How To Get Your ANCHOR Rebate If You Didn’t Receive A Mailer

NEW JERSEY — New Jersey's property tax relief program, ANCHOR, is underway — and some applicants may have questions about the new security measures, or are wondering what to do if they didn't get a packet with instructions on how to apply.

The state has sent out letters and mailers to millions of New Jersey homeowners and renters who are eligible to receive ANCHOR property tax benefits this year, with about 1.5 million previous recipients set to get their money automatically. Some other residents will have to compete extra steps to prove their identity this year, even if they've gotten a benefit from the ANCHOR (Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners And Renters) program in the past.

And, those who have never applied also have to go through these verification steps through ID.me, a network that allows people to provide proof of their identity virtually. The extra security measures are "part of ongoing efforts to prevent fraud and safeguard taxpayer dollars," said the New Jersey Division of Taxation.

This extra step applies to the following residents: First-time applicants, those who are looking for their ANCHOR ID and PIN, those who did not receive an ANCHOR benefit confirmation letter or application mailer, and those who no longer have their letter/mailer and the accompanying information.

"While not all taxpayers will need to use ID.me, those who do must complete this verification before applying for the ANCHOR benefit," officials said.

These taxpayers will be prompted to verify their identity online using the camera on their phone, tablet, or computer, and have a copy of their Social Security number and common identity verification documents.

Residents can use the ID.me portal to verify their identity by uploading their documentation and then taking a selfie to match the picture, meet virtually with an ID.me employee to walk them through the process, or visit one of the Division of Taxation’s Regional Information Centers with proof of ID, officials said.

Click here to see instructions from ID.me on how to verify your identification.

If residents choose not to participate in the identity verification process, or fail the verification process, they can still submit a paper application.

This is the third year that the state has distributed ANCHOR benefits. Treasury officials said the program paid more than $2 billion last year, and more than 1.8 million residents got a refund for the 2020 tax year. Payments ranged from $450 to $1,500, with applicants over age 65 receiving an additional $250.

About 2 million homeowners and renters will get application packets in the mail this year, with information on how to sign up for the program; the state said the application mailers were sent beginning on Aug. 26.

Letters began going out on Aug. 19 to those who have already received a payment, and these residents will be automatically paid beginning in October, officials said — however, if any of these residents have moved, changed their name, or gotten a new bank account, they will have to file a new application by Sept. 15 at anchor.nj.gov.

Residents who have not gotten a benefit confirmation letter or an application mailer can still apply, and the deadline to do so is on Nov. 30.

More information about the program is available at anchor.nj.gov. Applicants may also call the ANCHOR hotline at (609) 826-4282 or 1-888-238-1233, or get in-person assistance at a Regional Information Center.