UPDATE: Christie orders N.J. towns to accept 2018 property tax prepayments

Gov. Chris Christie is expected to issue an executive order Wednesday to allow all New Jersey taxpayers to prepay at least the first half their 2018 property taxes before the sweeping federal tax law takes effect Monday, NJ Advance Media has learned.

Christie's order will direct municipalities across the Garden State to accept payments from taxpayers for at least the first and second quarters, according to two legislative sources with knowledge of the situation who asked to remain anonymous because they are not authorized to speak publicly about it.

That will allow taxpayers to claim the payments on their 2017 federal income tax returns, which will not be affected by the new law that begins Jan. 1 and curbs how much you can deduct.

Spokespeople for Christie's office did not immediately return multiple messages seeking comment.

The move -- which could save taxpayers thousands of dollars -- comes as residents in New Jersey and other high-tax states rush to their local tax offices in an effort to pay next year's property taxes by the end of the week and temporarily avoid the law.

Friday is the last day most government offices are open until the new year -- though some New Jersey municipalities are opening their tax offices Saturday to accommodate the blitz.

Many municipalities have already been accepting 2018 payments. For example, Jersey City is permitting residents to pay their entire bill for next year. Hoboken and Evesham are among those allowing payments for the first and second quarters of 2018.

Christie's order will require every municipality to allow prepayments.

State Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, last week called on Christie, a Republican and Trump confidant, to help residents prepay their full 2018 bill.

But one source said it's unclear if the state can allow prepayments beyond the first and second quarters.

The move is similar to an emergency order New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued in his state Friday, allowing taxpayers there to prepay their 2018 taxes.

Currently, there is no limit on how much homeowners in New Jersey -- the state with the nation's highest property taxes -- can claim in property taxes on their federal income tax returns.

But the new federal law -- championed by President Donald Trump and his fellow Republicans who control Congress -- caps the total deduction for state and local property and income or sales taxes at $10,000. That's less than half of the $21,720 that the average Garden State taxpayer pays in those taxes.

State Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, said this will help not only taxpayers but municipalities that will get a windfall of cash.

"It will help local budgets, although there's lots to be wary of," Weinberg told NJ Advance Media.

Claude Brodesser-Akner may be reached at cbrodesser@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ClaudeBrodesser.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01.

Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.