Toms River municipal building. (Photo: Daniel Nee)
Toms River officials on Tuesday night voted to extend a month-long grace period to residents whose quarterly property tax payments are due May 1.
Following a highly-publicized controversy in neighboring Brick Township where the state had banned the extended grace period, Gov. Phil Murphy reversed course and signed an executive order on Tuesday to allow it. Toms River adopted the newly-enabled policy at its council meeting Tuesday night.
“There was a lot of discussion weeks ago about having us extend our grace period, however without executive action at the governor’s level, we did not have the authority to do so,” said Alexander P. Davidson, the township’s chief financial officer.
Taxpayers can make payments any time, now through June 1, without accruing any interest or penalties. The grace period extension is meant to be a lifeline for people whose income has been affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
But officials urge residents to make sure they meet the extended deadline.
“If the payment is not in by June 1, the payment is retroactive to May 1, but it does give everyone more time to make their tax payments,” Davidson said.
New Jersey residents face the highest property tax burden in the nation, with the average homeowner statewide paying $8,953 in 2019, data showed.
