NJ Homeowners Frequently Asked Questions
1. When is the ANCHOR application deadline?
The deadline is February 28, 2023.
Note: The ANCHOR program is separate from the Senior Freeze
program.
2. Who is eligible for the ANCHOR program?
ANCHOR eligibility is as follows:
• NJ homeowners with income of $150,000 or less will receive $1,500.
• NJ homeowners with income of more than $150,000 and up to
$250,000 will receive $1,000.
• NJ residential renters with income of $150,000 or less will receive
$450. You must have paid rent to be eligible.
3. Is there an age limit for ANCHOR?
No.
4. Is the process of ling for ANCHOR different than Homestead?
If you previously participated in the Homestead Benet program,
you’ll nd that the application process is nearly the same, if not more
streamlined than before.
5. How do homeowners apply?
Homeowners need an ANCHOR ID and PIN to apply online or by
phone. If you did not receive a mailer or email with an ID and PIN,
but led a Homestead Benet application last year, access the
online ID and PIN inquiry system to retrieve your ID and PIN. Certain
homeowners must le a paper application for reasons listed below.
Apply Online or Apply by phone: 1-877-658-2972
If you must le a paper application, you can print Form ANCHOR-H
and mail it along with any necessary supporting documents.
6. How is the benet calculated?
Homeowners should click the following link to find out How
ANCHOR Benets Are Calculated and Paid.
7. Do I have to report my ANCHOR benet on my New Jersey
Income Tax return?
No. ANCHOR benet payments are not reportable as New Jersey income.
VISIT ANCHOR.NJ.GOV FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO FILE ONLINE
The ANCHOR Call Center (1-877-658-2972) has extended hours Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. until February 28, 2023. Due to high call volumes, you may experience delays.
We appreciate your patience.
8. When and how will I receive my 2019 ANCHOR benet payment?
All payments will be issued as checks or direct deposits beginning
late Spring 2023 (no later than May 2023). You select the payment
method when you le your application. Payments will not be issued
in the order they are received.
9. I heard homeowner ANCHOR informational mailers are being
sent out with an ID and PIN number I need for my application, but I
did not receive one yet. When can I expect to receive mine?
All 2019 informational mailers have been sent out. If you erroneously
received a tenant mailer discard it. If you have not received your
homeowner ANCHOR mailer and you led last year or in 2018 for the
previous Homestead Benet and are eligible for the same property
under the ANCHOR program, you may retrieve your ID and PIN here.
If you did not le for the Homestead Benet last year or cannot
obtain your ID and PIN, call the ANCHOR Hotline at 1-888-238-1233
to speak to a representative.
10. What if I own my home with a non-spouse?
Each owner must le a separate ANCHOR application.
11. I owned a home and I rented out two bedrooms to renters/
tenants, and all three of us live in the home. Both renters/tenants
signed their own lease. Are we all eligible for the benet?
Yes, you are eligible for ANCHOR as a homeowner and the others
as renters/tenants. Each individual would have to le their own
ANCHOR application.
12. I am having trouble downloading the paper application
online. What should I do?
This may be a browser or software issue. You should use Microsoft
Edge or Google Chrome and update to the latest Adobe software to
download a paper application.
If after you select to download the PDF you receive a “Please wait…”
message, you must go to your “Files” folder, choose your “Downloads”
folder and open the PDF “ANCHOR_Homeowners_2019.”
13. I have tried calling the ANCHOR Hotline for assistance, but
could not get through. How can I get my questions answered?
We encourage you to check ANCHOR.NJ.GOV before calling to
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get answers to your questions. It is important to note the ANCHOR
deadline has been extended to February 28, 2023. The ANCHOR
Hotline is experiencing incredibly high call volumes, as triple
the number of New Jerseyans are now eligible for the program
compared to the Homestead Benet. Our agents are working
diligently to answer as many calls as possible
14. I used the wrong account/routing number when I led my
ANCHOR application? How do I x it?
You can update or correct your direct deposit information using this
llable form providing your name, Social Security Number, incorrect
and correct banking information, and a copy of your government
issued ID using one of the following methods:
fax: (609) 292-0134
Email: [email protected]
Upload: https://www.njportal.com/DOR/TCM/#
(Instructions will be on the form)
PAPER APPLICATION
When should I file a paper application?
Some homeowners are REQUIRED to file a paper ANCHOR
application (Form ANCHOR-H).
