Homeowners and renters are missing out on millions of dollars in tax relief. Use the resources below to learn more.
You may be eligible to receive money back
New Jersey Program Overview
Property Tax-Aide features six property tax relief programs in New Jersey: Anchor Benefit, Property Tax Reimbursement (Senior Freeze), Senior Citizen and Disabled Persons Property Tax Deduction, Veterans Property Tax Deduction, Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption, and the Property Tax Deduction/Credit for Homeowners and Tenants.
Your state has active volunteers and organization partners that are available to help you complete your property tax relief application(s). If you’re interested in working with Property Tax-Aide support, visit our Contact us Page.
The information on this page is updated as new information becomes available by the relevant tax agencies.
ANCHOR (Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters)
Payment Amounts:
• Homeowners with income of $150,000 or less will receive $1,500 ($1,750 if age 65 or older).
• Homeowners with income of more than $150,000 and up to $250,000 will receive $1,000 ($1,250 if age 65 or older).
• Renters with an income of $150,000 or less will receive $450 ($700 if 65 or older).
Eligibility
Homeowners: You may be eligible if you met all of these requirements:
- You were a New Jersey resident.
- You owned and occupied a home in New Jersey that was your principal residence (main home) on October 1, 2021.
- 2021 property taxes were paid on that home.
- Your 2021 New Jersey gross income as shown on line 29 of your NJ 1040 tax return was $250,000 or less.
Renters: You are eligible for a 2021 ANCHOR benefit if you met these requirements:
- You were a New Jersey resident.
- Your 2021 New Jersey gross income as shown on line 29 of your NJ 1040 tax return was not more than $150,000.
- Your name was on the lease or rental agreement.
- You paid rent.
- You rented and occupied a residence in New Jersey that was your principal residence (main home) on October 1, 2021.
- The rental property was subject to local property taxes.
Application Deadline
- Benefit letters are currently being mailed with instructions on how to apply for the ANCHOR Benefit to homeowners and tenants.
- To update your address or bank details, you must log-in to the online filing service and submit a new application by September 15, 2024.
- The application deadline for all other applicants is November 30, 2024.
Required Documentation
You must provide the following information on the application:
- 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 2021 NJ-1040. (If you are not required to file an NJ-1040, report "0.")
- 2021 filing status.
- Date of birth and, if applicable, your spouse's/CU partner's date of birth.
Additional Information & Resources
Hotline: 1-888-238-1233. Applicants are encouraged to consult the detailed information posted on the Division of Taxation website below before calling the hotline. This website includes an extensive list of Frequently Asked Questions.
NJ Property Tax Reimbursement (Senior Freeze)
Eligibility
To qualify, you must meet all eligibility requirements for each year from the base year through the application year.
Age/Disability:
- You (or your spouse/civil union partner) were 65 or older on December 31, 2022; or
- Actually receiving federal Social Security disability benefit payments (not benefit payments received on behalf of someone else) on or before December 31, 2022.
Home Ownership:
- Homeowners: You owned and lived in your home since December 31, 2019, or earlier (and you still owned and lived in that home on December 31, 2023).
- Mobile Home Owners: You leased a site in a mobile home park where you placed a manufactured or mobile home that you owned since December 31, 2019, or earlier (and still lived in that home/leased the site on December 31, 2023).
Property Taxes/Site fees:
- Homeowners: The 2021 property taxes due on your home must have been paid by June 1, 2022, and the 2022 property taxes must be paid by June 1, 2023.
- Mobile Home Owners: Your site fees must have been paid by December 31 of each year respectively.
- If You Moved: If you moved from one New Jersey property to another and received a reimbursement for your previous residence for the last full year you lived there, you may qualify for an exception to re-applying to the Senior Freeze Program. See “Requirements for Resuming Eligibility” on the NJ.gov website for more information.
Income Limit:
- Your total annual income (combined if you were married or in a civil union and lived in the same home) was: 2022 – $150,000 or less; and 2023 – $168,050 or less
Application Deadline
NJ will begin mailing 2023 Senior Freeze blue application booklets in late February.
The deadline for all 2023 applications is October 31, 2024
Applications can be filed online on the NJ.gov website
Required Documentation
- The PTR-1 application is used by first-time applicants or for those who must re-establish themselves back into the Senior Freeze program. Proof of age or disability for 2022 and 2023 must be submitted with this application.
- The PTR-2 application is used by applicants already in the program who have an established base year property tax amount
- Proof of the amount of property taxes that were due and paid is required with both applications.
- For detailed application information access the application information website links below
Additional Information & Resources
For more information about the Senior Freeze program, including eligibility and how to apply, please visit the Senior Freeze (Property Tax Reimbursement) page on the New Jersey Division of Taxation website.
