NJ ANCHOR Program Opening for 2026
The State of New Jersey’s Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters (ANCHOR) property tax relief program will officially open for 2026 in August. This year’s ANCHOR benefits are based on the taxpayer’s residency, income, and age from tax year 2025. Eligible taxpayers must be a New Jersey resident who have owned or rented their main home since October 1, 2025 and paid property taxes or rented a property subject to property taxes.
For taxpayers under the age of 65 and not collecting Social Security disability benefits (both homeowners and renters), the State will auto-file applications on behalf of most eligible residents, as stated in a letter that should be received by the end of August 2026. If a taxpayer doesn’t receive a confirmation letter, they can still file their own ANCHOR application online or by mail; this is due by November 2, 2026.
For residents aged 65 and older and those receiving Social Security/Railroad Retirement disability benefits, applicants (both homeowners and renters) will need to complete the PAS-1 Application, which is a single application that combines the Senior Freeze (Property Tax Reimbursement), ANCHOR, and Stay NJ programs. The PAS-1 application will help those residents claim all benefits at once, if eligible, and can be filed online or by mail. This is also due by November 2, 2026.
The eligibility requirements for homeowners are:
- The taxpayer was a NJ resident
- The taxpayer owned and occupied a home in NJ as their principal residence on October 1, 2024
- The home was subject to property taxes
- The taxpayer’s 2025 NJ gross income did not exceed $250,000
The eligibility requirements for renters are:
- The taxpayer was a NJ resident
- The taxpayer rented and occupied a residence in NJ as their principal residence on October 1, 2025
- The taxpayer’s name is on the lease or rental agreement
- The taxpayer paid rent
- The rental property was subject to local property taxes
- The taxpayer’s 2025 NJ gross income did not exceed $150,000
Payments to eligible taxpayers will begin on or around September 15, 2026, on a rolling basis. The ANCHOR payments are as follows:
- Homeowner with gross income of $150,000 or less – $1,500
- Homeowner with gross income more than $150,000 but less than $250,000 – $1,000
- Renter aged 64 or younger – $450
- Renter aged 65 or older – $700
Contact Us
If you have questions about the information outlined above or need assistance with another tax or accounting issue, Klatzkin can help. For additional information call 609-890-9189 or click here to contact us. We look forward to speaking with you soon.