The NJ ANCHOR program pays direct property tax relief to New Jersey homeowners and renters based on the 2025 tax year, with homeowners receiving up to $1,750 and renters up to $700 depending on income and age. Most eligible residents will be filed automatically by the Division of Taxation and should watch for a confirmation letter in August 2026. The deadline to submit your own application, if you weren’t auto-filed, is November 2, 2026.
Who Qualifies
Eligibility turns on three things: where you lived on October 1, 2025, whether you owned or rented, and your 2025 New Jersey gross income.
Homeowners
You qualify if you owned and occupied your main home in New Jersey on October 1, 2025, and paid property taxes on it. Your 2025 New Jersey gross income (Line 29 of the NJ-1040) must be $250,000 or less. Vacation homes, investment properties, and any dwelling that wasn’t your primary residence don’t count.
If you kept your home as your primary residence but were temporarily staying in an assisted living facility, you can still apply based on that home. If you permanently moved to the facility and changed your primary address, you shouldn’t apply as a homeowner.
Renters
You qualify as a renter if your name was on a lease or rental agreement for a New Jersey residence that was your main home on October 1, 2025, and your 2025 New Jersey gross income was $150,000 or less. The rental property must be subject to local property taxes, which excludes residents of certain tax-exempt housing such as state-owned buildings.
How Much You’ll Receive
Your payment depends on your income bracket and your age as of December 31, 2025.
Homeowners:
- Income of $150,000 or less, age 64 or younger: $1,500
- Income of $150,000 or less, age 65 or older: $1,750
- Income of $150,001 to $250,000, age 64 or younger: $1,000
- Income of $150,001 to $250,000, age 65 or older: $1,250
Homeowners earning above $250,000 are excluded.
Renters:
- Age 64 or younger: $450
- Age 65 or older: $700
The higher amount for filers 65 and older reflects a $250 senior supplement built into both the homeowner and renter benefits.1State of New Jersey. NJ Division of Taxation – How ANCHOR Benefits Are Calculated The homeowner benefit is also capped at the amount of property taxes actually paid; if your tax bill was lower than your tier, you receive the lesser amount.2New Jersey Legislature. Assembly No. 5890
Auto-Filing and the Confirmation Letter
Most eligible filers won’t have to lift a finger. The Division of Taxation will auto-file the 2025 ANCHOR application on your behalf and mail an ANCHOR Benefit Confirmation Letter in August 2026 showing the amount it calculated for you.3Division of Taxation. Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters (ANCHOR)
Read that letter carefully. If the income, property, age, or benefit amount looks wrong, the window between receiving the letter and the November deadline is when you contact the Division and correct it. If August passes and no letter arrives, assume you weren’t auto-filed and plan to submit your own application.
If You Need to File Yourself
The application deadline is November 2, 2026. Missing it doesn’t permanently disqualify you, but late filers have historically received denials and had to appeal, adding months of delay.
Online
The online portal on the Division of Taxation’s website is the fastest route. It uses ID.me to verify identity; you’ll upload a driver’s license, state ID, passport card, or passport, then either complete a video selfie or a short video call with an agent. The self-service path takes roughly five to ten minutes.4State of New Jersey. Property Tax Relief Programs for Homeowners, Mobile Home Owners, and Renters
Phone
Call 877-658-2972 and follow the automated prompts. Have your documents ready before you dial; the system runs through fields sequentially and doesn’t save partial entries.
Paper
Mail Form ANC-1 to the NJ Division of Taxation, Revenue Processing Center, Property Tax Relief Programs, PO Box 636, Trenton, NJ 08646-0636. Paper takes the longest to process. If you mail close to November 2, send it certified so you have proof of the postmark.
What to Have Ready
- Social Security Number or ITIN for you and your spouse if applicable
- Your 2025 New Jersey gross income from Line 29 of the NJ-1040; enter zero if you weren’t required to file a state return5New Jersey Division of Taxation. ANCHOR Program – Line-By-Line Filing Instructions
- For homeowners: county code, municipality code, block number, and lot number from your property tax bill
- For renters: the full street address of the rental you occupied on October 1, 2025
- Your ANCHOR ID and PIN if the state mailed you a filing notice; if not, you can still file by verifying through ID.me
Make sure the name on your application matches your federal identification exactly. A mismatch between a married name and a maiden name is enough to slow processing.
When Payments Arrive
Payments for the 2025 cycle are expected to start around September 15, 2026. You can choose direct deposit by entering your bank routing and account numbers on the application, or take a mailed check by default.
Most filers receive their benefit within 90 days after their application is processed. Auto-filed applicants confirmed in August 2026 are generally among the first paid. If you file near the November 2 deadline, your payment may not arrive until January 2027.
Shared Leases and Multiple Applicants
When several people share a lease, each person named on the lease applies separately. Only people on the lease qualify, whether or not they actually paid rent. Married or civil union couples filing jointly submit a single application with combined income; if they want separate checks, each spouse files a separate application and selects the option for half of the benefit.6New Jersey Department of Treasury. NJ Renters/Tenants Frequently Asked Questions
If the Applicant Has Died
If a homeowner died on or after October 1, 2025, an executor or surviving spouse can file on their behalf. The application shouldn’t include the deceased person’s name, and a death certificate must be attached. Any approved benefit is issued in the name of the estate, so keep the estate bank account open until it clears.7New Jersey Division of Taxation. ANCHOR Program Eligibility
For deceased renters, a surviving spouse or personal representative can file. The personal representative enters the decedent’s name followed by “estate of” and checks the box indicating the renter is deceased. If no personal representative has been appointed, the surviving spouse files using only their own name.7New Jersey Division of Taxation. ANCHOR Program Eligibility
Federal Tax Treatment
ANCHOR payments aren’t subject to New Jersey state income tax. Federal treatment is less clean. The IRS treats state property tax relief payments as recoveries, so if you itemized deductions on your federal return and deducted property taxes in the year the benefit relates to, part or all of the ANCHOR payment may need to be reported as income in the year you receive it. If you took the standard deduction, the payment generally has no federal tax consequence.8New Jersey Division of Taxation. Treatment of New Jersey Property Tax Relief Payments
Most people will owe nothing extra, but anyone who itemizes and claims large property tax deductions should run the numbers with a tax preparer. IRS Publication 525 explains the recovery rules.
Checking Status and Handling a Denial
After filing or receiving an auto-filing confirmation, use the ANCHOR Inquiry System on the Division of Taxation’s website to check status. You’ll need your Social Security Number and the information from your application.3Division of Taxation. Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters (ANCHOR)
If your application is denied, the state mails a denial letter with appeal instructions. Common reasons include income above the threshold, applying for a property that wasn’t your primary residence, and mismatched identification. Correcting the error and resubmitting quickly gives you the best chance of getting paid before the next cycle begins.