State extends deadline for filing for property tax rebates

TRENTON-New Jerseyans are getting extra time to file claims for property tax rebates from the state. Acting Gov. Richard J. Codey on Friday extended the Aug. 15 deadline by two months to Oct. 17. Codey also extended the filing deadline for the Senior Freeze program, which refunds elderly and disabled residents the difference between what they paid in local property taxes in current reimbursement year and the year they became eligible for the program. Earlier this month, rebate checks ranging from $500 to $1,200 went out to about 410,000 homeowners who are 65 or older or disabled. Another 54,000 elderly or disabled renters received checks of $150 to $825. The state is scheduled to start mailing checks to other eligible homeowners on Oct. 15. Top rebates for those recipients will be about $350. State officials said applications filed between Aug. 16 and Oct. 17 will be processed as quickly as possible, but may not be done in time for the October payout. Codey had initially proposed sharp cuts to the rebates to help the state save money, but better-than-expected state revenues allowed lawmakers to partially restore the rebates.