In New Jersey, the local municipality is the conduit for billing and collecting taxes due for school and county taxes.
The Franklin Township Tax Bill includes amounts due for the general County tax, County Library tax, County Open Space tax, the Local School District tax, the Regional School tax as well as the Local Municipal Purpose tax. Only the Local Municipal Purpose tax is kept by Franklin Township for operational expenses.
The State of New Jersey law requires the local municipality to pay 100% of the taxes due to the county and schools quarterly, the municipality absorbs any shortfall in the amount of taxes not collected because of delinquent properties.
Franklin Township holds an Accelerated Tax Lien Sale every December, Any property that has delinquent property taxes after November 11th is subject to the Lien Sale. After November 11th, the Tax Collector’s office will only accept Certified or Cashier checks, Money Orders, or Cash for payment of current year property taxes. The Tax Sale will be published two weeks prior to the date of the tax sale in The Gloucester County Times which is a daily newspaper available on Thursdays.
Tax Bills: Tax bills will be mailed in June or July once the Franklin Township Tax Rate has been established. The Tax Bill has the amounts due for the 3rd Quarter due August 1st, the 4th Quarter due November 1st of the current year and the preliminary billing for the next year being the 1st Quarter due February 1st and the 2nd Quarter due May 1st.
Due Dates: February 1st, May 1st, August 1st, and November 1st. There is a ten (10) calendar day grace period.
Interest: Interest will be charged at the rate of 8% on the first $1,500.00 of delinquency and 18% on any amount of delinquency over $1,500.00 until such time as the taxes are paid current. Per New Jersey Statutes Annotated 54:4-67, delinquent interest is taken first and the balance of the payment is applied to taxes.
Deductions available:
1. Veterans Deduction - Qualified veterans of the United States who served in time of war may be entitled to a yearly deduction of $250.00 on their property taxes. Forms are available in the Tax Collector’s and Tax Assessor’s Offices.
2. Senior Citizen and Disabled Persons Deduction – Persons over the age of 65 and 100% Disabled Persons of any age may be entitled to a yearly deduction of $250.00 on their property taxes. Forms are available in the Tax Collector’s and Tax Assessor’s Offices.
Receipts: When mailing your payments, you must include your entire tax bill along with a self addressed stamped envelope in order to have a receipt mailed back to you.
Partial Payments: The Tax Collector’s Office will accept partial payments on current year taxes providing there is no municipal tax lien on the property.
Mortgages: Franklin Township will mail an original Tax Bill to your mortgage company as long as the mortgage company has provided the Tax Collector’s Office with their New Jersey Bank Code. If we do not have a New Jersey Bank Code for your mortgage company, the original tax bill will be mailed to the property owner and it will be their responsibility to forward the tax bill to the proper mortgage company and advise that company to notify the Tax Collector’s Office in writing of their New Jersey Bank Code.
Change of Mailing Address: The Franklin Township Tax Collector’s Office only accepts a change of address in written form signed by the property owner.
Notice to Sellers and New Owners: Tax Bills are given to New Owners at settlement when the property is transferred from seller to buyer.
Failure to receive a tax bill does not relieve the owner from paying property taxes or delinquent interest on late payments per New Jersey Stautes Annotated 54:4-64. Please contact the Tax Collector’s Office if you need a copy of your Tax Bill.
Tax Rebate Programs available through the State of New Jersey:
1. Property Tax Reimbursement Program a.k.a. Property Tax Freeze 1-800-882-6597
2. New Jersey Homestead Rebate 1-888-238-1233
Tax Appeals: Please note that you cannot appeal your taxes, only your assessment. If a Franklin Township Resident is dissatisfied with their tax assessment, there are two steps that can be taken. The first step is to call and talk with the Tax Assessor at 856-694-1234 ext. 141. He will explain and hopefully resolve any problems you may have, If you are still not satisfied, the second step is an Appeal to the Gloucester County Board of Taxation. This may be done between February 1st to April 1st each year.