New Jersey Treasury’s Division of Taxation is preparing to launch an online application portal for the state’s Farmland Assessment program, a move officials say is aimed at modernizing the process, improving eligibility enforcement and reducing instances of improperly granted tax benefits.
The portal is currently in a testing phase and is scheduled to launch in 2026 for assessment in Tax Year 2027, according to Treasury. The Division of Taxation is developing the system in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.
The Farmland Assessment program allows farmland and woodland acres that are actively devoted to agricultural or horticultural use to be assessed at their productivity value, enabling qualifying landowners to pay lower property taxes on those portions of their properties. Treasury said tax assessors determine which properties qualify, while farmers currently apply through a paper application.
By centralizing applications in a digital system, Treasury said staff will be able to more effectively audit applications approved by local tax assessors, reduce the time required for application reviews and devote greater attention to physical inspections of applicants’ properties.
State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio said the online portal is intended to improve efficiency throughout the process and strengthen the long-running program.
“With the launch of this online portal, the Farmland Assessment program will become more efficient at all stages of the process,” Muoio said in a statement. “This much-needed modernization will support the success of this program and farmers throughout the Garden State for years to come.”
Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette said the change is designed to shift staff time away from paperwork and toward field work. “By reducing paperwork and moving to a streamlined, digital system, staff can spend less time on administrative tasks and more time where it matters most, on the ground stewarding New Jersey’s forest resources,” LaTourette said.
Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn said the portal is expected to reduce paperwork for farm operators by linking each farm with all parcels recorded to the owner, cutting down on forms and time required to file.
Treasury framed the modernization as a way to protect the integrity of the Farmland Assessment program, which it said has been in place since 1964 and provides incentive for landowners to safeguard property used for agricultural purposes.
Jack Curtis, a retired educator identified as a special guest at the last State of the State, also praised the administration’s efforts, citing legislation, an increased sales threshold and the online filing initiative.