You must le a paper application if:
• You shared ownership of your main home with someone
who was not your spouse/civil union (CU) partner
and your percentage of ownership is not preprinted
on your worksheet.
• Your main home was a unit in a multi-unit property that
you owned.
• You received an ANCHOR information mailer for the correct
property, but the name on the mailer is not yours or needs to
be changed due to marriage, death, etc.
• You are a widow(er)/surviving civil union partner and your deed
lists both your name and the name of your deceased spouse.
• You are an executor ling on behalf of a deceased homeowner.
• You occupied a newly constructed home on October 1
for which you did not receive an ANCHOR mailer with an
Identication Number and PIN.
• You are considered a homeowner for purposes of applying
for the ANCHOR benet, but you were not the actual owner
of record on October 1.
• You and your spouse/civil union partner maintained the same
main home and require separate ANCHOR benet payments.
• You are ling for a property held in trust. (You are considered
an eligible owner of a property owned by a trust if you are a
beneciary, or the deed or trust agreement explicitly states
that you have a life estate in the property.)
Most homeowners ling paper applications will need to include
supporting documentation to verify eligibility. See application
instructions for proper enclosures.
If you must le a paper application, you can print Form ANCHOR-H
and mail it along with any necessary supporting documents.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
If you did not receive an informational mailer or email for the property
location you owned and occupied on October 1, 2019, try accessing
the online ID and PIN inquiry system to retrieve your ID and PIN. If
you cannot access your ID and PIN to le online, call the ANCHOR
Hotline at 1-888-238-1233 to speak to a representative.
How do I update my mailing address?
You can change your mailing address when you le the application.
If you have already led your application, visit our Address Change
page.
I owned a home in New Jersey on October 1, 2019, but I sold it.
Since I’ve already moved, how will I get my 2019 benet?
File the application for the home you owned and occupied on October
1, 2019. You can select direct deposit (if you led electronically and
provided your banking information) or provide your current mailing
address if you prefer a paper check.
Do I have to be a current resident to apply?
No. However, you must have owned and occupied a home in New
Jersey as your principal residence on October 1, 2019, and meet all
of the program qualications for 2019.
VISIT ANCHOR.NJ.GOV FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO FILE ONLINE
The ANCHOR Call Center (1-877-658-2972) has extended hours Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. until February 28, 2023. Due to high call volumes, you may experience delays.
We appreciate your patience.
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DECEASED HOMEOWNERS
My ANCHOR ling information has my name and my deceased
spouse’s. How do I remove my spouse’s name?
We require you to le a paper application to change the preprinted
ling information. Be sure to include supporting documentation
(e.g., death certicate, marriage certicate, legal documentation)
with your application.
I am ling the application on behalf of an estate. Should I leave
the bank account open until I receive the 2019 ANCHOR payment?
We expect to issue 2019 ANCHOR payments by the late Spring of
2023. Due to the direct deposit or paper check timing, speak to your
bank and/or seek guidance about bank accounts from your attorney
before closing the estate account.
DIVORCED HOMEOWNERS
My ANCHOR ling information lists my name and my former
spouse’s name. How do I le?
If you divorced prior to October 1, 2019, you should le a paper
application in your name only and report your percentage of
ownership (50% unless otherwise specied on the property deed or
the divorce decree).
If you divorced on or after October 1, 2019, but before January 1,
2020, and:
• You lived in the home by yourself on October 1, 2019, le a 2019
ANCHOR paper application in your name only and report 100%
ownership; or
• You and your former spouse lived in the home on October 1,
2019, le separate paper applications, each reporting the
appropriate percentage of ownership. (50% unless otherwise
specied on the property deed or the divorce decree.)
In either scenario, report your 2019 New Jersey Income Tax return
ling status.
2019 FILING STATUS
Where do I nd the amount of my 2019 New Jersey gross income
to report on my application?
Your 2019 New Jersey gross income is reported on Line 29 of your
2019 NJ-1040. If your income was under the ling threshold, report
VISIT ANCHOR.NJ.GOV FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO FILE ONLINE
The ANCHOR Call Center (1-877-658-2972) has extended hours Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. until February 28, 2023. Due to high call volumes, you may experience delays.
We appreciate your patience.
3
your income as $0. If you do not have a copy of your tax return, you
can a 2019 gross income amount.
I was the sole owner of my principal residence on October 1, 2019,
but I was married. What income do I report on my 2019 ANCHOR
application?