100% Totally and Permanently Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption
If you are a surviving spouse or civil union/domestic partner of an honorably discharged veteran who was 100% permanently and totally disabled during active duty service, you also may qualify.
Eligibility
To qualify as a Disabled Veteran, you must:
- Have active duty service in the United States Armed Forces;
- Be honorably discharged;
- Be a legal resident of New Jersey;
- Own and occupy the dwelling house as your main home and residence;
- Provide a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (Veterans Administration) certification of active duty service-connected disability stating you are 100% permanently and totally disabled.
To qualify as a Surviving Spouse/Civil Union/Domestic Partner, you must:
- Be a legal resident of New Jersey;
- Confirm the deceased veteran had active duty service in the United States Armed Forces;
- Confirm the deceased veteran was honorably discharged or demonstrate the military service person died on active duty;
- Document the deceased veteran or military service person was a New Jersey resident at death;
- Have not remarried or formed a new registered civil union/domestic partnership;
- Own and occupy the dwelling house as your main home and residence;
- Provide a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (Veterans Administration) active certification of duty service-connected disability stating the deceased veteran was 100% permanently and totally disabled.
Application Deadline
You can file this form at any time during the tax year. Partial or prorated exemption is permitted for the remainder of any taxable year from the date ownership or title to the dwelling house is acquired provided all other eligibility requirements are met.
Required Documentation
Acceptable Documentary Proof
- Death Certificate
- Deed
- Probated Will
- Marriage/Civil Union/Domestic Partner Certificate
- Military Records – Certificate of Honorable Discharge or Release (DD 214) or Military Notification of Death or Certification of United States Veterans Administration
- Residency - New Jersey Driver’s License or Registration, Voter’s Registration, NJ Resident Tax Return
- Veterans Administration Certificate of Disability
Additional Information & Resources
This information, including how to apply, can also be found on the 100% Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption page on the New Jersey Division of Taxation website.
For specific questions about the program, call your local assessor or tax collector or call the NJ Division of Taxation at 609-292-7974 For questions about Documenting Veterans Status call the NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs at 609-530-6958 or 609-530-6854 or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at 1-800-827-1000. |
$250 Veterans Property Tax Deduction
You also may qualify if you are a surviving spouse/civil union/domestic partner of an honorably discharged veteran with active-duty military service.
Eligibility
To qualify as a Veteran, you must:
- Have active duty service in the United States Armed Forces;
- Be honorably discharged;
- Be a legal resident of New Jersey;
- Own and occupy the dwelling house as your main home and residence.
To qualify as a Surviving Spouse/Civil Union/Domestic Partner you must:
- Be a legal resident of New Jersey;
- Own the property;
- Confirm the military service person died on active duty;
- Demonstrate the deceased veteran had active-duty service in the United States Armed Forces with an honorable discharge;
- Document that the deceased veteran or military service person was a resident of New Jersey at the time of death;
- Have not remarried or formed a new registered civil union/domestic partnership.
Application Deadline
File Form V.S.S. and all documentary proof with your municipal tax assessor from October 1 through December 31 of the pretax year. For example, for a property tax deduction claimed for calendar tax year 2024, the pretax year filing period would be October 1 – December 31, 2023.
Required Documentation
Acceptable Documentation (Documentary Proofs)
- Birth Certificate;
- Death Certificate;
- Deed;
- Marriage/Civil Union Certificate;
- New Jersey Driver’s License;
- Physician’s Certificate;
- Social Security Document;
- State Tax Return;
- Probated Will
Additional Information & Resources
The information above can also be found on the $250 Property Veterans Property Tax Deduction page on the New Jersery Division of Taxation website
If you have questions, call your local assessor or tax collector, or call the Division of Taxation at 609-292-7974.
If you need help documenting your veteran status, call:
- New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs 609-530-6958 or 609-530-6854;
or - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 1-800-827-1000
$250 Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Deduction
Eligibility
You must be age 65 or older, or disabled (with a Physician’s Certificate or Social Security document) as of December 31 of the pretax year. To qualify, you must:
- Be a legal resident of New Jersey for at least one year prior to October 1;
- Own and occupy your home as of October 1 of the pretax year;
- File a timely application;
- Not exceed the income threshold (see Income Guidelines for Real Property Tax Deduction (link in Additional Information & Resources section below). Note: It is important to read the Income Guidelines and accompanying examples carefully as categories of excludable income can vary from applicant to applicant based upon the sources of income, and categories can also vary between the applicant and the applicant’s spouse (if applicable).
