Congressman Kean Hosts Somerset County SALT Roundtable with Local Officials, Realtors, and Tax Professionals
Kean’s full restoration of the SALT Deduction for every middle-class family realizes huge savings this tax season
(February 27, 2026) SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ – Yesterday, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) hosted a SALT roundtable discussion, bringing together realtors, certified public accountants, mayors, and local elected officials from across Somerset County. The conversation focused on the positive impacts of the restored State and Local Tax (SALT) Deduction for New Jersey homeowners.
“I stood up to every Democrat in Washington, DC as well as my own party's leadership and won. Now every middle-class family in New Jersey has their full state and local tax deduction restored,” said Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. “From day one, this has been my top priority and I am proud to say I got it done. I will not stop working for a more affordable, more secure, and more prosperous future for New Jersey.”
Congressman Kean led the fight in Congress to quadruple the SALT Deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,000, a victory that was signed into law as part of the Working Families Tax Cuts (H.R.1) on July 4, 2025. The increased deduction is now in effect for the 2025 tax year, meaning New Jersey families who itemize their taxes will see the benefits when they file their returns this tax season. A one-page overview of the SALT Deduction can be found HERE.
The roundtable featured discussions with local realtors, who spoke about how the restored SALT Deduction will improve affordability for homebuyers and owners alike while supporting the overall housing market. Tax professionals shared perspectives on how the raised deduction is especially helpful to New Jersey tax filers and will directly contribute to higher refunds this year. Local elected officials discussed how the restored deduction will benefit their communities by easing financial burden on residents.
Local leaders and professionals weighed in on what this means for New Jersey homeowners:
“Affordability is top of mind for all New Jerseyans right now. We thank Congressman Kean for continuing to highlight our state's high property taxes, and for recognizing the meaningful impact that increasing the SALT Deduction could have on homeowners and families across the state,” said Doug Tomson, CEO of New Jersey Realtors®.
“Many people don’t realize how much of an impact the increased SALT Deduction is going to have. When families see a bigger refund this tax season, they're going to ask, 'How did this happen?' The answer is simple: they can now deduct up to $40,000 in state and local taxes instead of being capped at $10,000. That is a significant difference for middle-class homeowners, and it is a direct result of Congressman Kean's fight to restore the SALT Deduction,” said Steve Oroho, Former New Jersey State Senate Republican Leader, CPA, and Certified Financial Planner.
“The increased SALT Deduction is terrific for New Jersey taxpayers. I appreciate Congressman Kean sharing with us today his efforts to secure this deduction. I was particularly impressed by his nuanced approach to the issue and his determination to make sure this provision survived in the final legislation. I want to thank him for his leadership on this issue,” said E. Martin Davidoff, CPA, Esq., Prager Metis CPAs.
“Thank you, Congressman Kean, for your hard work in restoring the SALT Deduction. This represents enormous savings for our residents and makes a real difference in our efforts to make New Jersey more affordable. With average property taxes well exceeding $10,000 per household in Warren Township, the impact of this restoration cannot be overstated,” said Vanessa Kian, Deputy Mayor of Warren Township.
“I appreciated the opportunity to sit down with Congressman Kean, tax professionals, and local realtors to discuss the increased SALT Deduction. I thank Congressman Kean for leading the fight in Congress to quadruple the deduction from $10,000 to $40,000. This will deliver significant savings for residents in Hillsborough and across our state. I look forward to continuing to partner together to make our region more affordable for families,” said Committeeman Robert Britting, Jr., Hillsborough Township.
“Thank you, Congressman Kean, for getting the job done and delivering an increased SALT Deduction for New Jersey families. Our residents have been hit with affordability challenges from all angles, but this change will make a real difference in their tax savings. By working together with leaders at every level of government, we will continue working to make our communities more affordable,” said Mayor Larry Jacobs, Bedminster Township.
“This SALT Roundtable was a productive conversation about real solutions to affordability and the total cost of homeownership in New Jersey. The substantial increase in deductibility of taxes paid will have a very positive impact on Bridgewater residents. It’s wonderful to be working with Congressman Kean and other leaders to deliver real change for our community,” said Councilman Michael Kirsh, Bridgewater Township.
Background:
New Jersey has the highest average property taxes in the nation. In Somerset County, most residents see property tax bills well above $10,000/year. Under the previous $10,000 SALT cap, many of these homeowners were unable to fully deduct their property taxes on their federal tax returns. With the cap raised to $40,000, middle-class families will now be able to deduct their full property tax bills along with other state and local taxes paid, resulting in higher refunds and greater affordability in the region.
