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Governor Phil Murphy • Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver

Division of Taxation

Renters/Tenants

Filing deadline: February 28, 2023.

You are eligible for a 2019 ANCHOR benefit if you met these requirements:

  • You were a New Jersey resident; and
  • Your 2019 New Jersey gross income was not more than $150,000; and
  • Your name was on the lease or rental agreement; and
  • You paid rent; and
  • You rented and occupied a residence in New Jersey that was your principal residence (main home) on October 1, 2019; and
  • The rental property was subject to local property taxes, (see Qualified and Non-Qualified Rental Properties).

When benefits will be paid:

We will begin paying ANCHOR benefits in spring of 2023. ANCHOR benefits will be paid in the form of a direct deposit or check, not as credits to property tax bills.

All property tax relief program information provided here is based on current law and is subject to change.

You will also be asked if:

  • If you/spouse/CU partner were blind/disabled as of December 31, 2019.
  • If you shared rent with anyone other than your spouse/partner on October 1, 2019.
  • For the names of all other renters/tenants, if any, sharing the rent on that property.
  • For your routing and account number from your bank if requesting a direct deposit of your benefit.

You can find your gross income on line 29 of your 2019 NJ-1040 tax return. If you were not required to file a 2019 New Jersey Income Tax return, report zero as your gross income.

If you do not have a copy of your 2019 NJ-1040 tax return, complete the "Gross Income Request Form" below and include a copy of your government issued photo ID.

Refer to your filing status below for guidance on correctly entering your name.

Enter your full name (last name, first name, middle initial) and corresponding filing status.

Married or in a civil union on October 1, 2019, and both people maintained the same residence

Enter your last name, first name, and middle initial followed by your spouse/cu partner's first name (enter spouse/cu partner's last name if different) unless you want a separate payment for half the benefit amount.

If you want to receive a separate payment for half of the ANCHOR benefit amount, enter:

  • Only your full name (last name, first name, middle initial);
  • Report your filing status as Married/CU, Filing Joint Return;
  • Check the box requesting separate checks, and
  • Combined 2019 gross income.

Note: Both partners must file a separate ANCHOR application to receive half the benefit payment.

Married or in a civil union after October 1, 2019, but before January 1, 2020, and both people maintained the same residence

Enter your last name, first name, and middle initial followed by your spouse/cu partner's first name (enter spouse/cu partner's last name if different) unless you want a separate payment for half the benefit amount.

If you want to receive a separate payment for half of the ANCHOR benefit amount, enter:

  • Only your full name (last name, first name, middle initial);
  • Report your filing status as Married/CU, Filing Joint Return;
  • Check the box requesting separate checks, and
  • Combined 2019 gross income.

Note: Both partners must file a separate ANCHOR application to receive half the benefit payment.

Married or in a civil union after October 1, 2019, but before January 1, 2020, and only you resided in the rental property on October 1, 2019

You are eligible to file for the rental property in only your name since your spouse/CU partner did not occupy the rental property on October 1, 2019, but you must report your combined gross income. However, if your spouse/CU partner owned or rented a principal residence on October 1, 2019, as their main home in New Jersey, they should file an ANCHOR application for their main home.

Enter:

  • Only your full name (last name, first name, middle initial);
  • Report your filing status as Married/CU, Filing Joint Return, and
  • Your combined 2019 gross income.

Since you and your spouse maintain the same residence, you may file only one application and receive one check (or direct deposit) for the full amount.

Enter:

  • Your name (last name, first name, middle initial) and the first name, middle initial of your spouse/CU partner (last name only if different);
  • Your filing status as Married/CU, Filing Separate Return; and
  • Your combined 2019 gross income.

If you prefer to receive a separate check from your spouse for half of the benefit amount, you must each file separate applications.

Enter:

  • Only your name (last name, first name, middle initial);
  • Your filing status as Married/CU, Filing Separate Return;
  • Check the box requesting separate checks, and
  • Combined 2019 gross income.

You each must file separate applications.

Enter:

  • Only your name (last name, first name, middle initial);
  • Your filing status as Married/CU, Filing Separate Return;
  • Only your 2019 gross income.

If an eligible renter/tenant died before filing an application, either the surviving spouse/civil union partner or a personal representative should file the application.

Surviving Spouse/Civil Union Partner. Enter only your name on the application, even if your spouse/partner died during 2019 and your filing status is married/CU couple, filing joint return.

Personal Representative. If you are filing on behalf of an eligible renter/tenant who died on or after October 1, 2019, you must:

  • Enter the decedent's last name, first name, and initial, followed by "estate of;" and
  • Enter the mailing address where the check is to be sent (if not choosing direct deposit); and
  • Check the box indicating the renter/tenant is deceased. You may be asked for documentation at a later date.

A personal representative filing on behalf of a deceased renter/tenant must sign in his or her official capacity. If it is a joint application, the surviving spouse/civil union partner must also sign (if filing by paper).

If there is no personal representative for the deceased renter/tenant, the spouse/CU partner signs the application and writes "Filing as Surviving Spouse" or "Filing as surviving Civil Union Partner" in the signature section (if filing by paper).

You can have your benefit deposited directly into your account at a bank or other financial institution. If you do not provide account information for direct deposit, we will automatically issue a paper check to the address you provided on the application.

Enter your banking information through the online filing system. Your bank routing number must be nine digits. The first two digits must be 01 through 12 or 21 through 32. Contact your financial institution to get the correct routing number if you are unsure. Your account number can be up to 17 digits (numbers only). Do not include hyphens, spaces, special symbols, and letters.

Confirmation Number

To submit your application online, you must choose CONFIRM at the end to receive your confirmation number. Keep this number for your records as proof that you filed an ANCHOR application.

Tenants filing paper applications will not receive confirmation numbers. Keep copies of your application for your records.

The address you use to claim the ANCHOR benefit must have been your main home on October 1, 2019. In general, your residence must have been subject to property tax.

Qualified Rental Properties

P.I.L.O.T (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes). There is one type of property that is exempt from the property tax requirement. Renters/Tenants who lived in rental units that operate under a P.I.L.O.T agreement with their municipality are eligible to apply for the ANCHOR benefit.

Mobile Homes. If you owned or rented a mobile home that was located in a mobile home park, you are considered a renter/tenant for purposes of applying for the ANCHOR benefit.

Condominiums and Co-ops. If you rented a condominium unit or a unit in a cooperative housing complex, you are considered a renter/tenant for purposes of applying for the ANCHOR benefit.

Non-Qualified Rental Properties

Renters/Tenants who lived in the following types of residences do not qualify to apply for the ANCHOR benefit:

  • Tax-exempt housing or other residences owned by New Jersey, county, municipal, or federal government;
  • On-campus apartments at New Jersey colleges and universities;
  • Residences owned by religious, charitable, or other non-profit organizations (including on-campus apartments at private nonprofit colleges and universities); and
  • All other properties exempt from local property taxes.

If you are not sure whether the residence you rented was subject to local property taxes, contact your building manager or the municipal tax assessor for information.

File Online

ANCHOR-T 
(Paper Application for Renters/Tenants)

How Benefits are Calculated and Paid

Renter/Tenant FAQs

Last Updated: Monday, 03/20/23