TINTON FALLS - Senator Vin Gopal, Assemblywomen Margie Donlon and Luanne Peterpaul announced that ANCHOR property tax relief applications for renters and homeowners under 65 are now available.

“The ANCHOR program offers property tax relief to New Jersey residents who own or rent property in the state as their main home and meet income limits,” Senator Gopal said. “We are proud to have successfully expanded funds for New Jersey’s three property tax relief programs - Senior Freeze, ANCHOR, and Stay NJ - in the FY2026 state budget to make property tax relief available. ”

While seniors aged 65 and older and Social Security and Social Security Disability recipients file a single application, PAS-1, for all three programs, residents under 65 who do not collect Social Security benefits are only eligible for ANCHOR and must file a separate application, ANC-1.  

“The Division of Taxation will file the ANCHOR application on behalf of most eligible residents, and started mailing letters to notify them on August 13. This year's ANCHOR benefit is based on residency, income, and age in 2024,” Assemblywoman Peterpaul said. “If you receive a letter and do not need to change your information, you do not need to do anything. Not everyone who is eligible will receive an Anchor Benefit Confirmation Letter.” 

“If you do not receive an Anchor Benefit Confirmation Letter, you can file an ANCHOR application on your own. The deadline to apply is October 31, 2025,” Donlon said. “If you receive a letter, but need to change your banking information, or prefer to request a paper check instead of direct deposit, then you will have to file your own application by September 15, 2025.”

Residents 65 and older need to make sure they are filing the new PAS-1, which is the application for all 3 senior property tax relief programs, to ensure they are receiving the maximum allowable benefits

The ANCHOR benefit pays $1,750 to homeowners who earned $150,000 or less in 2024, and $1,250 for those with annual income from $150,001 to $250,000. Renters who were 64 or younger in 2024 and made less than $150,000 are eligible for a $450 benefit, while renters 65 and older are eligible for a $700 benefit.

Payments will begin on a rolling basis, starting September 15, usually within 90 days of filing. Applicants who file by paper will have a paper check option only. Online applicants will have the option to receive a paper check or direct deposit. 

For additional information, to file an application online, get forms and instructions, or check the status of an ANCHOR benefit payment, visit the NJ Division of Taxation’s ANCHOR page online at nj.gov/treasury/taxation/anchor/?gad_campaignid=22870476675.

“We urge homeowners and renters who were not yet 65 in 2024 and were not collecting Social Security Disability payments, to apply for ANCHOR property tax relief right away,” the District 11 legislators said in a joint statement. “Legislative District 11 residents who need a PAS-1 application package, or who need assistance filing their ANCHOR or PAS-1 applications, may call our office, at (732) 704-3808, and a member of the staff will assist you.”

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