A look at NJ's property tax relief programs

By: Katie Sobko
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey

..... The state's frequently highlighted property tax relief programs are open for applications, and in some cases payments are already being issued.
..... Seniors can apply for all three of the state's major property tax relief programs - Senior Freeze, ANCHOR and Stay NJ - though one single application known as the PAS-1.
..... The deadline to file the PAS-1 application for Tax Year 2025 is November 2, 2026.
..... ANCHOR is also open to non-seniors and renters, and the application for that program as well as information about how to update previously provided information can be found on the Division of Taxation's website, nj.gov/treasury/taxation . The filing deadline also is November 2. [2026]

ANCHOR

..... In most cases, eligible New Jersey homeowners under 65 and renters of all ages will have their ANCHOR applications filed automatically.
..... Confirmation letters were sent out to qualify in taxpayers earlier this week. If that confirmation letter doesn't arrive, residents are asked to file an Application for Property Tax Relief on the Taxation website.
.... Eligible recipients who received last year's ANCHOR benefit by direct deposit will use the same banking information for the 2025 benefit.
..... For homeowners with an income of $150,000 or less, the payment is $1,500, and for incomes of $150,001 to $250.000, the payment is $1,000.
..... For renters under the age of 65, the payment is 4450, and over 65 it is $700.
..... Payment will begin on a rolling basis, starting September 15. [2026]

Stay NJ

..... The much-discussed program officially went into effect in January [2026] after three years of buildup. Money to fund the program was set aside in tranches during that time, and payments have been sent out twice this year [2026] so far.
..... It was modified in the 2027 spending plan by Governor Mikie Sherrill signed at the end of June, [2026] though.
..... The program is geared toward keeping seniors in the Garden State during their golden years by halving their tax bills.
..... Costs will drop form $1.2 billion to $742 million due to lower income limits and award sizes for seniors with higher incomes under the new parameters.
..... Those earning less than $100,000 could see payments of up to $6,500, earnings between $100,000 and $150,000 could see payments of up to $5,000, and those making up to $200,000 could see payments of up to $4,000.
..... The threshold used to be up to incomes of $500,000.
..... The remaining 2024 benefit will be p;aid in August and September 2026. The 2025 benefit will be paid in February and May 2027.

Senior Freeze

..... The state's Treasury Department started sending out Senior Freeze payments last month. [07/2026] Nearly 200,000 eligible seniors got that payment, and more are on the way.
..... More than $220 million in checks were mailed July 15. [2026] The Division of Taxation will continue issuing payments on a rolling basis to eligible seniors.
..... The process has been streamlined to improve efficiency so that pending applications can be reviewed and processed early in the season. The efforts led to a 75% increase in the number of approval applicants by this point in the season compared with last year. [2025]
..... To be eligible for the 2025 Senior Freeze, taxpayer must:
* Be 65 or older on December 31, 2025,or receiving federal Social Security disability benefit payments or Railroad Retirement disability benefit payments (not benefit payments received on behalf of someone else) on or before December31, 2025.
* Own and live in tier home or lease a site in a mobile home park for a manufactured or mobile home that they have owned since December 31, 2022, or earlier.
* Have had annual income of $172,475 or less in 2025 and $168,268 or lees in 2024. With some exceptions, all income must be taken into account, including Social Security and pension.

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