More than $2.1 billion in NJ ANCHOR rebates sent to homeowners and renters
During the second round of ANCHOR property tax relief payouts, more than $2.1 billion was distributed to more than 1.8 million homeowners and renters throughout the state.
According to the state Department of the Treasury, this is the single largest property tax relief program in state history.
These payouts, for the 2020 tax year, included an additional $250 for qualifying homeowners and renters over age 65. There were payments made to more than 1.2 million homeowners and about 579,000 renters, ranging from $450 to $1,750.
Payments first started being sent to residents in October and continue going out, though the deadline to apply officially passed at the end of December. The Division of Taxation — responsible for administering the program — noted that those who haven’t received their benefit or who experienced issues with their application should call the ANCHOR hotline at 609-826-4282 or 888-238-1233 or get in-person assistance at a Regional Information Center.
Treasury said more benefits were paid out through this round of ANCHOR than in the 2008 Homestead Rebate program, which previously held the record for most dollars distributed through a property tax relief program, at $2.08 billion.
“Together with our partners in the Legislature, and through the non-stop efforts of Treasury’s Division of Taxation, we have delivered roughly $2 billion to hardworking homeowners and renters for the second consecutive year,” Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement. “As the most ambitious property tax relief program in New Jersey history, ANCHOR is helping to make New Jersey more affordable for nearly two million households who need and deserve this relief.”
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During this round, the ANCHOR Outreach Team, 300 canvassing professionals working daily, knocked on doors in neighborhoods across New Jersey for three months to deliver in-person ANCHOR services. In addition to door-to-door outreach, canvassers attended 119 community events to maximize outreach to New Jersey residents. Team members confirmed eligibility for ANCHOR and provided information in the filer’s native language, assisted in filing applications, checked benefit statuses and answered commonly asked questions.
The first year of the program saw more than 1.7 million renters and homeowners receive payments. Treasury announced in August that more than 1.3 million of the residents who received payments from the program earlier this year didn't need to file a new application, as long as none of their information changed.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ ANCHOR rebates get homeowners and renters more than $2.1 billion
