Blog·New Jersey homeowner brief
ANCHOR checks are on the way
Here is what to do
More than 1.1 million New Jersey homeowners and renters were automatically enrolled in this year's ANCHOR property tax relief; if anything changed since last year, there is a form and a deadline.
- More than 1.1 million homeowners and renters got a letter this week saying they are automatically in; if nothing changed, there is nothing to do
- Homeowners earning up to $150,000 get $1,500, up to $250,000 get $1,000, and renters earning up to $150,000 get $450
- Changed address, bank or income? Update by Sept. 15. New to ANCHOR, or 65 and older? File by Nov. 2. Payments start mid-September for seniors, mid-October for everyone else
Reported by WHYY News. Summary in our words.
The state has sent letters to more than 1.1 million homeowners and renters confirming they are automatically enrolled in the ANCHOR property tax relief program for this year. Automatic enrollment covers people under 65 who received ANCHOR before. If nothing has changed since last year, there is nothing to do; the payment arrives by check or direct deposit.
Homeowners with income up to $150,000 get $1,500; from $150,000 to $250,000, $1,000. Renters with income up to $150,000 get $450, plus $250 if they are 65 or older. The extra $250 that senior homeowners used to receive has been discontinued. Eligibility is keyed to where you lived on October 1, 2025.
If your address, income or bank account changed, file a new application by September 15 so the payment reaches the right place. If you never received ANCHOR before, file the ANC-1 application by November 2. If you are 65 or older, or on Social Security Disability or Railroad Retirement Disability, file the PAS-1 by November 2 even if you filed last year; that one form combines ANCHOR, Senior Freeze and Stay NJ.
Payments start in mid-September for people 65 and older and around October 15 for everyone else. The state paid out more than $2 billion in ANCHOR last year and expects about the same in 2026. Forms and details are at propertytaxrelief.nj.gov, and the hotline is 1-888-238-1233.
Summary of reporting by WHYY News, in our words. Program rules, amounts and dates are set by the NJ Division of Taxation and can change; check propertytaxrelief.nj.gov. General information, not advice about any specific property. The JK Realty Group, brokered with OMNI Real Estate Professionals. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Our take
The state enrolled you automatically using last year's details, so a move or a new bank account since then can send the payment to the wrong place. If you bought, moved, or changed banks this year, update the state site by Sept. 15.
Moved this year? We will point you to the right form.
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