An Update from Mayor Stephen Dalina:

State Announces 2021 ANCHOR Property Tax Relief Program 

Program to Benefit Homeowners and Renters Making Less Than $250k

Homeowners may receive up to $1,500 and Seniors 65+ up to $1,750

As your Mayor, I would like to draw your attention to important news regarding critical property tax relief for Township residents.  

Last week, the State of New Jersey announced its guidelines and an updated application process for the 2021 ANCHOR property tax relief program. If you are a homeowner or renter earning less than $250,000, I strongly encourage you to participate in this state program.

As you know, one of my primary goals as your mayor has been to fight for increased state property tax relief for our residents with a focus on affordability. When I became Mayor, I fought hard to expand the diminishing Homestead Rebate program for seniors and the disabled into a meaning tax relief program for residents of all ages. Last year, our efforts paid off when the program was expanded and renamed as the ANCHOR program, offering up to $1,500 to all residents making less than $250,000. 

Thanks to all our collective efforts, ANCHOR was renewed in the state’s fiscal ’25 budget and, this year, residents over age 65 may receive up to $1,750 as part of the 2021 program.     

The details of the state plan rollout are available in the State Department of Treasury's press release from last week. See below. 

Many of our residents successfully applied for and received their ANCHOR benefits last year. For the vast majority, this was an easy process. For others, the state system was not as easy to navigate, and Township staff helped where they could.    

Again, as we are always happy to help our residents, please be mindful that this is a state program - much of which can be completed online. Information directly from the state is available at anchor.nj.gov, by calling the ANCHOR hotline at 609-826-4282 or 1-888-238-1233 or in-person at the NJ Division of Taxation regional information center located at 2 Paragon Way, Suite 1100 in Freehold.  

Residents needing further guidance may call the Tax Collector’s office at 732-521-4405, Senior Center at 609-448-7140, or the Library at 732-521-5000.

Following is an excerpt from the New Jersey Department of Treasury announcing the beginning of the new season of ANCHOR. The full press release is available for review at www.nj.gov/treasury/news/2024/08132024

August 13, 2024

ANCHOR Season Begins: A Record 1.5 Million New Jerseyans to Receive Automatic ANCHOR Payments

Division of Taxation Implements Innovate Changes to Simplify the Popular Property Tax Relief Program

(TRENTON) - Treasury's Division of Taxation will officially kick off the upcoming season of the popular ANCHOR property tax relief program next week, when it will begin mailing letters to about 1.5 million New Jerseyans to confirm their automatic eligibility for this season's benefit. The Division has also implemented a number of changes this season designed to further simplify the application process for new applicants and improve taxpayer experience.

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, working closely with Treasury's Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services and the State's Office of Innovation to launch 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.

Also in partnership with the Office of Innovation, the Division of Taxation worked diligently to make improvements to its call center operations to more effectively serve residents with questions about their ANCHOR application. The Division 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, or get in-person assistance at a Regional Information Center.

© 2024 Township of Monroe, New Jersey