ANCHOR is New Jersey’s property tax relief program for eligible homeowners and renters who use the home as their primary residence and meet income limits. It was created to replace the old Homestead Benefit program and, for the current filing cycle, eligibility is based on residency, income, and age.

Quick Scoop

  • What it does: Helps reduce property tax burdens for qualifying New Jersey residents.
  • Who can get it: Homeowners and renters in New Jersey who live in the property as their main home and meet the program’s rules.
  • How it works now: The state says the benefit is tied to residency, income, and age, and some taxpayers are filed automatically while others must complete an application.
  • Current application path: The Division of Taxation says seniors and disability benefit recipients use the combined property tax relief application, Form PAS-1, and that some under-65 residents must file online or on paper rather than being automatically filed for them.

A few practical details

  • The program is run by New Jersey’s Division of Taxation.
  • Public reporting has also noted fraud concerns in the past, which led the state to tighten ID requirements.
  • If you’re checking whether you qualify, the safest starting point is the state’s ANCHOR page and your filing mailer, if you received one.

In plain English

If you own or rent your main home in New Jersey, ANCHOR may give you property tax relief if your income and category fit the rules.

If you want, I can also break down:

  1. Who qualifies ,
  2. How much you might get , or
  3. How to apply step by step.