Every person, a citizen and resident of this state of the age
of 65 or more years, having an income not in excess of $10,000 per
year and residing in a dwelling house owned by him which is a constituent
part of his real property, shall be entitled, annually, on proper
claim being made therefor, to a senior citizen's deduction against
the tax or taxes assessed against such real property to an amount
not exceeding the amount of said tax or the sum of $250, whichever
is the lesser, but no such deduction from taxes shall be in addition
to any other deduction or exemption from taxes to which said person
may be entitled.
All applications for exemption under this article may be filed
on or before December 31 of the pretax year. Such applications shall
be on forms prescribed by the Director, Division of Taxation in the
Department of the Treasury of the State of New Jersey.