROP BOX ARE NOW LOCATED AT THE BOWERS BUILDING 6 W. MAIN***PAPERLESS SEWER E-BILLS NOW AVAILABLE! SIGN-UP TODAY!***BOROUGH OFFICES ARE CLOSED FRIDAY 3/29***     

Mendham Borough Seal BOROUGH OF MENDHAM
973-543-7152 • 2 West Main Street • Mendham, NJ 07945

News & Announcements

Tax Programs

Release Date: November 15, 2019

 

Senior Citizen Deduction - Disability Deduction - Surviving Spouse Deduction

  • New Jersey Citizenship as of October 1 pretax year
  • Property Ownership as of October 1 pretax year
  • Residence in New Jersey and in Dwelling House as of October 1 pretax year and
  • Residence in New Jersey for 1 year immediately prior to October 1 pretax year
  • Senior Citizen – age 65 or more as of December 31 pretax year
  • Permanent and Total Disability Deduction – Permanently and Totally Disabled as of December 31 pretax year
  • Surviving Spouse Deduction – age 55 or more as of December 31 pretax year and at the time of spouse’s death and the spouse must have been receiving either the Senior citizen Deduction or the Disability Deduction on the same dwelling as the Surviving Spouse Deduction being claimed
  • Income (including income of the claimant’s spouse) will not exceed $10,000 (Income means all income received from whatever source derived including, but not limited to, salaries, wages, bonuses, commissions, tips, and other compensations before payroll deductions, all dividends, interest, realized capital gains, royalties, income from rents, business income, and in their entirety, pension, annuity and retirement benefits. Realized capital gains, except for capital gain from the sale or exchange of real property owned and used by the claimant as his/her principal residence, dividends, interest, pensions, annuities and retirement benefits must be included in full without deductions even though they may be wholly or partially exempt for Federal income tax purposes.) Excludable Income – Income can be excluded under ONE of the following three categories: Social Security Benefits or Federal Government Retirement/Disability Pension including Federal Railroad Retirement Benefits or State, County, Municipal Government and their political subdivisions and agencies Retirement/Disability Pension. Please contact the Assessor’s Office for the latest income guidelines as the Excludable Income has a maximum amount of exclusion that changes each year.

Only one of the above deductions may be received per principal residence regardless of the number of qualified claimants residing on the premises.  Vacation, summer or second homes do not qualify for any of the above deductions. 

The current deduction for the Senior Citizen Deduction or the Disability Deduction or the Surviving Spouse Deduction is $250.00 deducted off the tax bill for each year the claimant qualifies. 

Applications are available in the Collector, Assessor’s Office, or under the Forms Center

 

 

NJ State Rebates

There are two separate and distinct property tax relief programs available to New Jersey homeowners.

Property Tax Reimbursement Program (forms are sent out by the State in late February/early March) For information call 1-800-882-6597 or to visit the State of NJ website for information and downloadable forms "Click Here".

This program is designed to freeze the burden of increasing real estate taxes for qualified applicants by establishing a base year of eligibility and comparing that “base” with any subsequent year, the difference to be refunded by the State annually. Eligibility must be continuous otherwise a new base year must be established.

Qualifications are as follows:

1) Must make application annually (with the state)

2) Homeowners age 65 or older or receiving Federal Social Security Disability Benefits and who paid property taxes on their principal residence in New Jersey;

3) Applicants must be NJ residents for at least 10 years, and living in their current home for the last 5 years;

4) Applicant must meet certain income limits for both the “base year” (year applicant first became eligible) and the application year. Income requirements are set by the State annually;

5) Property taxes must be paid in full for the years applied for by June 1st of the following year.

For more information call 1-800-882-6597

 

The Homestead Benefit Program (forms are sent out by the State in Mid-April)

For information call 1-888-238-1233

General qualifications are as follows:

1) Must make application annually (with the state)

2) Own and occupy a home in NJ that was their principal residence on October 1 of the pre-tax year;

3) Have gross income under the minimum threshold set by the State (the Threshold changes periodically based on the State Budget)

4) You must have had property taxes which were due and paid on the property within the year applied for.

