ANCHOR property tax relief confirmation letters will begin going out next week about 1.5 million New Jerseyans, the New Jersey Treasury Department’s Division of Taxation says.

“Since the launch of the program in 2022, ANCHOR has grown to be one of the most impactful property tax relief initiatives in New Jersey’s history,” said State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio.

“ANCHOR is inclusive of New Jerseyans at all stages of life, from young people renting their first apartment, to retirees living in the place they’ve called home for decades. Nearly two million people in the Garden State have benefited from ANCHOR, and we hope to see all eligible residents apply for this significant property tax relief.”

Continuing the streamlined application system implemented last season, the Division of Taxation will file applications automatically on behalf of most homeowners and renters who previously received an ANCHOR benefit.

Beginning August 19, the Division will mail ANCHOR Benefit Confirmation Letters to approximately 1.5 million taxpayers to notify them that their application will be filed automatically. If the personal information listed in the letter (name, mailing address, and banking information if their benefit was distributed via direct deposit) has changed since their last ANCHOR payment, taxpayers will need to file a new application by September 15, 2024 by visiting anchor.nj.gov.

All payments will be issued on a rolling basis beginning in November. The deadline to file an application is November 30, 2024.

With the goal to reach eligible homeowners and renters who have not previously applied, the Division will send ANCHOR Application Mailers with information on how to apply for the program to over two million residences beginning August 26.

This season marks the third year the State will distribute ANCHOR benefits. Last season’s program covering the 2020 tax year made history as the State’s single largest property tax relief initiative, with over $2.1 billion in benefits distributed to more than 1.8 million homeowners and renters. Payments ranged from $450 to $1,500, with applicants over age 65 receiving an additional $250.

As part of ongoing efforts to prevent fraud and safeguard taxpayer dollars, many applicants will need to go through an extra level of identity verification when applying for the ANCHOR benefit this season. Those taxpayers include:

• New applicants;
• Anyone searching for their ANCHOR ID/PIN at anchor.nj.gov;
• Anyone who did not receive an ANCHOR Benefit Confirmation Letter or Application Mailer;
• Anyone who no longer has their ANCHOR letter/mailer or the information provided on it.

In these cases, taxpayers will be prompted to create or use an existing ID.me account to verify their identity. Applicants also have the option of visiting one of the Division of Taxation’s Regional Information Centers to verify their identity by showing a driver’s license, passport, or other qualifying material. Additional information will be provided at anchor.nj.gov.

Additionally, the Division of Taxation continues to improve the process to make applying for the ANCHOR program more convenient and accessible. New this season, the Division has effectively eliminated the necessity for paper applications, by launching a new online application for residents required to provide supporting documentation, who would have otherwise needed to file by paper in past ANCHOR seasons. These applicants will now be able to securely upload their documents online. Paper applications remain available for those who prefer, or have special circumstances.

The Division has also has doubled the number of agents available to assist callers to the ANCHOR hotline, as well as implemented an automatic callback feature which allows residents to be placed in a queue rather than waiting on hold.

Information about the program is available at anchor.nj.gov. Applicants may also call the ANCHOR hotline (609) 826-4282 or 1-888-238-1233,