Summit-area homeowners and renters must file for up to three state property tax relief programs by Monday, Nov. 2.

The state allocated more than $4 billion in direct property tax relief for the 2025 benefit year, according to NJ Spotlight News. That includes $2.2 billion for the ANCHOR program (Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters), $756 million for Stay NJ and $345 million for Senior Freeze. The relief matters locally: Union County's average property tax bill hit $12,019 in 2025, according to NorthJersey.com.

ANCHOR: payments start Tuesday, Sept. 15

More than 1 million New Jerseyans will have their ANCHOR applications re-filed automatically by the state, which sent letters to 537,000 homeowners and 549,000 renters. But residents whose name, address or banking details have changed must file a new application by Tuesday, Sept. 15. Those not automatically filed have until Nov. 2.

ANCHOR offers direct rebates to homeowners earning up to $250,000 and renters earning up to $150,000. Homeowners with income at or below $150,000 receive $1,500. Those earning $150,001 to $250,000 receive $1,000. Renters 64 and younger get $450; renters 65 and older get $700.

One change this year: the extra $250 bonus for senior homeowners was not extended by the fiscal 2027 state budget, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. The maximum ANCHOR benefit for homeowners is $1,500 regardless of age.

Payments begin Tuesday, Sept. 15. Most applicants receive payment within 90 days of filing, according to state officials. Paper filers receive a check only; online filers may choose a check or direct deposit.

Stay NJ: up to $6,500 for seniors

Stay NJ reimburses eligible homeowners 65 and older for 50% of their property tax bill, subject to income-based caps. For the 2025 benefit year, the income ceiling dropped to $200,000, according to the Division of Taxation. The tiered maximums: $6,500 for income of $100,000 or less, $5,000 for $100,001 to $150,000 and $4,000 for $150,001 to $200,000.

Stay NJ is calculated after ANCHOR and Senior Freeze benefits are applied. Residents should not add the maximum amounts of all three programs together to estimate their total benefit.

The first two Stay NJ installments are scheduled for February and May 2027. Two additional installments in August and November 2027 depend on the fiscal 2028 state budget. Payments will be made by check.

Senior Freeze

Senior Freeze covers the difference between a homeowner's base-year property taxes and current taxes. Applicants must have been 65 or older by Dec. 31, 2025, or receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement disability benefits as of Dec. 31, 2024. Income limits: $168,268 or less in 2024 and $172,475 or less in 2025.

Payments for the 2025 benefit year began July 15. The filing deadline is also Nov. 2.

Established Senior Freeze recipients who skip a year lose their base year. They can reinstate it by filing the missed year's application, according to the Division of Taxation.

How to file

Residents 65 and older can use the combined Form PAS-1 to apply for ANCHOR, Stay NJ and Senior Freeze at once. PAS-1 applications are not automatically re-filed; residents must submit them. Online filing requires identity verification through ID.me.

"Every dollar in what the state calls property tax relief is one less dollar that needs to be collected from the local property taxpayers," Michael Cerra, executive director of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, said in March when NJ Spotlight News reported the state's average tax bill reached a record $10,570.

Local help and other deadlines

Berkeley Heights is hosting a free Property Tax Assistance and Relief Seminar on Sept. 30 at 10:30 a.m. at Town Hall, according to the township's website.

The state also offers a $1,000 Child Tax Credit per child under six for families earning less than $20,000 (married) or $10,000 (single), according to Patch. Applications are accepted through Oct. 15 using the state's free SimpleFile tool. No tax documents are required.

Residents can check their benefit status at propertytaxreliefstatus.nj.gov.