How to Apply for ANCHOR in 2026 (Step by Step)

• Track 1 — Auto-file (most people under 65): if you received a recent ANCHOR benefit and nothing material changed, the state files Form ANC-1 for you and mails a confirmation letter in August 2026.
• Track 2 — PAS-1 (65+ or disability): anyone 65 or older in 2025, or receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement disability benefits, files the combined PAS-1 application. The state never auto-files PAS-1 — even if you were auto-filed in past years, turning 65 moves you to this track.
• Track 3 — Standard application (everyone else): first-time applicants, people who moved, and anyone who didn’t get a letter file the regular ANCHOR application themselves.

The August letter confirms what the state will file for you. Read it and check:

• Bank account for direct deposit (or that you want a check instead)
• Mailing address
• That you still qualify (same residence situation, income under the limit)

All correct? Do nothing — you’re filed. Something changed? Follow the letter’s instructions to update online or file your own application by the date printed in the letter (in the 2025 season this update window closed in mid-September). If you became 65 or started disability benefits during the benefit year, don’t rely on the auto-file — file PAS-1 instead to get the senior boost and the other programs.

1. 1

   Gather your information

   • 2025 NJ gross income (NJ-1040 line 29, or your records if you didn’t file)
   • SSNs/ITINs for you and your spouse
   • Your principal residence address on October 1, 2025
   • Homeowners: county/municipality and block & lot (on your tax bill)
   • Renters: landlord info and whether the building pays property taxes
   • Bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit

   PAS-1 filers: the free PAS-1 checklist builder turns this into a personalized, printable document list in three questions.

2. 2

   Choose online or paper

   Online filing at the Division’s property tax relief portal confirms receipt instantly and processes fastest; identity verification (such as ID.me) is part of the flow. Paper forms can be downloaded, or requested by phone at 1-888-238-1233, and are best when you need to attach unusual documentation. See paper vs. online.

3. 3

   Complete the application

   PAS-1 filers answer one combined set of questions covering ANCHOR, Senior Freeze, and Stay NJ — you don’t pick programs; the Division determines what you qualify for. Standard ANCHOR filers complete just the ANCHOR sections. Double-check the income figure and bank digits — these two fields cause most delays.

4. 4

   Save your confirmation

   Online filers get a confirmation number — screenshot it. It’s the fastest way to look up your application later and proves you filed on time.

5. 5

   Track it

   Give the system ~2 weeks to register, then follow the status guide. Most payments arrive within 90 days of filing, starting mid-September.

Miss it? File anyway, as soon as possible. The Division has sometimes accepted late ANCHOR-family applications or announced extensions — but that’s discretionary and varies by year, so never plan on it. A denied-as-late application costs nothing to try; skipping the year guarantees zero. We post any extension announcements on the updates page immediately.

• ANCHOR hotline: 1-888-238-1233 (weekdays) for application questions and paper form requests.
• Division regional information centers: free in-person help; locations at nj.gov/treasury/taxation/contact.shtml.
• Libraries and senior centers: many NJ libraries and county offices on aging run ANCHOR/PAS-1 filing events each fall.
• Never pay to apply. There is no fee, and no legitimate “expedited filing” service exists.