NJ Property Tax Relief: ANCHOR, Stay NJ and Senior Freeze

What is the deadline, and where do I file?

The New Jersey Division of Taxation set November 2, 2026 as the deadline for the 2025 applications. You file online at propertytaxreliefapp.nj.gov, or on paper if you received a paper booklet. The Division also runs in person filing events and help at its Regional Information Centers, listed on the Treasury website.

If you are reading this after the deadline, contact the Division of Taxation directly and ask what options you have. Do not assume a late application will be accepted.

Which form do I need: PAS-1 or ANC-1?

There are two forms this season. The PAS-1 is for homeowners age 65 or older and for homeowners who receive Social Security Disability or Railroad Retirement Disability benefits. One PAS-1 covers all three programs: ANCHOR, Senior Freeze and Stay NJ. The state does not file it for you, and you complete it even if you only qualify for one program.

The ANC-1 is the ANCHOR application for people under 65 who own or rent their home. Most eligible homeowners under 65 and most eligible renters of all ages were filed for automatically and received an ANCHOR Benefit Confirmation Letter in August 2026. If you are eligible and did not get a letter, you file on your own.

How much does ANCHOR pay?

For the 2025 benefit year, the Division of Taxation lists these amounts, based on New Jersey gross income from line 29 of the 2025 NJ-1040:

• Homeowners with income of $150,000 or less: $1,500.
• Homeowners with income from $150,001 to $250,000: $1,000.
• Renters age 64 or younger with income of $150,000 or less: $450.
• Renters age 65 or older by December 31, 2025: $700, which includes an extra $250.
• Homeowners over $250,000 and renters over $150,000 are not eligible.

Who qualifies for ANCHOR?

The address you claim must have been your main home on October 1, 2025, and in general the home must have been subject to property tax. A vacation home, a second home or a rental property you own does not count, and neither does a property with more than four units.

Some renters are excluded, such as tenants in tax exempt or government owned housing, on campus college apartments and housing owned by nonprofit organizations. Renters in buildings with a PILOT agreement are eligible. Payments go out on a rolling basis starting September 15, usually within 90 days of filing.

What are Stay NJ and Senior Freeze?

Stay NJ is the state's newest property tax relief program for senior homeowners. It is paid in equal quarterly installments, not as one lump sum, and the amount depends on your property tax bill and on whether you also qualify for ANCHOR and Senior Freeze. For this filing season, Treasury listed a Stay NJ income limit of $500,000 and said the next payments are expected in February 2027.

Senior Freeze, also called the Property Tax Reimbursement, pays back increases in property taxes for eligible seniors and disabled homeowners. Treasury lists income limits of $168,268 for 2024 and $172,475 for 2025.

All of these programs depend on the state budget, and lawmakers have debated changes to Stay NJ this year. Check the official pages for the current rules before you count on a payment.

I just moved to New Jersey. Does any of this apply to me?

For this deadline, eligibility is based on where you lived on October 1, 2025. If you moved to New Jersey after that date, this year's application will not cover your new home, and your first chance is the next filing season. Keep your lease or closing papers, because you will need to show the address was your main home.

If you are shopping for a home, look at the actual property tax bill for each house, not only the asking price. Property taxes in New Jersey vary a lot from town to town, and they are part of your monthly cost. Our affordability calculator lets you enter the tax amount so you can compare homes side by side.

A quick checklist

• Check whether you got an ANCHOR Benefit Confirmation Letter in August 2026.
• If you are 65 or older or receive disability benefits and own your home, file the PAS-1.
• If you are under 65, eligible and got no letter, file the ANC-1.
• Have your 2025 NJ-1040 income and your October 1, 2025 address ready.
• Use the official site only. The state does not charge a fee to apply.