Deadline approaching for Senior Freeze, Stay NJ and ANCHOR property tax relief applications

New Jersey residents seeking property tax relief have only a short window left to apply.

The PAS-1 form, which bundles applications for Stay NJ, Senior Freeze and the Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters (ANCHOR) program, is due soon.

Here’s a look at how the programs work and how residents can submit an application before the deadline.

How to submit a PAS-1 application

PAS-1 is a single, streamlined application used for all three New Jersey property tax relief programs.

Residents can file online or mail in a paper form.

Applicants may use PAS-1 even if they do not qualify for every program. Those who apply will automatically be considered for the program that best matches their eligibility.

All applications must be submitted by the deadline.

What is Stay NJ?

Stay NJ is the newest property tax relief program in New Jersey. It reimburses up to 50% of property tax bills, with a maximum benefit of $6,500.

To qualify, applicants must be senior citizens, have lived in their New Jersey home for the full year, and have income below $200,000.

Stay NJ pays benefits in quarterly installments. Payments for the current round of applications are scheduled to begin in February 2027.

What is Senior Freeze?

Senior Freeze reimburses eligible senior citizens and disabled people for increases in property taxes or mobile home park site fees on their primary residence.

To qualify, applicants must have been at least 65 years old in the qualifying year or have received Social Security disability benefits that year. They also must have lived in their main residence since 2022 and have total annual income of $168,268 or less in one year and $172,475 or less in the next.

Senior Freeze benefits began being mailed out and continue to be sent on a rolling basis.

What is ANCHOR?

The ANCHOR program provides property tax relief to New Jersey homeowners and renters who use the property as their main residence and meet certain income limits.

Benefits are based on residency, income and age.

Homeowners must have income of $250,000 or less, while renters must have income of $150,000 or less.

ANCHOR payments began going out and are now being distributed on a rolling basis.