If you and your spouse lived together in your home on October 1,
2019, you must report your combined income on your ANCHOR
application. However, if your spouse maintained a separate principal
residence on October 1, 2019, you should report only your income
on the application.
What filing status do I choose (Section D in the online
ling application)?
Your 2019 New Jersey Income Tax return (NJ-1040) determines your
ling status. If you were not required to le a 2019 Income Tax return,
use the ling status you would have used if you were required to le.
If your ling status is married/civil union (CU) couple ling separately,
select the option based on the living situation that you and your
spouse/CU partner had on October 1, 2019.
If you were married and you maintained your principal residence
with your spouse on October 1, 2019, and you each want to receive
a separate check for half of the benet amount for which you are
eligible, you should check the box in Section D in the online ling
application that states, “I want my half of the benet payment in my
name only.”
Each spouse must le a separate ANCHOR application.
2019 Income Tax ling status help.
‘HOW DO I FILE?’ SCENARIOS
On October 1, 2019, the deed to the home was in my name only,
and my ancé/spouse/cu partner lived with me. How do I le?
Homeowners only qualify to apply if their name appears on the
deed, regardless of ling status/marital status. Therefore, your
name should only appear on the preprinted mailer. Select your
2019 Income Tax ling status and enter your 2019 gross income
(combined income if married/cu couple before January 1, 2020). If
other names are preprinted you must le a paper application in your
name only and include a copy of the deed showing who owned the
home on October 1, 2019.
On October 1, 2019, the deed to the home was in my name and my
VISIT ANCHOR.NJ.GOV FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO FILE ONLINE
The ANCHOR Call Center (1-877-658-2972) has extended hours Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. until February 28, 2023. Due to high call volumes, you may experience delays.
We appreciate your patience.
4
partner’s name and we lived together. We were a married/CU couple
before January 1, 2020, and:
• We want to receive one benet payment. How do we le?
Complete one application and:
• Enter your name (last name, rst name, middle initial) and the
rst name and middle initial of your spouse/CU partner (last
name only if different from yours);
• Select your 2019 Income Tax ling status;
• Enter your combined 2019 gross income.
• We each want to receive separate payments for our half
of the benet. How do we le?
Each person must complete a separate application:
• Enter only your name (last name, rst name, middle initial);
• Select your 2019 Income Tax ling status;
• Check the box next to “I want my half of the benet
payment in my name only.” in Section D;
• Enter your combined 2019 gross income (we use
combined income to calculate benets amounts).
• On October 1, 2019, the deed to the home was in my name and
my ancé’s name, and we lived together. We were married/CU after
December 31, 2019. How do we le?
You were not married on December 31, 2019. Therefore, each of you
must le a paper application, claim multiple ownership, and indicate
your ownership percentage.
On the paper application, enter:
• Only your name (last name, rst name, middle initial);
• Your 2019 Income Tax ling status;
•
Your 2019 gross income only since you were not married, and
• Multi-owner and enter your share of ownership.
TRUSTS
Am I eligible to le if a trust owns the property?
To be eligible, you must be a beneciary of the trust, occupy the
home as your main home on October 1, 2019, meet the income
requirements, and the 2019 property taxes must have been paid by
June 1, 2020. File a paper application and submit a copy of the trust
agreement for proof of eligibility.
MULTIPLE OWNERS
On October 1, 2019, I owned a home with someone who was not
my spouse and the preprinted name/property record indicates
multiple names. How do I le?
You must le a paper application in your name only. On the paper
application, you need to indicate you owned the property with
someone other than a spouse and ll in your proportionate share
of ownership. If your name is not preprinted, include a copy of the
property deed that shows you are an owner.
My ancé and I shared ownership of our home on October 1, 2019.
We married after October 1, 2019, but before January 1, 2020.
How should we le?
You are considered one owner since you were married on or before
December 31, 2019. You can le online if a name change isn’t
needed. File online using the preprinted names, enter your 2019
combined gross income, and answer no when asked if you owned
the home with someone other than a spouse.
If a name change is required, you need to le a paper application
and include legal documentation that shows your correct name (e.g.
marriage certicate, divorce decree, etc.)
MULTIPLE UNIT PROPERTIES
I owned a multi-unit property and lived in one of the units. My ling
information is not preprinted with the percentage of property I use
as my principal residence. How do I le?
You must le a paper application if you meet the other eligibility
requirements.
