BLOOMFIELD, NJ – Mayor Michael Venezia is urging residents to apply for the NJ Division of Taxation’s ANCHOR – Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters – property tax relief program. Governor Phil Murphy and the State of NJ recently extended the application deadline to February 28, 2023.
“We want residents to know that the application deadline has been extended and we urge all of those who qualify to apply immediately. The ANCHOR program is eligible not only for homeowners but also our residents who rent their homes, so be sure to check whether you are newly eligible for these direct payments. My hope is that this larger investment in tax relief will help put more money into the pockets of the people and families of Bloomfield in a year that has been fiscally stressful for so many of us,” said Mayor Venezia.
The ANCHOR program replaces the Homestead Benefit program and expands the amount of property tax relief while also boosting eligibility to twice as many homeowners, and also includes tenants renting their homes. The Division will be emailing ANCHOR program filing information to homeowners who had requested their application be sent through email when they filed their 2018 Homestead Benefit application at the same time the physical mailers are sent out.
To be eligible, homeowners must have:
- Been a New Jersey resident; and
- Owned and occupied a home in New Jersey that was their principal residence (main home) on October 1, 2019; and
- Paid the 2019 property taxes on their main home; and
- Had 2019 New Jersey gross income of not more than $250,000.
To be eligible, tenants must have:
- Been a New Jersey resident; and
- Rented and occupied an apartment or residence in New Jersey that was their principal residence (main home) on October 1, 2019; and
- Lived in a unit with its own separate kitchen and bath facilities (if the building had more than one dwelling unit); and
- Paid rent on their main home, which was subject to local property taxes; and
- Had 2019 New Jersey gross income of not more than $150,000.
Applicants will choose to receive their benefits either as a check or direct deposit and must file their application by Tuesday, February 28, 2023.
The online application, eligibility requirements, filing instructions, and paper applications can also be accessed at nj.gov/treasury/taxation/anchor. The automated telephone filing system, which will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, during the filing period, can be reached at 1 (877) 658-2972.
Text Telephone Service (TTY/TDD) for hearing-impaired users: 1 (800) 286-6613 or (609) 984-7300.
If residents need help filling out their application or have any other questions, they may contact the Bloomfield Department of Human Services at (973) 680-4017.