ANCHOR(Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters)
ANCHOR is a property tax relief program implemented annually to alleviate the property tax burden on New Jersey residents. Benefits are determined based on residency status, income, and age for the corresponding year.
Eligibility
The ANCHOR program is available to those who owned or rented a home in New Jersey as of a specific date (usually October 1st) set by the State.
Homeowners
- Qualification: Residents who owned and occupied a home in New Jersey as of the base date and paid property taxes.
- Benefit Amount:
- Annual income of $150,000 or less: $1,500 (Age 65+ receives $1,750)
- Annual income between $150,001 and $250,000: $1,000 (Age 65+ receives $1,250)
Renters
- Qualification: Residents who resided in and paid rent for a rental property in New Jersey (subject to local property taxes) as of the base date. However, tenants of government-owned, tax-exempt housing, or tax-exempt buildings owned by non-profit organizations are excluded.
- Benefit:
- Annual income of $150,000 or less: $450 (Age 65+ receives $700)
- Renters with an income exceeding $150,000 are generally excluded from benefits.
*Even if you do not have a Social Security Number (SSN), you may apply if you are a New Jersey resident and possess an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).
How to Apply
- General Applicants (Under age 65)
- For most eligible applicants (under age 65 and non-disabled), the state government will automatically process the application.
- If there are no changes to the information on the confirmation letter, the application is filed automatically without any further action required. You should only apply manually, either online or by mail, if you need to correct information or if you did not receive a confirmation letter.
- Seniors and Disability Benefit Recipients (Individuals aged 65 or older, or recipients of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Railroad Retirement Disability benefits)
- The government does not automatically submit the application for you. You must apply manually each year, either online or by mail, using the PAS-1 integrated application.
- Through the integrated application, you can have your eligibility for ANCHOR, Senior Freeze (PTR), and Stay NJ benefits reviewed all at once, ensuring you receive all applicable benefits without omission.
- Deadline: Generally, the application closes between late October and early November each year.
- Documents to Prepare
- Social Security Number (SSN) or ITIN.
- New Jersey Gross Income information for the designated base year.
- For homeowners: Block and Lot numbers from your property tax bill.
Key Considerations
- Social Security benefits are not included in New Jersey Gross Income; please ensure your income excluding Social Security is within the limits.
- If a property is jointly owned or if multiple people are registered as renters (e.g., spouses), the combined income must not exceed the limit.
- Choosing Direct Deposit when applying online allows you to receive your refund faster than a paper check.
Contact
- ANCHOR Dedicated Hotline: 1-888-238-1233/609-826-4282
- Text Telephone (for hearing impaired): 1-800-285-3036
- AWCA provides counseling free of charge (201-862-1665 / info@awcanj.org)
Resources
