Apr 30, 2020

Executive Order Allowing Towns to Extend Grace Period for Property Tax Payments

By Rebecca J. Rosen, Esq.


On April 28, 2020, Governor Murphy signed Executive Order No. 130 (EO 130), which allows municipalities to extend the grace period for May 1st property tax payments until June 1, 2020.

Effectively immediately, EO 130 allows municipalities to extend the period for property tax payments which are due on May 1st to no later than June 1, 2020. The extension would provide relief to homeowners struggling financially due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under existing law, towns may only allow for a grace period of up to 10 days after the property tax deadline absent interest or penalty. In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, the law was amended to allow towns that had experienced a flood, hurricane, superstorm, tornado, or other natural disaster to extend that period for up to a month under certain circumstances.

Pursuant to EO 130, municipalities are not required to extend the property tax grace period.

Schenck Price will continue to monitor legislative developments at the state, federal and local level, and will provide further updates on future legislative enactments.  If you have any questions about the laws referenced in this Alert, please contact the author at rjr@spsk.com.

DISCLAIMER:  This Alert is designed to keep you aware of recent developments in the law.  It is not intended to be legal advice, which can only be given after the attorney understands the facts of a particular matter and the goals of the client.