S378

An Act concerning short-term tax exemption or abatement for dwellings and amending P.L.1991, c.441.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. Section 16 of P.L.1991, c.441 (C.40A:21-16) is amended to read as follows:

16. a. No exemption or abatement shall be granted pursuant to [this act] P.L.1991, c.441 (C.40A:21-1 et seq.) except upon written application therefor filed with and approved by the assessor of the taxing district wherein the improvement, conversion alteration or construction is made. Every application shall be on a form prescribed by the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, and provided for the use of claimants by the governing body of the municipality constituting the taxing district, and shall be filed with the assessor within the timeframes specified herein and authorized by ordinance.

b. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, an ordinance adopted pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1991, c.441 (C.40A:21-4) shall require a claimant to file an application with the assessor within 30 days, including Saturdays and Sundays, following the completion of the improvement, conversion alteration or construction.

(2) If an ordinance adopted pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1991, c.441 (C.40A:21-4) provides for exemptions, abatements, or both exemptions and abatements, for improvements to dwellings pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1991, c.441 (C.40A:21-5), the ordinance may provide that, in the event a claimant has not filed an application with the assessor within 30 days following the completion of improvements to a dwelling pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection, a purchaser of the dwelling may file an application with the assessor within the later of one year of the date of completion of the improvements, or within one year of the date of the purchase of the dwelling.

c. Every application for exemption, or exemption and abatement, within a municipality adopting the provisions of [this act] P.L.1991, c.441 (C.40A:21-1 et seq.) which is filed within the time specified, shall be approved and allowed by the assessor to the degree that the application is consistent with the provisions of the adopting ordinance or the tax agreement, provided that the improvement, conversion alteration or construction for which the application is made qualifies as an improvement, a conversion alteration or construction pursuant to the provisions of [this act] P.L.1991, c.441 (C.40A:21-1 et seq.) and the tax agreement, if any.

d. The granting of an exemption, or exemption and abatement, shall relate back to, and take effect as of [,]:

(1) the date of completion of the project, or portion or stage of the project for which the exemption, or exemption and abatement, is granted, and shall continue for five annual periods from that date; or

(2) the date of purchase of the property for which the exemption, or exemption and abatement, is granted, and shall continue for five annual periods from that date.

e. The grant of the exemption, or exemption and abatement, or tax agreement shall be recorded and made a permanent part of the official tax records of the taxing district, which record shall contain a notice of the termination date thereof.

(cf: P.L.2007, c.268, s.6)

2. Section 20 of P.L.1991, c.441 (C.40A:21-20) is amended to read as follows:

20. a. A municipality which has adopted an ordinance providing for exemptions, or exemptions and abatements, pursuant to [this act] P.L.1991, c.441 (C.40A:21-1 et seq.) shall include the appropriate notice in the mailing of annual property tax bills to each owner of a dwelling located in an area in which exemptions, or exemptions and abatements, may be allowed pursuant to the ordinance during the first year following adoption of the ordinance.

b. The owner of a dwelling located in an area in which exemptions, abatements, or both exemptions and abatements, may be allowed pursuant to an ordinance adopted pursuant to P.L.1991, c.441 (C.40A:21-1 et seq.), which owner has completed improvements to the dwelling, but has not submitted an application to the assessor for exemption, abatement, or both pursuant to section 16 of P.L.1991, c.441 (C.40A:21-16), shall provide notice to that effect to the subsequent purchaser of the dwelling at the time of entering into a contract of sale for the dwelling.

(cf: P.L.1991, c.441, s.20)

3. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill would authorize municipalities to adopt or amend their ordinances allowing for short-term tax exemptions and abatements in areas in need of rehabilitation to allow a subsequent purchaser of a dwelling located within an area in need of rehabilitation to submit an application for a short-term tax exemption or abatement for improvements that were made to the dwelling by the prior owner. The bill would also require the owner of a dwelling located in an area in which short-term tax exemptions and abatements are allowed, which owner has completed improvements to the dwelling, but has not submitted an application to the assessor for a tax exemption or abatement, to provide notice to that effect to the subsequent purchaser of the dwelling at the time of entering into a contract of sale for the dwelling.

Current law requires applications for exemptions or abatements to be submitted to the assessor within 30 days of completion of improvements. This bill will allow municipalities that adopt ordinances providing for short-term tax exemptions and abatements for improvements to dwellings to provide that, in the event a claimant has not filed an application with the assessor within 30 days following the completion of improvements to a dwelling, a purchaser of the dwelling may file an application with the assessor within the later of one year of the date of completion of the improvements, or within one year of the date of the purchase of the dwelling. This will provide the subsequent purchaser of a dwelling, in municipalities allowing it, a window of opportunity to submit an application for an exemption or abatement which, if granted, will provide the new owner a period of time to take appropriate action based upon this financial obligation.