Bloomfield Mayor Urges Residents To Apply For NJ Tax Relief Program

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — If you’re a Bloomfield resident concerned about your property taxes, it will pay to make sure that you’ve applied for the state’s new rebate program, the town’s mayor says.

On Wednesday, Mayor Michael Venezia urged local residents to apply for the Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters (ANCHOR) property tax relief program, which replaces the state’s previous Homestead Benefit.

Earlier this month, Gov. Phil Murphy's office announced that the deadline to apply has been extended to Feb. 28. Additionally, tenants (renters) who had previously been ineligible because their unit is under a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement are now eligible to apply for the benefit. Learn more here.

“We want residents to know that the application deadline has been extended and we urge all of those who qualify to apply immediately,” Venezia said.

The mayor added:

“The ANCHOR program is eligible not only for homeowners but also our residents who rent their homes, so be sure to check whether you are newly eligible for these direct payments. My hope is that this larger investment in tax relief will help put more money into the pockets of the people and families of Bloomfield in a year that has been fiscally stressful for so many of us.”

According to the New Jersey Department of the Treasury, more than 870,000 homeowners with incomes up to $150,000 will receive $1,500 in relief through the ANCHOR program; more than 290,000 homeowners with incomes over $150,000 and up to $250,000 will receive $1,000; and more than 900,000 renters with incomes up to $150,000 will receive $450 to help offset rent increases.

To be eligible, homeowners must have:

• Been a New Jersey resident; and
• Owned and occupied a home in New Jersey that was their principal residence (main home) on October 1, 2019; and
• Paid the 2019 property taxes on their main home; and
• Had 2019 New Jersey gross income of not more than $250,000.

To be eligible, tenants must have:

• Been a New Jersey resident; and
• Rented and occupied an apartment or residence in New Jersey that was their principal residence (main home) on October 1, 2019; and
• Lived in a unit with its own separate kitchen and bath facilities (if the building had more than one dwelling unit); and
• Paid rent on their main home, which was subject to local property taxes; and
• Had 2019 New Jersey gross income of not more than $150,000.

The online application, eligibility requirements, filing instructions, and paper applications can also be accessed at nj.gov/treasury/taxation/anchor. The automated telephone filing system, which will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, during the filing period, can be reached at 1 (877) 658-2972. Text Telephone Service (TTY/TDD) for hearing-impaired users is available at 1 (800) 286-6613 or (609) 984-7300.

If residents need help filling out their application or have any other questions, they can contact the Bloomfield Department of Human Services at (973) 680-4017.

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