Where's your money? $1.8B issued, but thousands still waiting for NJ property tax rebate

Daniel Munoz, NorthJersey.com
Updated ·2 min read

Over two months after the state began sending out property tax rebate payments, some 30,000 property owners and renters are still waiting for the aid from the state.

The New Jersey Department of the Treasury is working through the remainder of applications, said department spokesperson Melina Caliendo, though the agency gave no clear date on when people could expect their payments.

“These applications were either submitted without all necessary information or require further confirmation to process their applications,” Caliendo said.

Caliendo continued that the state Division of Taxation will be sending out letters in early June to those who must provide additional information to complete their applications.

“Payments will be issued as quickly as Taxation can validate the missing information,” Caliendo said.

What is the ANCHOR program?

NJ Budget 2024: Property Taxes
NJ Budget 2024: Property Taxes

The ANCHOR program is an update of the previous Homestead Benefit property tax relief program. Gov. Phil Murphy first announced the program during his 2023 budget address in March 2022. In his recent budget address in February, Murphy said he intends to continue the program in the state's next fiscal year.

Who was eligible for the ANCHOR refund?

Residents had until Feb. 28 to apply for the ANCHOR program. It was open to homeowners and renters who lived in their primary residences on Oct. 1, 2019. To be eligible, applicants had to file or be exempt from New Jersey income taxes.

Here was the breakdown:

  • More than 870,000 homeowners with incomes up to $150,000 were eligible to receive $1,500 in relief.

  • More than 290,000 homeowners with incomes over $150,000 and up to $250,000 were eligible to receive $1,000.

  • More than 900,000 renters with incomes up to $150,000 were eligible to receive $450 to help offset rent increases.

How many got aid?

More than $1.8 billion has gone out to 446,000 renters and 1.15 million homeowners, according to the state Treasury.

Where is my ANCHOR refund?

Residents can check the status of their application and payment online by visiting nj.gov/treasury/taxation/anchor.

If a payment hasn’t been received yet, you can call the ANCHOR hotline at 888-238-1233 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. from Monday through Friday.

You can also schedule an in-person appointment online at nj.gov/treasury/taxation/contact.shtml.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ property tax rebate: Thousands waiting for ANCHOR credit