Senior Freeze Calculator: Estimate Your Reimbursement
The Senior Freeze formula is one subtraction — this year’s property taxes minus your base-year taxes — but eligibility has four tests. Enter your numbers and get both answers at once, plus how the result interacts with ANCHOR and Stay NJ.
Reading your result
- The Senior Freeze line is your reimbursement: 2025 taxes − base-year taxes (never below $0 — and if your taxes fell below the base year, the state resets your base year to the lower amount).
- Eligibility checks applied: 65+ or Social Security disability, home owned/occupied since December 31, 2022, and income of $168,268 or less (2024) and $172,475 or less (2025) — counting Social Security. Details: eligibility and income limits.
- Payment: one annual payment in the 2026 waves — July 15 through December 1, by filing date.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find my base-year property tax amount?
Repeat filers: it’s carried on the Division’s records — call 1-800-882-6597 if unsure. First-timers: it’s the property taxes billed for the first year you met every requirement, from that year’s tax bill or your town’s online tax lookup. Full details in the base year explained.
Why does the calculator also show ANCHOR and Stay NJ?
Because the three programs interact: Stay NJ subtracts your ANCHOR and Senior Freeze amounts from its 50% target. Seeing all three prevents the common mistake of judging the Senior Freeze in isolation — your total relief is what matters.
My estimate is $0. Is applying still worth it?
Usually yes. A $0 first year is normal (your base year was just set), and filing every year is what keeps the base year locked while your taxes climb. Skipping a “zero year” can reset your base year and shrink every future check.