Like last year, a $75 check from the State of New Jersey arrived by surprise. This is the 2005 FAIR Tenant Rebate, a refund aimed at reimbursing New Jersey taxpayers for a (very small) portion of their property taxes.
The eligibility requirements state that you must rent and occupy a home in New Jersey in order to qualify for the rebate, which for non-disabled under-65 people like myself is $75.
Homeowners get a better deal with the 2005 FAIR Homeowner Rebate program, from $200 to $1,200 depending on age and disability.
New Jersey taxpayers should have filled out an application for one of the rebates when they filled out their income tax forms, but many people might have missed it. The deadline for filing for this rebate has been extended to October 31, so you can still file here for the homeowner rebate or file this form for the tenant rebate (PDF).
Updated February 10, 2011 and originally published August 9, 2006. If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to the RSS feed or receive daily emails. Follow @flexo on Twitter and visit our Facebook page for more updates.
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
hi,
i cannot see whether we recived our rebate or not. i dont think so. but, when i put my social in or my husbands it says it is not valid. — or —. [ed note: possible SSNs deleted]
sincerely,
lisa steak
Im a renter in union nj i m wondering why i did not get a rebate in 2005 or 2006 my social is — i am 73 years old [ed note, SSN removed]
Please don’t comment here asking about the status of your rebate, and please, please do NOT post your social security number. If you have questions about the status of your rebate, call the FAIR Rebate Hotline at 1-888-238-1233.
I own a 2-family in NJ, and have always wondered why renters get to participate in the rebate since they don’t pay property taxes. Is it just assumed that their rent helps cover the owner’s taxes? Thanks in advance for any info. Great blog!
Catherine,
Theoretically, a portion of the rent is used by the landlord to cover the property taxes.
I’ve been renting since 2003 and never new about renters rebate. Iam 62,on ss disability. I don’t file taxes because a worker at H and R Block said I have to clear a 1000.00 before I should file.(that was in 2003) Just this year I cleared 1000.00 so I will file next year. Iam a widow and ss disability is all I receive and for the past five years I have been struggling to make it,but thank God I have. Should I apply for it now? Thanks
my application was sent in a month ago because my tax man failed to send in the right one..its a amended one..how can i be sure they got it before the deadline