Where’s my money? Answers about NJ ANCHOR rebate

❓ Questions and answers about the NJ ANCHOR property tax rebate

🏠 Homeowners and renters are eligible for benefits

❓ How do I check the status of an application?

New Jersey has begun processing ANCHOR rebate payments for 2024.

In many cases, if you qualified for the ANCHOR rebate in the past, the state automatically filed a new application for you and you need to do nothing to claim the benefit.

However, issues can arise that could impact your filing status and delivery or deposit of your payment.

In this article, we answer you most asked questions and look at the reasons you may not have gotten your money.

One of the biggest changes to the application process involves ID verification and the addition of service centers residents can visit in person to resolve any issues with the ANCHOR process.

The New Jersey Division of Taxation has partnered with ID.me to verify the identity of taxpayers applying for the NJ ANCHOR benefit. This step helps safeguard your identity and benefit from potential fraud.

While not all taxpayers will need to use ID.me, those who do must complete this verification before applying for the ANCHOR benefit.

Information about the ID.me process and how to use it to apply is detailed below.

The information contained in this article has been provided by the New Jersey Division of Taxation.

Who is eligible for an ANCHOR property tax rebate?

New Jersey homeowners who meet the requirements based on 2021 residency, income, and age, are eligible for an ANCHOR homeowner benefit if:

• You were a New Jersey resident; and
• You owned and occupied a home in New Jersey that was your principal residence (main home) on Oct. 1, 2021; and
• 2021 property taxes were paid on that home; and
• Your 2021 New Jersey gross income was $250,000 or less.

Do I have to be living in New Jersey to apply for the ANCHOR benefit?

No.

However, you must have owned and occupied a home in New Jersey as your principal residence on Oct. 1, 2021.

Applicants who moved after Oct. 1, 2021, are eligible if they met the other 2021 program qualifications.

I have received an ANCHOR benefit in the past, do I have to apply again?

According to the New Jersey Division of Taxation:

If you received an ANCHOR Benefit Confirmation Letter and all of the information contained in the letter was correct, you did not have to file an application for the current benefit.

The state should have filed an application on your behalf based on your prior year's approved application.

Those who did not receive a letter should have received a mailer with instructions on how to file an application.

I did not get either letter, what do I do?

If you did not receive a letter or a mailer and you qualify for the benefit, file an application by Nov. 30, 2024.

I did get a letter, but my information has changed.  Now what?

If any information from your prior filing changed, you must file your application on your own to update these changes before Sept. 15, 2024.

The state will not make adjustments to your name, address or banking information after Sept. 15, 2024.

How much is the benefit for homeowners?

Homeowners with gross income for 2021 of $150,000 or less are eligible for a payment of $1,500.

Homeowners with a gross income of between $150,001 and $250,000 are eligible for a payment of $1,000.

What is the filing deadline?

Nov. 30, 2024

When will I receive my ANCHOR Benefit?

Payments will be issued on a rolling basis. Most applicants can expect to receive their payment approximately 90 days after filing the application, unless we request additional information to process your claim.

I received an ANCHOR Benefit Confirmation Letter, but have to update my banking information for the upcoming benefit. How do I do that?

You must log-in to the online filing service and file a new application by Sept. 15, 2024, to have your information updated.

Special Applications

There are certain circumstances that require homeowners to file a Special Circumstances Application.

This includes changes of circumstances like marriage, death and divorce as well as split ownership properties.

Here are the reasons you may need to file Special Circumstances Application.

• 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 filing on behalf of a deceased homeowner (you must include a death certificate with the application);
• You occupied a newly constructed home on Oct. 1, 2021, for which you did not receive an ANCHOR mailer with an Identification Number and PIN;
• You are considered a homeowner for purposes of applying for the ANCHOR benefit, but you were not the actual owner of record on Oct. 1, 2021;
• You and your spouse/civil union partner maintained the same main home and require separate ANCHOR benefit payments;
• You are filing for a property held in trust. (You are considered an eligible owner of a property owned by a trust if you are a beneficiary, or the deed or trust agreement explicitly states that you have a life estate in the property.);
• You are unable to find your ID and PIN.

Be sure to include all supporting documents.

I think I filed, I'm not sure. Can I check?

Yes.

The New Jersey Department of the Treasury has set up a weblink to verify the status of your application.

Click HERE to go to ANCHOR Benefit Inquiry portal to check the status of your application.

You can enter your social security number or tax identification number along with your zip code to see if the state has your application.

Will it tell me if I have been approved?

Yes.

