54A:3A-17 - Resident taxpayer allowed deduction from gross income for property taxes; limitations
54A:3A-17 Resident taxpayer allowed deduction from gross income for property taxes; limitations.
3. a. A resident taxpayer under the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act," N.J.S.54A:1-1 et seq., shall be allowed a deduction from gross income for property taxes not in excess of $10,000, subject to the limitations of subsection f. of this section, due and paid for the calendar year in which the taxes are due and payable on the taxpayer's homestead.
b.A deduction for property taxes shall be allowed pursuant to this section in relation to the amount of the property taxes actually paid by or allocable to a resident taxpayer who has more than one homestead, but the aggregate amount of the property taxes claimed shall not exceed the total of the proportionate amounts of property taxes assessed and levied against or allocable to each homestead for the portion of the taxable year for which the taxpayer occupied it as the taxpayer's principal residence.
c.If title to a homestead is held by more than one individual as joint tenants or tenants in common, each individual shall be allowed a deduction pursuant to this section only in relation to the individual's proportionate share of the property taxes assessed and levied against the homestead. The proportionate share shall be equal to that of all other individuals who hold the title, but if the conveyance under which the title is held provides for unequal interests therein, a taxpayer's share of the property taxes shall be in proportion to the taxpayer's interest in the title.
d.If title to a homestead is held by a husband and wife who own the homestead as tenants by the entirety, or if that husband and wife are both residential shareholders of a cooperative or mutual housing corporation and occupy the same homestead therein, and who elect to file separate income tax returns pursuant to the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act," N.J.S.54A:1-1 et seq., that husband and wife shall each be entitled to one-half of the deduction for property taxes for which they may be jointly eligible pursuant to this section.
e.If the homestead is a dwelling house consisting of more than one unit, that taxpayer shall be allowed a deduction for property taxes only in relation to the proportionate share of the property taxes assessed and levied against the residential unit occupied by the taxpayer, as determined by the local tax assessor.
f.Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection a. of this section to the contrary: (1) a resident taxpayer shall be allowed a deduction for a taxpayer's taxable year beginning during 1996 based on 50% of the property taxes not in excess of $5,000 paid on the taxpayer's homestead; and (2) a resident taxpayer shall be allowed a deduction for a taxpayer's taxable year beginning during 1997 based on 75% of the property taxes not in excess of $7,500 paid on the taxpayer's homestead.
g.Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the deduction allowed under this section to a resident taxpayer eligible to receive a homestead property tax reimbursement pursuant to P.L.1997, c.348 (C.54:4-8.67 et al.) shall not exceed that resident taxpayer's base year property tax liability as determined pursuant to P.L.1997, c.348 (C.54:4-8.67 et al.).
h.Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, for the taxable year beginning January 1, 2009, a taxpayer who has gross income for the taxable year of more than $250,000 and is not:
(1)65 years of age or older at the close of the taxable year; or
(2)allowed to claim a personal deduction as a blind or disabled taxpayer pursuant to subsection (b) of N.J.S.54A:3-1,
shall not be allowed a deduction pursuant to this section;
provided however, the deduction for a taxpayer who has gross income for the taxable year of more than $150,000 but not exceeding $250,000 and is not:
(1)65 years of age or older at the close of the taxable year; or
(2)allowed to claim a personal deduction as a blind or disabled taxpayer pursuant to subsection (b) of N.J.S.54A:3-1,
shall not exceed $5,000.
L.1996, c.60, s.3; amended 1997, c.348, s.8; 2009, c.69, s.2.
54A:3A-18. Deduction allowed resident taxpayer whose homestead is a unit of residential rental property; limitations
4. a. A resident taxpayer whose homestead is a unit of residential rental property shall be allowed a deduction from gross income for that portion of the rent constituting property taxes not in excess of $10,000, subject to the limitations of subsection d. of this section, due and paid for the calendar year in which the rent constituting taxes is due and payable, for occupancy of that homestead.
b. A husband and wife who elect to file separate income tax returns pursuant to the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act," N.J.S.54A:1-1 et seq., shall each be entitled to one-half of the property tax deduction allowed pursuant to this section.
c. If more than one taxpayer, other than husband and wife, qualify to deduct rent constituting property taxes by reason of their having occupied the same rented homestead, it shall be presumed that the deduction shall be equally divided. A taxpayer may, however, deduct an amount for rent constituting property taxes in the same proportion that the rent paid by that taxpayer bears to the total rent paid by all tenants of the same unit.
d. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection a. of this section to the contrary: (1) a resident taxpayer whose homestead is a unit of residential rental property shall be allowed a deduction for the taxpayer's taxable year beginning during 1996 based on 50% of the rent constituting property taxes not in excess of $5,000 paid for the occupancy of that homestead; and (2) a resident taxpayer whose homestead is a unit of residential rental property shall be allowed a deduction for the taxpayer's taxable year beginning during 1997 based on 75% of the rent constituting property taxes not in excess of $7,500 paid for the occupancy of that homestead.
L.1996,c.60,s.4.
