4. a. A resident of this State who is 65 years of age or older at the close of the tax 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, whose homestead is a unit of residential rental property shall be allowed a homestead rebate for the tax year equal to the sum of the following two amounts: the amount by which the claimant’s rent constituting property taxes in that tax year exceeds 5% of the claimant’s gross income, rounded to the nearest whole dollar, plus the amount of $50. For the tax year 2003 the homestead rebate shall be not more than $825 or less than $150, which maximum homestead rebate shall be subject to the cost-of-living adjustment for each tax year thereafter as provided in subsection g. of this section. Provided further, that for each tax year the following gross income limits apply:

(1) in the case of a married couple filing a joint New Jersey gross income tax return or an individual filing a return who determines gross income tax pursuant to subsection a. of N.J.S.54A:2-1, gross income does not exceed $70,000 for that year, or such individual or individuals not required to file a gross income tax return because their gross income was below the minimum taxable income threshold established in N.J.S. 54A:2-4 and N.J.S.54A:8-3.1;

(2) in the case of an unmarried individual who determines gross income tax pursuant to subsection b. of N.J.S.54A:2-1, gross income does not exceed $35,000 for that year, or such individual not required to file a gross income tax return because their gross income was below the minimum taxable income threshold established in N.J.S. 54A:2-4 and N.J.S.54A:8-3.1;

(3) in the case of a married individual filing a separate New Jersey gross income tax return, if the spouse of the claimant maintains the same homestead as the claimant and also files a separate gross income tax return in this State, the combined gross income of both spouses does not exceed $70,000 for that year, or such individual or individuals not required to file a gross income tax return because their gross income was below the minimum taxable income threshold established in N.J.S. 54A:2-4 and N.J.S.54A:8-3.1, but in no event shall the homestead rebate claimed under this subsection exceed one-half of the amount of the homestead rebate allowable had the spouses filed a joint return and homestead rebate application; and

(4) in the case of a married individual filing a separate gross income tax return and maintaining a homestead apart from that individual’s spouse, gross income does not exceed $35,000 for that year, or such individual not required to file a gross income tax return because their gross income was below the minimum taxable income threshold established in N.J.S. 54A:2-4 and N.J.S. 54A:8-3.1

b. If more than one resident, other than a husband and wife, qualify for a homestead rebate by reason of their having occupied the same unit of residential rental property as their homestead, it shall be presumed that each claimant shall be allowed a homestead rebate pursuant to this section only in relation to the individual’s proportionate share of the total rent constituting property taxes paid by that claimant which homestead rebate shall be in proportion to the percentage that the total rent paid by that claimant bears to the total rent paid by all tenants of the same unit. For the purposes of a homestead rebate claimed by an individual subject to this subsection, the names and social security numbers of each co-tenant shall be reported by the claimant and the total rent paid shall be presumed to be paid in equal parts among all co-tenants.

c. If a claimant for a tax year 2003 homestead rebate pursuant to this section has no other homestead in this State other than a unit of residential rental property, and that claimant was not a resident of this State for the full tax year, but paid rent for the full tax year for one or more units of residential rental property in this State, the claimant’s total homestead rebate otherwise calculated pursuant to this section shall be prorated in the proportion which the number of days the claimant occupied residential rental property in this State as a homestead during the tax year bears to 365 days. A claimant for a homestead rebate pursuant to this section for tax year 2004 and any tax year thereafter shall meet all the prerequisites for the homestead occupied as such at 12:01 a.m. on October 1 of the tax year.

d. Nothing in this section shall preclude a co-tenant, other than a husband or wife claiming a homestead rebate on the same homestead, from receiving a homestead rebate determined pursuant to this section if another co-tenant claims a rebate pursuant to this section, provided however, that each such claim shall be separately subject to the provisions of subsections b. and c. of this section.

e. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2004, c.40.)

f. Notwithstanding any provisions of subsection a. of this section to the contrary,

(1) A resident of this State whose homestead is a unit of residential rental property,

(a) who is 65 years of age or older at the close of the tax 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, who has gross income for the tax year in excess of the gross income limits in subsection a. but not in excess of $100,000 for that year; or

(b) who is not 65 years of age or older at the close of the tax year, or who is not allowed to claim a personal deduction as a blind or disabled taxpayer pursuant to subsection b. of N.J.S.54A:3-1, who has gross income for the tax year, who has gross income not in excess of $100,000 for that year,

shall be allowed a homestead rebate pursuant to this subsection of $150 for property taxes paid through rent during the 2003 tax year and for any tax year thereafter, provided however, that the homestead rebate allowed pursuant to this subsection shall be subject to the limitations and reductions as may apply pursuant to the provisions of subsections b. and c. and d. of this section.

(2) The gross income limit imposed in paragraph (1) of this subsection for a claim for a homestead rebate made pursuant to this subsection that is based upon a homestead maintained by both spouses shall be based upon the combined gross income of both spouses if the claimants filed a joint New Jersey gross income tax return for the tax year. If a claim by a married individual for a homestead rebate made pursuant to this subsection is based upon a homestead maintained by both spouses who each file separate New Jersey gross income tax returns for the tax year, no homestead rebate for the tax year shall be paid to either spouse if their combined gross income exceeds the gross income limit imposed in paragraph (1) of this subsection. For such a claim, if the combined gross income of both spouses does not exceed the gross income limit imposed in paragraph (1) of this subsection, then each such spouse making a claim shall be allowed a homestead rebate amount equal to one-half of the homestead rebate amount otherwise allowed pursuant to this subsection.

g. (1) For the 2005 tax year and each tax year thereafter, the director shall annually recompute the maximum homestead rebate set forth in subsection a. of this section by multiplying the maximum homestead rebate allowed in the prior tax year by the cost-of- living adjustment, and recomputing the new maximum homestead rebate for the current tax year. The director shall round the recomputed maximum homestead rebate amount to the next highest multiple of $5.

(2) “Cost-of-living adjustment” for any tax year means the factor calculated by dividing the consumer price index for all urban consumers for the nation, as prepared by the United States Department of Labor as of the close of the 12-month period ending on August 31 of the tax year, by that index as of the close of the 12-month period ending on August 31 of the calendar year preceding the tax year in which the recomputation of the maximum homestead rebate is made.

L.1990,c.61,s.4; amended 1999, c.63, s.6; 1999, c.259, s.1; 2001, c.159, s.2; 2004, c.40, s.5.