You may be eligible for the deduction when your Spouse/Civil Union Partner passes away. To qualify:
- The deduction must be on the same home for which the deceased spouse received the deduction in his/her lifetime;
- You must be age 55 or older at the time of the deceased spouse’s death;
- You must be age 55 or older as of December 31 of the pretax year.
- Be a New Jersey resident and citizen for at least one year prior to October 1;
- Provide proof that your spouse/civil union partner is deceased;
- Have not remarried or formed a new registered civil union partnership;
- Not exceed the income threshold (see Income Guidelines for Real Property Tax Deduction (link in Additional Information & Resources section below). Note: It is important to read the Income Guidelines and accompanying examples carefully as categories of excludable income can vary from applicant to applicant based upon the sources of income, and categories can also vary between the applicant and the applicant’s spouse (if applicable).
Application Deadline
File Form PTD and all documentary proofs with your local assessor or tax collector from October 1 through December 31 of the pretax year. For example, for a property tax deduction claimed for calendar tax year 2024, the pretax year filing period would be October 1 – December 31, 2023, with the assessor and the tax year filing period would be January 1 – December 21, 2024, with the collector.
For subsequent years, you will have to file Form PD5 with your tax collector every year, on or before March 1, to maintain the deduction.
Required Documentation
Acceptable Documentation (Documentary Proofs)
- Birth Certificate;
- Death Certificate;
- Deed;
- Marriage/Civil Union Certificate;
- New Jersey Driver’s License;
- Physician’s Certificate;
- Social Security Document;
- State Tax Return;
- Probated Will
Additional Information & Resources
Income Guidelines for Real Property Tax Deduction
If you have questions, you can go online to the New Jersey Division of Taxation website or call your local assessor, or tax collector, or call the Division of Taxation at 609-292-7974.
NJ Property Tax Deduction/Credit for Homeowners and Tenants
Most low-income seniors and blind or disabled persons who do not otherwise file a NJ-1040 income tax return are still entitled to receive a $50 property tax credit. See exception in the Program Eligibility section below.
Eligibility
You are eligible if:
- You were domiciled and maintained a primary residence as a homeowner or tenant in New Jersey during the tax year; and
- Your primary residence, whether owned or rented, was subject to property taxes, that were paid either as actual property taxes or through rent; and
- If you rented your primary residence, it had its own separate kitchen and bathroom that you did not share with occupants of other units in the building, if there were other units.
- If your primary residence was a unit in a multi-unit property you owned, the property had no more than four units and no more than one of those was a commercial unit.
- Your Gross Income on NJ-1040 Line 29 is more than the filing threshold amount for your filing status. ($20,000 if Married/CU Couple filing jointly, Head of Household, or Qualifying Widow(er)/Surviving CU Partner; $10,000 for Single or Married/CU Partner filing separately).
- Exception: If you (and/or your spouse if filing jointly) were 65 or older or blind or disabled on the last day of the tax year and you were not required to file a return, you may still claim a property tax credit.
Application Deadline
You can apply for the Property Tax Deduction/Credit in the following ways:
If you are filing a NJ tax return:
- You can apply by claiming the deduction/credit on your NJ income tax return. See your tax adviser or the NJ-1040 Instructions for details.
If you are not filing a NJ tax return but meet the criteria for the exception above to claim a property tax credit:
- Homeowners and renters who are eligible and file ANCHOR applications will automatically receive their property tax credit with their ANCHOR benefits.
- You can file Form NJ-1040-HW (Part I). The application deadline for the NJ-1040-HW is the same as the deadline for the regular NJ-1040 income tax return. See Program Contact Links section below for a link to this form.
Required Documentation
If you file Form NJ-1040-HW, you may be contacted to provide proof of property taxes or rent paid on your main home, but no documentation is required with the application.
Additional Information & Resources
For information about this program, visit the Property Tax Deduction/Credit for Homeowners and Tenants webpage on the NJ Division of Taxation website.
Please download, print, and complete Form NJ-1040-HW (Part 1)
Then, mail Form NJ-1040-HW to:
NJ Division of Taxation Revenue Processing Center PO Box 555 Trenton, NJ 08647-0555
Your Resources
Your state accepts digital and mailed applications
Property Tax-Aide has independently selected the property tax relief programs featured on this website that we think are the most relevant and beneficial to older adults. It is not an exhaustive list of all property tax relief programs available in each state. Please consult your local tax agency for a comprehensive listing of property tax relief programs in your area.
No-Cost Application Assistance
Your state has active volunteers and organization partners that are available to help you complete your property tax relief application(s). If you’re interested in working with Property Tax-Aide support, click the Contact Us button and complete the information form.