In New Jersey, there are now four programs that can provide New Jersey residents, if qualified, potential property tax relief. The property tax exemption and relief programs have different filing deadlines based on the specific program. The most prominent programs include the unified application (PAS-1) for seniors and individuals with disabilities (due October 31, 2025) and a year-round application period for veterans.

The NJ Division of Taxation has made it easier for seniors and those receiving Social Security Disability in New Jersey to apply for Property Tax Relief with a new, simplified process. Their goal is to make the filing experience more straightforward and efficient. There is now a single combined application for the Senior Freeze (Property Tax Reimbursement), ANCHOR, and Stay NJ programs for residents 65 and over, or those collecting Social Security Disability Benefits. They will determine your eligibility for you and send a letter with the specific benefits for which you qualify. Find more on this here.

The deadline for most residential property tax relief programs for the tax year 2024 is October 31, 2025. These programs are now consolidated into a single application called the PAS-1.

ANCHOR (Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters): Provides property tax relief to homeowners with incomes up to $250,000 and renters with incomes up to $150,000. This year’s ANCHOR benefit is based on residency, income, and age from 2024. Payments will start on September 15 and continue on a rolling basis, with most applicants receiving payment within 90 days, unless additional information is required. More information can be found here.

Senior Freeze (Property Tax Reimbursement): Reimburses eligible senior or disabled homeowners for property tax increases over a base year. To qualify, you must meet all the eligibility requirements for each year from the base year through the application year. Payments are issued on a payment schedule, depending on when you apply. The earliest payment will be issued on July 15, 2025.

Stay NJ: A newer program for seniors aged 65 and older with an annual income under $500,000. The Stay NJ program offers property tax benefits to eligible homeowners aged 65 and older. It reimburses applicants for 50% of their property tax bills, up to a maximum of $13,000, with a 2024 benefit cap of $6,500. To qualify, you must have owned and lived in your home for the full 12 months of 2024 and have an income below $500,000. If you made P.I.L.O.T. (Payments-in-Lieu-of-Tax) payments to your municipality, you are eligible for the Stay NJ benefit. Mobile homeowners are not eligible. More details can be found here.

Stay NJ benefits are calculated after ANCHOR and Senior Freeze benefits are determined. Payments are expected to be issued in early 2026.

Important notes for the October 31 deadline:

  • Eligible seniors and individuals receiving Social Security Disability benefits must file the PAS-1 themselves.
  • Some ANCHOR recipients under 65 may have their applications automatically filed by the state. Confirmation letters were sent starting in mid-August.

Veterans’ property tax deduction and exemption

The filing deadlines for the annual $250 deduction for veterans and the full exemption for 100% disabled veterans are managed by your municipal tax assessor and tax collector, allowing for a year-long application period.

With the tax assessor: File from October 1 through December 31 of the pre-tax year.

With the tax collector: File from January 1 through December 31 of the calendar tax year.

For more information on all of these programs, please visit nj.gov/treasury/taxation/staynj/index.shtml.