Eligible NJ homeowners and renters may receive up to $1,500 or $450 respectively through the ANCHOR property tax relief program

Deadline to apply for the ANCHOR program is December 30, 2022; homeowners can use County’s online tool to look up property information

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ – The State of New Jersey has announced a new property tax relief program for homeowners and renters who owned or rented their principal

residence on October 1, 2019 and who meet income limits.

The Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters (ANCHOR) program provides up to $1,500 in tax relief to eligible homeowners and up to $450 in tax relief to eligible renters. The ANCHOR program replaces the Homestead Benefit program.

The deadline to apply for the ANCHOR program is December 30, 2022, with payments scheduled to being in late spring 2023. Payments will be paid in the form of direct deposit or check, not as credits to property tax bills.

“I commend Governor Murphy, Speaker Coughlin, and the Legislature for putting this vital program in place. The ANCHOR program provides an excellent opportunity for homeowners and renters throughout New Jersey to receive much-needed property tax relief,” said Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios. “I encourage all eligible Middlesex County homeowners and renters to apply as soon as possible before the December 30 deadline.”

Who is eligible for tax relief through the ANCHOR program?

The ANCHOR program is open to New Jersey residents who owned or rented their principal residence on October 1, 2019 and who meet the following income guidelines:

• Homeowners with incomes of $150,000 or less will receive $1,500
• Homeowners with incomes more than $150,000 and up to $250,000 will receive $1,000
• Renters with incomes of $150,000 or less will receive $450

You are considered a homeowner if, on October 1, 2019 you:

• 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

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

You are considered a tenant if, on October 1, 2019 you:

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

You do not qualify if you lived in tax-exempt, subsidized, or campus housing.

How to apply for the ANCHOR program

There are separate processes in place by which homeowners and renters should apply for the ANCHOR program:

• Homeowners. Eligible homeowners can apply for the ANCHOR program online, on the phone, or by uploading or mailing a paper application and the necessary attachments using the New Jersey Division of Taxation’s electronic filing system. Homeowners should apply using the ID and PIN number they received in the mail. Homeowners who do not receive a mailer with their ID and PIN number but who filed a Homestead Benefit Application last year may use the online ID and PIN inquiry system to retrieve their ANCHOR ID and PIN.

  Homeowners must include their block and lot numbers on their ANCHOR program application. Middlesex County has created a mapping application for homeowners who need to look up their property information. This easy-to-use GIS tool is a simple search bar where homeowners can type in their street address. The app then “zooms in” to that parcel of land and shows the following information: block, lot, qualifier, city name, city code, house number, and street name. The Middlesex County ANCHOR Program Address Lookup is available on desktop and mobile at middlesexcountynj.gov/ANCHOR.

• Renters. Eligible renters can apply online or upload or mail a paper application and necessary attachments using the New Jersey Division of Taxation’s electronic filing system. There is no phone option for renters. Renters will not receive an ANCHOR ID or PIN; they will use their taxpayer ID (Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) in the application process.

For additional information regarding the ANCHOR program and the full explanation of how to apply, please visit middlesexcountynj.gov/ANCHOR.

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MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ

Middlesex County is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies, three universities, 19 park systems, and world-class healthcare and research facilities making it one of the nation’s most dynamic regions and a leader in technology, transportation, the arts, and food innovation. As one of the most diverse populations in the country, Middlesex County is home to over 863,000 residents living throughout 25 municipalities. The County’s award-winning Middlesex County Magnet Schools system and two-year Middlesex College uphold its position as #1 in the state for best schools, offering secondary and postsecondary education and workforce development programs that create a unique ecosystem in which opportunities abound. Conveniently located between New York and Philadelphia, Middlesex County is a leading destination for businesses and residents alike to live, work, and play – and has been since the 17th century. For more information, visit middlesexcountynj.gov and find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.