ANCHOR Season Begins: A Record 1.5 Million New Jerseyans to Receive Automatic ANCHOR Payments

Division of Taxation Implements Innovative Changes to Simplify the Popular Property Tax Relief Program

(TRENTON) – Treasury’s Division of Taxation will officially kick off the upcoming season of the popular ANCHOR property tax relief program next week, when it will begin mailing letters to about 1.5 million New Jerseyans to confirm their automatic eligibility for this season’s 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,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “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.”

“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,” said State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio. “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.”

“We are maintaining our commitment to affordability by providing an historic level of property tax relief to approximately 1.8 million households in New Jersey,” said Senate President Nick Scutari. “ANCHOR will deliver much needed relief to help ease the burden of property taxes for middle class families, senior citizens and working people throughout the state. This program provides direct financial assistance for homeowners and renters who need it most.”

“We listened to our constituents and set our priorities accordingly when we passed the largest property tax relief program in state history,” said Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin. “ANCHOR has delivered billions to New Jersey families, to make our state more affordable. It has eased the burdens of homeowners and renters and, now in its third year, has become a reliable resource. My thanks to Governor Murphy and my colleagues in the legislature for delivering on this agenda, including further property tax relief for seniors on the way with StayNJ.”

“By working directly with dozens of taxpayers to better understand their experience, we’ve been able to identify ways to improve the ANCHOR application process and make significant changes so residents can smoothly and easily get property tax relief,” said New Jersey Chief Innovation Officer Dave Cole. “The Office of Innovation has been proud to partner with the Treasurer and her team to help ensure New Jersey remains affordable for homeowners and renters, while also making State operations more efficient.”

Continuing the streamlined application system implemented last season, the Division of Taxation will file applications automatically on behalf of most homeowners and renters who previously received an ANCHOR benefit. Beginning August 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 September 15, 2024 by visiting anchor.nj.gov.

All payments will be issued on a rolling basis beginning in November. The deadline to file an application is November 30, 2024.

With the goal 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 August 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.

As part of ongoing efforts to prevent fraud and safeguard taxpayer dollars, many applicants will need to go through an extra level of identity verification when applying for the ANCHOR benefit this season. Those taxpayers include:

• New applicants;
• Anyone searching for their ANCHOR ID/PIN at anchor.nj.gov;
• Anyone who did not receive an ANCHOR Benefit Confirmation Letter or Application Mailer;
• Anyone who no longer has their ANCHOR letter/mailer or the information provided on it.

In these cases, taxpayers will be prompted to create or use an existing ID.me account to verify their identity. Applicants also have the option of visiting one of the Division of Taxation’s Regional Information Centers to verify their identity by showing a driver’s license, passport, or other qualifying material. Additional information will be provided at anchor.nj.gov.

Additionally, the Division of Taxation continues to improve the process to make applying for the ANCHOR program more convenient and accessible. New this season, the Division has effectively eliminated the necessity for paper applications, working closely with Treasury’s Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services and the State’s Office of Innovation to launch a new online application for residents required to provide supporting documentation, who would have otherwise needed to file by paper in past ANCHOR seasons. These applicants will now be able to securely upload their documents online. Paper applications remain available for those who prefer, or have special circumstances.

Also in partnership with the Office of Innovation, the Division of Taxation worked diligently to make improvements to its call center operations to more effectively serve residents with questions about their ANCHOR application. The Division has doubled the number of agents available to assist callers to the ANCHOR hotline, as well as implemented an automatic callback feature which allows residents to be placed in a queue rather than waiting on hold.

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.