54A:3A-19. Deduction for property taxes; limitations
5. a. If a taxpayer who is eligible for a deduction for property taxes under section 3 of this act for a part of the taxable year is also eligible for a deduction for rent constituting property taxes under section 4 of this act for a part of the taxable year, the taxpayer shall be allowed a deduction, not in excess of $10,000, subject to the limitations of subsection b. of this section, the amount of which shall be equal to the sum of the amount of property taxes due and paid for the calendar year in which the property taxes are due and payable on a homestead that is not a unit of residential rental property and the amount of rent constituting property taxes due and paid for the calendar year in which the rent constituting property taxes is due and payable for the occupancy of a homestead that is a unit of residential rental property, provided however, that the amount of property taxes shall be subject to the limitations set forth in subsections b. through e. of section 3 and the amount of rent constituting property taxes shall be subject to the limitations set forth in subsections b. and c. of section 4 as may be applicable.
b. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection a. of this section to the contrary: (1) a taxpayer who is eligible for a deduction for property taxes under section 3 of this act for a part of the taxable year and is also eligible for a deduction for rent constituting property taxes under section 4 of this act for a part of the taxable year, shall be allowed a deduction for the taxpayer's taxable year beginning during 1996 based on 50% of an amount not in excess of $5,000, the amount of which shall be equal to the sum of the amount of property taxes paid on a homestead that is not a unit of residential rental property and the amount of rent constituting property taxes paid for the occupancy of a homestead that is a unit of residential rental property; and (2) a taxpayer who is eligible for a deduction for property taxes under section 3 of this act for a part of the taxable year and is also eligible for a deduction for rent constituting property taxes under section 4 of this act for a part of the taxable year, shall be allowed a deduction for the taxpayer's taxable year beginning during 1997 based on 75% of an amount not in excess of $7,500, the amount of which shall be equal to the sum of the amount of property taxes paid on a homestead that is not a unit of residential rental property and the amount of rent constituting property taxes paid for the occupancy of a homestead that is a unit of residential rental property.
L.1996,c.60,s.5.
54A:3A-20. Credit instead of deduction; limitations; annual application
6. a. (1) Notwithstanding any provision of this act to the contrary, commencing with the taxpayer's taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 1996:
(a) a taxpayer; or
(b) a resident of this State who is 65 years of age or older at the close of the taxable year or who is allowed to claim a personal deduction as a blind or disabled taxpayer pursuant to subsection b. of N.J.S.54A:3-1 but who, pursuant to N.J.S.54A:2-4, is not subject to tax; and,
who paid property taxes or rent constituting property taxes on a homestead during the calendar year may elect to take a credit instead of the deduction provided pursuant to section 3, 4, or 5 in the amount of $50, subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) of this subsection.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection, the amount of tax liability reduction or credit allowed for the taxpayer's taxable year beginning during 1996 shall be $25 and the amount of tax liability reduction or credit allowed for the taxpayer's taxable year beginning during 1997 shall be $37.50.
b. A husband and wife who elect to file separate income tax returns pursuant to the "New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act," N.J.S.54A:1-1 et seq., shall each be entitled to one-half of the credit allowed pursuant to subsection a. of this section.
c. The credit shall be paid to the taxpayer as a refund of overpayment pursuant to N.J.S.54A:9-7, provided however, that subsection (f) of that section shall not apply. The credit for a claimant qualified under subsection a. of this section who, pursuant to N.J.S.54A:2-4, is not subject to tax, shall be applied for annually on an application as shall be made available by the director, to be filed with the director on or before the date for filing annual gross income tax returns. The director shall determine the form and manner by which a qualified applicant shall apply for a refund of an overpayment pursuant to this section, and the time of the refund of the overpayment. For the purposes of this section, refunds of overpayments may be combined with payments of rebates pursuant to P.L.1990, c.61 (C.54:4-8.57 et seq.).
L.1996,c.60,s.6.
54A:3A-21. Benefits not subject to garnishment, attachment, other legal process
7. The benefits provided for in P.L.1996, c.60 (C.54A:3A-15 et al.) shall not be subject to garnishment, attachment or other legal process, except as provided in section 1 of P.L.1981, c.239 (C.54A:9-8.1) or except for an income withholding order issued pursuant to P.L.1981, c.417 (C.2A:17-56.7 et seq.), and the payment of the benefits shall not be anticipated.
L.1996,c.60,s.7.
54A:3A-22. Determination of form, manner of application for benefits; regulations
8. The director shall determine the form and manner of a qualified applicant's application for the benefits provided for in P.L.1996, c.60 (C.54A:3A-15 et al.). The director may prescribe such regulations as the director may deem necessary to administer and enforce the provisions of P.L.1996, c.60 (C.54A:3A-15 et al.), including but not limited to the method for determining an applicant's benefits as provided pursuant to sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 of P.L.1996, c.60 (C.54A:3A-17, C.54A:3A-18, C.54A:3A-19 and C.54A:3A-20), due dates, and the form of payment.
L.1996,c.60,s.8.