Borough of Stanhope

The Gateway to Sussex County

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Tax Collector

Tax Collector

The Tax Collector is responsible to collect all property taxes. Upon receipt of the Borough’s tax assessments and certified tax rate, tax bills are calculated and mailed to property owners, authorized banks and mortgage companies. When property taxes are not paid on a timely basis, the Tax Collector is responsible for delinquent billing and schedules an annual Tax Sale to collect delinquent taxes. The Tax Collector strives to obtain a high collection rate to minimize a negative budgetary impact on the Borough’s financial expenses. The Tax Collector provides written reports to both the governing body and the State of New Jersey.

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To Print a Summary of the Following Information Click Here

Property Tax Reimbursement (Senior Freeze)

The Division of Taxation began mailing applications for the 2017 Property Tax Reimbursement, (Senior Freeze), to senior citizens and disabled residents.  The deadline for filing an application is OCTOBER 31, 2018.  If you do not receive a booklet, you can call the number below and order one, or you may come to the municipal building and request a book.  

If you are filing for the first time, you may need to request an application (blue book) at the municipal building.  You will fill out the income information, and then bring the booklet to the tax collector window to have your paid taxes certified by the tax collector.  Only applicants whose 2016 income did not exceed $87,007 and 2017 income did not exceed $87,268 are eligible to receive a reimbursement payment, provided they meet all the other requirements.   The Division will notify those applicants that they are not eligible. NOTE: With few exceptions, all income must be taken into account, including Social Security, pension, etc. 

Members of the public can refer to the following:
Senior Freeze (Property Tax Reimbursement)

Text Telephone Service (TTY/TDD) for Hearing-Impaired Users: 1-800-286-6613 or 609-984-7300

Taxation email address for Senior Freeze and general tax questions: nj.taxation@treas.nj.gov

2017 Eligibility Requirements (You MUST meet ALL of the following requirements):

  • You were 65 or older as of December 31, 2016, or, if under age 65, you were receiving Federal Social Security disability benefit payments on December 31, 2016, and also on December 31, 2017; AND
  • You have lived in New Jersey continuously since December 31, 2006, or earlier, as either a homeowner or a renter; AND
  • You have owned and lived in your home (or have leased a site in a mobile home park for a manufactured or mobile home that you own) since December 31, 2013, or earlier; AND
  • You paid the full amount of the 2016 property taxes due on your home by June 1, 2017, and paid the 2017 property taxes by June 1, 2018; AND
  • Your total annual income for 2016 did not exceed $87,007* and for 2017 did not exceed $87,268. *NOTE: With very few exceptions, all income received during the year must be taken into account to determine eligibility (including social security, pension income, etc.)

* Eligibility requirements, including income limits, and benefits available under this program may be changed by the State Budget. The State Budget will take effect on July 1, 2018. 

Click Here to View/Print 2017 Senior Freeze Eligibility Requirements

For Additional Information:
Visit the NJ Division of Taxation Website at www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/ptr/index.shtml
or call the Senior Freeze Hotline: 1-800-882-6597

HOMESTEAD BENEFIT NEWS

The Division of Taxation will be mailing 2016 Homestead Benefit application packets according to the schedule below.  The deadline for filing is FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2018.

County                                                                 Delivery Expected to Begin
Monmouth, Somerset, Union                                        Sept. 15
Hunterdon, Middlesex, Passaic, Sussex          Sept. 18
Camden, Hudson, Morris                                               Sept. 20
Burlington, Essex, Gloucester, Salem                          Sept. 22
Atlantic, Bergen, Cumberland, Warren                       Sept. 25
Cape May, Mercer, Ocean                                               Sept. 27

Please do not call about a missing application until at least one week following the expected delivery date for a particular county.

Using the same delivery schedule as for the printed applications, the Division will send emails to homeowners who requested electronic applications.

With very few exceptions, homeowners must file their applications online or by phone. Homeowners should read the instructions in the packet carefully, and if they meet the eligibility requirements, complete the worksheet in the packet before filing. Homeowners who have already sold the home that was their principal residence on Oct. 1, 2016, or who plan to sell should visit the Division’s website (www.njtaxation.org)for additional guidance.

The online application (www.njtaxation.org) and automated telephone filing system (1-877-658-2972) will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week during the filing period.

Homeowners may be eligible for the 2016 Homestead Benefit if they met the following conditions:

  • Domicile (permanent legal residence) was in New Jersey.
  • Owned and occupied a home in New Jersey that was their principal residence on Oct. 1, 2016.
  • Had New Jersey gross income for 2016 that was not more than $150,000 for homeowners who were 65 or older or disabled, and not more than $75,000 for homeowners who were under age 65 and not disabled. The income limits apply to a single individual, a married/civil union couple living in the same residence, and a married/civil union partner maintaining a residence separate from their spouse/civil union partner.
  • The home was subject to local property taxes, and the 2016 property taxes were paid. (The State Budget requires that the benefit amount be calculated using 2006 property taxes.)

Most homeowners will receive their 2016 benefit payment as a credit on a future property tax bill. Homeowners who indicated when filing that they no longer own the property or those whose principal residence was a unit in a co-op or continuing care retirement community will receive their benefit by check or direct deposit.

Residents should not confuse the Homestead Benefit Program with the Senior Freeze (Property Tax Reimbursement) Program. They are separate property tax relief programs with different eligibility requirements, different applications, and different filing schedules. Applicants can receive benefits under both programs if they qualify. The total amount of property tax relief benefits a homeowner receives, however, cannot exceed the amount of property taxes paid on their principal residence for the same year.

Homestead Benefit (for homeowners):

  • To file applications online: www.njtaxation.org
  • To file applications by phone: 1-877-658-2972
  • To ask questions: 1-888-238-1233 (8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays)
  • In-person assistance at Taxation Regional Offices (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays):   www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/organization/ts-regional.shtml 
  • Online information:    www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/homestead/geninf.shtml

Taxation email address for Homestead Benefit and general tax questions: nj.taxation@treas.state.nj.us

Property Tax Relief Information

There are two levels of property tax relief in New Jersey, programs administered at the Municipal level, and those that are administered at the State level.

Municipal Level

The two programs administered at the Municipal Level are the Senior Citizens’ Deduction and the Veterans’ Deduction. Both give the homeowner a $250 credit on their taxes, beginning in the year that it is first approved.

The Veteran’s deduction continues without any annual verification necessary until the Veteran sells the home. If a veteran dies while the deduction is in effect, his or her spouse will receive the Widow of a Veteran unless they marry again.

To quality for the Senior deduction you must have been 65 or older or disabled at the end of the prior year and meet certain income requirements.  The deduction is based on income, so each year a verification form is mailed out to all the seniors with the deduction, wherein the senior must certify that their income did not exceed the amount allowed in the prior year, and that they believe that it will not exceed the amount in the subsequent year.  (Income other than Social Security and other Federal programs must not exceed $10,000.)  

State Level

All other property tax relief programs are administered by the State of NJ: Homestead Rebate Property Tax Reimbursement or Senior Freeze

For other programs that may offer you some financial help or other aid, look at the website: NJHelps.org

If you ever have any questions on Property Tax, you can contact Borough Hall at 973-347-0159
Dana Mooney, Tax Collector Ext. 13 Email: dmooney@stanhopenj.gov
Maria Mascuch, Utility Collector Ext. 12 Email: mmascuch2@stanhopenj.gov