NJ Property Tax Rebate Update: Final Mailers Come This Week

NEW JERSEY — There is $2 billion in New Jersey's new property tax rebate program up for grabs, and the final mailers to unlock resident's share of the pie are hitting the mail this week.

Gov. Phil Murphy's administration is sending out the final batch of instructions to residents eligible for the ANCHOR (Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters) program. Taxpayers will be able to file online, through mail or via phone by Dec. 30.

Mailers will reach all taxpayers by the first week of October, according to a notice on the state's ANCHOR webpage. The treasury staggered mailings in an effort to alleviate inundation on its call center, according to officials.

Here's the state's mailing schedule for each county:

• Burlington, Hunterdon, and Mercer: mailing expected to begin Sept. 19, email delivery expected to begin Sept. 13.
• Atlantic and Essex: mailing expected to begin Sept. 20, email delivery expected to begin Sept. 13.
• Bergen and Warren: mailing expected to begin Sept. 21, email delivery expected to begin Sept. 16.
• Ocean, Salem and Sussex: mailing expected to begin Sept. 22, email delivery expected to begin Sept. 20.
• Cumberland, Gloucester and Hudson: mailing expected to begin Sept. 23, email delivery expected to begin Sept. 20.
• Monmouth and Somerset: mailing expected to begin Sept. 23, email delivery expected to begin Sept. 23.
• Passaic and Union: mailing expected to begin Sept. 26, email delivery expected to begin Sept. 27.
• Cape May and Middlesex: mailing expected to begin Sept. 28, email delivery expected to begin Sept. 27.
• Camden and Morris: mailing expected to begin Sept. 30, email delivery expected to begin Sept. 29.

If a resident doesn't receive their 2019 ANCHOR filing information within 10 business days of their county's mailing date, they can call the ANCHOR hotline at 1-888-238-1233.

Gov. Phil Murphy's administration introduced the ANCHOR program March 3 and has touted the rebate for the past half-year. When Murphy introduced his proposed state budget in March, he made "affordability" the buzzword and put the new rebate in the forefront. Read more: Gov. Murphy's $49B NJ Budget Focuses On Property Taxes, Relief

Murphy stumped for the ANCHOR program around the state several times since March, including a June announcement that the state would expand available tax relief. During that time, the governor touted the program as "historic."

"The ANCHOR program will deliver real, tangible property tax relief to both homeowners and renters, a historic step toward making New Jersey a more affordable state," Murphy said Sept. 12 in a statement.

Opinions vary on just how much the program will alleviate residents' economic burdens. The average state property-tax bill totaled $9,284 in 2021 — among the highest in the nation — while the ANCHOR program will provide an average benefit of $971. But the hype for the rebate has kept the treasury busy during the opening days of filing.

Here's what else to know:

1. How do I know if I'm eligible for the ANCHOR rebate?

Refer to your gross income from Tax Year 2019. Here's why: the Homestead Rebate program had a slight lag in the tax year for which taxpayers benefitted.

New Jersey residents can apply as homeowners if on Oct. 1, 2019, they:

• owned a house
• owned a condominium and paid property taxes on your unit
• were a resident shareholder of a cooperative housing complex
• were a resident of a continuing care retirement community and your continuing care contract requires you to pay the proportionate share of property taxes attributable to your unit

Homeowners don't qualify if their residence was completely exempt from paying property taxes or they made PILOT (Payments-in-Lieu-of-Tax) payments.
Unlike the Homestead Rebate, renters can qualify for the ANCHOR program. Taxpayers can qualify as tenants if on Oct. 1, 2019, they:

• rented an apartment, condominium or house
• rented or owned a mobile home located in a mobile home park

But people who lived in tax-exempt, subsidized or campus housing do not qualify.

The following income levels meet the criteria for a rebate:

• Homeowners with a household income of less than $150,000
• Homeowners with a household income between $150,000 and $250,000
• Renters with incomes up to $150,000

2. How much of a benefit can I receive?

Homeowners with a household income of less than $150,000 can get a $1,500 rebate. Homeowners with a household income between $150,000 and $250,000 can receive $1,000. Renters with incomes up to $150,000 will receive $450 each.
With about 2 million people impacted, ANCHOR rebate recipients will receive an average of $971 for this year.

3. How can I receive a paper application?

Eligible homeowners and rents will be able to apply either online, by phone or via mail — similar to the Homestead Rebate's process.

To receive a paper application, log in here using your Identification Number and PIN and print it. Or call the ANCHOR Hotline at 1-888-238-1233 to order one.

Taxpayers can mail it in or you have the option to upload a completed copy of your paper application using the state's electronic filing system. They will be able to attach supporting documents with the application.

Check here to see if you're required to file a paper application.

4. What will I need to file?

Taxpayers will need their assigned Identification Number and PIN of their principal residence (main home) that they owned or occupied on Oct. 1, 2019. Be prepared with the following:

• Valid taxpayer identification number and, if applicable, the taxpayer identification number of your spouse or civil union partner
• New Jersey Gross Income from Line 29 of your 2019 NJ-1040. (If you are not required to file an NJ-1040, report "0.")
• 2019 filing status
• Date of birth and, if applicable, your spouse's/civil union partner's date of birth

Filers will also get asked the following:

• You owned the property with someone who is not your spouse/CU partner. If yes, what percentage did you own?
• The property had more than one unit. If yes, what percentage of the property did you use as your main home?

5. Where can I find more info?

Visit the ANCHOR webpage, or call the ANCHOR hotline at 1-888-238–1233.