If the data you entered is correct, the screen will display the progress of your application.

Will this tell me how much money I am receiving?

Yes.

Once you verify that your application has been received, the website instructs you to check back at a later date to determine the status and amount of your ANCHOR Benefit.

I know I filed my application, why can't I verify it?

The state says to wait two weeks before checking the status of your application. It's possible it was received, and just hasn't entered the system yet.

But I filed my application weeks ago.

It is possible you entered wrong information or did not include some of the information that was requested. It is also possible the application was lost (if you filed by mail).

Whatever the issue is, you will need to speak with someone directly to try and resolve it.

The ANCHOR rebate application asks for my gross income. What's that?  Where can I find it?

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, you will have to complete the "Gross Income Request Form."

Please note, you will have to upload your New Jersey license or government-issued photo ID. If you do not upload a copy of a valid photo ID, the form will not be accepted and you will not get your information.

You can access the form HERE.

How are ANCHOR rebate benefits paid?

Unlike the Homestead rebate, which was applied as a credit to your tax bill, the ANCHOR benefits are paid directly to the homeowner or renter. ANCHOR benefits will be paid through direct deposit or with a paper check.

Can all ANCHOR rebate applications be filed online?

No. There are some instances where you will need to file a paper application.

For example:

⚫ You shared ownership of your main home with someone who was not your spouse/civil union 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 filing on behalf of a deceased homeowner.

⚫ You occupied a newly constructed home on Oct. 1 for which you did not receive an ANCHOR mailer with an Identification Number and PIN.

⚫ You are considered a homeowner for purposes of applying for the ANCHOR benefit, but you were not the actual owner of record on Oct. 1.

⚫ You and your spouse/civil union partner maintained the same main home and require separate ANCHOR benefit payments.

⚫ You are filing for a property held in trust. (You are considered an eligible owner of a property owned by a trust if you are a beneficiary, or the deed or trust agreement explicitly states that you have a life estate in the property.)

Most homeowners filing paper applications will need to include supporting documentation to verify eligibility.

This is so confusing. Is there someone I can talk to?

Yes, there is a hotline number to call: 1-888-238-1233, but some New Jersey 101.5 listeners said they had to wait an hour or more to get through.

What happens if you enter an incorrect Gross Income number that is not exactly what was on Line 29?

If you entered incorrect information, there is a chance your application will be considered invalid and/or incomplete and will not be accepted. If you have already filed the application, you will not be able to file another one. This is an issue that will likely have to be solved by a real person.

I pay rent to my landlord. Would I get a check from the state or would my landlord get it? I never received any paperwork for this.

If you are eligible, the money would be sent directly to you. Even if you did not receive a mailer from the state, you should still fill out an application.

However, some rental properties are not eligible.

⚫ 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.

How old do you have to be to file?

There is no age limit for ANCHOR benefits.

My mother died. I am the executor of the estate. Am I eligible to file?

Without knowing the specific circumstances, you should certainly apply. However, you will need to fill out a paper application (Form ANCHOR-H).

According to the New Jersey Division of Taxation, paper applications need to be filed if:

⚫ You shared ownership of your main home with someone who was not your spouse/civil union 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 filing on behalf of a deceased homeowner.

Is it per renter in a rented place or one per house or apartment?

ANCHOR benefits are paid to each renter in a qualified unit, apartment, home, etc., as long as they meet eligibility requirements.

According to the New Jersey Division of Taxation, you qualify for benefits if:
⚫ You were a New Jersey resident; and
⚫ Your 2019 New Jersey gross income was not more than $150,000; and
⚫ You rented and occupied a residence in New Jersey that was your principal residence (main home) on October 1, 2019; and
⚫ Your name was on the lease or rental agreement; and
⚫ You paid rent; and
⚫ Your unit had its own separate kitchen and bath facilities, if the building consisted of multiple units; and
⚫ The rental property was subject to local property taxes

Is the ANCHOR rebate subject to seizure for unpaid child support?

Possibly.

The ANCHOR rebate replaced the Homestead rebate program, which was subject to seizure if the amount of unpaid support was more than one month of the individual's support obligation.

For state tax offsets, the Division of Taxation will notify all taxpayers whose refunds or rebates are subject to offset due to past due child support. The notice will state that the taxpayer has 35 calendar days from the notice date to file an appeal in writing with the Office of Child Support and Paternity Programs.

For more information on offsets or appeals, contact your county Probation Child Support Unit or call 1-877-NJKIDS1.

Eric Scott is the senior political director and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at eric.scott@townsquaremedia.com

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