5) Checks are no longer issued by the State. A credit will be applied against the qualified applicants tax account.

For detailed qualifications and additional information visit the NJ State website or "Click Here"

 

 

Veteran Deduction

(Claimant must meet all qualifications)

 

  • Have had active wartime service in the United States Armed Forces and been honorably discharged
  • Active Wartime Service Periods for Veteran Deductions and Disabled Veterans Deductions 

 

** Operation Iraqi Freedom

March 19, 2003 - Ongoing

** Operation Enduring Freedom

September 11, 2001 - Ongoing

**"Joint Endeavor/Joint Guard"

November 20, 1995 - June 20, 1998

**"Restore Hope" Mission - Somalia

December 5, 1992 - March 31, 1994

** Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm Mission          

August 2, 1990 - February 28, 1991

** Panama Peacekeeping Mission                      

December 20, 1989 - January 31, 1990

** Grenada Peacekeeping Mission

October 23, 1983 - November 21, 1983

** Lebanon Peacekeeping Mission

September 26, 1982 - December 1, 1987

    Vietnam Conflict

December 31, 1960 - May 7, 1975

** Lebanon Crisis of 1958

July 1, 1958 - November 1, 1958

    Korean Conflict

June 23, 1950 - January 31, 1955

    World War II

September 16, 1940 - December 31, 1946

    World War I

April 6, 1917 - November 11, 1918

**NOTE – Peacekeeping Missions require a minimum of 14 days service in the actual combat zone except where service-incurred injury or disability occurs in the combat zone, then actual time served though less than 14 days, is sufficient for purposes of property tax exemption or deduction. The 14 day requirement for Bosnia and Herzegovina may be met by services in one or both operations for 14 days continuously or in aggregate. For Bosnia and Herzegovina combat zone also includes the airspace above those nations. 

If you need assistance in documenting your veterans’ status, contact the NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs at 1-800-624-0508; (609) 530-6958 or (609) 530-6854.

The current deduction for the Veteran Deduction or Widow of Veteran or Serviceperson Deduction is $250.00 deducted off the tax bill for each year the claimant qualifies.

  • Own the property, wholly or in part, or hold legal title to the property for which deduction is claimed
  • Be a citizen and legal or domiciliary resident of New Jersey

Surviving Spouse of Veteran or Serviceperson Claimant (must meet all qualifications)

  • Document that the deceased veteran or serviceperson was a citizen and resident of New Jersey at death who had active wartime service in the United States Armed Forces and who was honorably discharged or who died on active wartime duty
  • Not have remarried
  • Be a legal or domiciliary resident of New Jersey
  • Own the property, wholly or in part, or hold legal title to the property for which deduction is claimed

Applications are available at the Municipal Collector, Assessor’s Office, or under the Forms Center

 

100% Disabled Veteran Exemption

 

(Claimant must meet all requirements)

  • Have had active wartime service in United States Armed Forces and been honorably discharged
  • Have a United States Veterans Administration certification of service-connected disability issued in accordance with N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.30, ET. SEQ.
  • Wholly own or hold legal title to the dwelling house for which exemption is claimed
  • Occupy the dwelling house as the principal residence
  • Be a citizen and legal or domiciliary resident of New Jersey.

Surviving Spouse of a Disabled Veteran or Serviceperson Claimant

(must meet all requirements)

  • Document that the deceased veteran or serviceperson was a citizen and resident of New Jersey at death who had active wartime service in the United States Armed Forces and who was honorably discharged or who died on active wartime duty
  • Document that the deceased veteran had a United States Veterans Administration certification of service-connected disability issued in accordance with N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.30, ET. SEQ.
  • Not have remarried
  • Wholly own or hold legal title to the claimed dwelling house
  • Occupy the dwelling house as the principal residence

Any qualified claimant for the Disabled Veteran Exemption or the Widow of a Disabled Veteran or Serviceperson Exemption is exempt from property taxes. 

Applications are available in the Assessor’s Office or under the Forms Center.