New Jersey State Rebates 

Property Tax Reimbursements

There are two separate and distinct property tax relief programs available to New Jersey homeowners:

  1. Senior Freeze Program
  2. Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters (ANCHOR)

Senior Freeze (Property Tax Reimbursement) Program

Forms are sent out by the State in late February/early March. For information call 800-882-6597 or to visit the NJ Division of Taxation website for information and downloadable forms.

Note: For residents who did not receive a prior year’s reimbursement or Form PTR-2 for residents who did receive a prior year’s reimbursement.

Purpose

This program is designed to freeze the burden of increasing real estate taxes for qualified applicants by establishing a base year of eligibility and comparing that “base” with any subsequent year, the difference to be refunded by the State annually. Eligibility must be continuous otherwise a new base year must be established.

Qualifications

Qualifications are as follows:

  • Must make application annually with the State of New Jersey;
  • Homeowners age 65 or older or receiving Federal Social Security Disability Benefits and who paid property taxes on their principal residence in New Jersey;
  • Applicants must be NJ residents for at least 10 years, and living in their current home for the last 5 years;
  • Applicant must meet certain income limits for both the “base year” (year applicant first became eligible) and the application year. Income requirements are set by the State annually;
  • Property taxes must be paid in full for the years applied for by June 1st of the following year.

More Information

For more information call 800-882-6597.

ANCHOR Program

The Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters (ANCHOR) Program has replaced the Homestead Rebate program. 

This program provides property tax relief to New Jersey residents who owned or rented their principal residence (main home) on October 1, 2020, and met the income limits.

Those who qualify based on their 2020 reported income will receive information mailers directly from the State of New Jersey within the next several weeks. For more information, call 888-238-1233 or visit the NJ Division of Taxation's ANCHOR page. 

Homeowners

You are eligible for a 2020 ANCHOR benefit as a homeowner if:

  • You were a New Jersey resident; and
  • You owned and occupied a home in New Jersey that was your principal residence (main home) on October 1, 2020; and
  • The 2020 property taxes were paid on that home; and
  • Your 2020 New Jersey gross income was not more than $250,000.

You do not qualify if your residence was completely exempt from paying property taxes or you made PILOT (Payments-in-Lieu-of-Tax) payments.

Renters

You are eligible for a 2020 ANCHOR benefit if you met these requirements:

  • You were a New Jersey resident; and
  • Your 2020 New Jersey gross income was not more than $150,000; and
  • Your name was on the lease or rental agreement; and
  • You paid rent; and
  • You rented and occupied a residence in New Jersey that was your principal residence (main home) on October 1, 2020; and
  • The rental property was subject to local property taxes, (see Qualified and Non-Qualified Rental Properties).

Renters who lived in the following types of residences do not qualify to apply for the ANCHOR benefit:

  • Tax-exempt housing or other residences owned by New Jersey, county, municipal, or federal government;
  • On-campus apartments at New Jersey colleges and universities;
  • Residences owned by religious, charitable, or other non-profit organizations (including on-campus apartments at private nonprofit colleges and universities); and
  • All other properties exempt from local property taxes.

More Information

For detailed qualifications and additional information visit ANCHOR.nj.gov.