TRENTON - The New Jersey Division of Taxation will begin mailing letters to about 1.5 million residents to confirm their automatic eligibility for this season's ANCHOR benefit.
The division has also implemented a number of changes this season designed to further simplify the application process for new applicants and improve taxpayer experience.
"From day one, our administration has strived to make New Jersey more affordable for residents across our state," Gov. Phil Murphy said. "The ANCHOR program continues to deliver on our promise of increasing affordability for millions of New Jerseyans. I'd like to thank the hardworking staff at the Department of the Treasury, particularly the Division of Taxation, for their efforts to make this crucial program convenient and accessible."
The Division of Taxation will file applications automatically on behalf of most homeowners and renters who previously received an ANCHOR benefit. Beginning Aug. 19, the division will mail ANCHOR Benefit Confirmation Letters to approximately 1.5 million taxpayers to notify them that their application will be filed automatically.
If the personal information listed in the letter (name, mailing address, and banking information if their benefit was distributed via direct deposit) has changed since their last ANCHOR payment, taxpayers will need to file a new application by Sept. 15 by visiting anchor.nj.gov.
"Since the launch of the program in 2022, ANCHOR has grown to be one of the most impactful property tax relief initiatives in New Jersey's history," state Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio said. "ANCHOR is inclusive of New Jerseyans at all stages of life, from young people renting their first apartment, to retirees living in the place they've called home for decades. Nearly two million people in the Garden State have benefited from ANCHOR, and we hope to see all eligible residents apply for this significant property tax relief."
All payments will be issued on a rolling basis beginning in November. The deadline to file an application is Nov. 30.
To reach eligible homeowners and renters who have not previously applied, the division will send ANCHOR Application Mailers with information on how to apply for the program to over two million residences beginning Aug. 26.
This season marks the third year the state will distribute ANCHOR benefits. Last season's program covering the 2020 tax year made history as the state's single largest property tax relief initiative, with over $2.1 billion in benefits distributed to more than 1.8 million homeowners and renters. Payments ranged from $450 to $1,500, with applicants over age 65 receiving an additional $250.
Information about the program is available at anchor.nj.gov. Applicants may also call the ANCHOR hotline 609-826-4282 or 1-888-238-1233, or get in-person assistance at a Regional Information Center.
