New Jersey Property Tax Relief: Exemptions & How to File
New Jersey has 7 main property tax relief programs, administered through your Municipal Tax Assessor. Filing is free.
Biggest benefit
Full (100%) exemption from property taxes on the qualifying veteran's or surviving spouse's principal residence.
Earliest common deadline
November 2, 2026
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Never pay to file a property tax exemption
Applying for a homestead, senior, veteran, or disability exemption is always free through your Municipal Tax Assessor. You do not need a middleman, and no one can file it "faster" for a fee.
Be skeptical of official-looking letters offering to file your homestead exemption, "designate" your homestead, or send you a copy of your deed for $50–$200. These are private solicitations, not government notices. When in doubt, contact your Municipal Tax Assessor directly using the phone number on your tax bill.
New Jersey property tax relief programs
Amounts, eligibility, deadlines, and the official source for each program.
| Program | Benefit | Who qualifies | Deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANCHOR (Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters) - Homeowner BenefitTax CreditVerify locally | $1,500 for homeowners with New Jersey gross income of $150,000 or less; $1,000 for income over $150,000 and up to $250,000. Homeowners age 65 or older receive an additional $250 (e.g., up to $1,750). | Income: New Jersey gross income of $250,000 or less (homeowners) · Must have owned and occupied a home in New Jersey as your principal residence as of October 1 of the application year and paid property taxes on it. | November 2, 2026 | Official source ↗Form ANC-1 (homeowners) or Form PAS-1 (combined application for seniors/those receiving Social Security) ↗ |
| ANCHOR (Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters) - Renter/Tenant BenefitRenter ReliefVerify locally | $450 for renters with New Jersey gross income of $150,000 or less. Renters age 65 or older receive an additional $250 (up to $700). | Income: New Jersey gross income of $150,000 or less (renters) · Must have rented and occupied a residence in New Jersey as your principal residence as of October 1 of the application year, and the unit must be subject to local property tax. | November 2, 2026 | Official source ↗Form ANC-1 (renters) or Form PAS-1 (combined application for seniors) ↗ |
| Senior Freeze (Property Tax Reimbursement / PTR)Assessment FreezeVerify locally | Reimbursement of the difference between the property taxes (or mobile home park site fees) paid in your base year (the first year you qualified) and the amount paid in the current year. There is no fixed dollar amount; it equals the increase above the base-year amount. | Age 65+ · As an alternative to age 65+, receiving federal Social Security disability benefits or Railroad Retirement disability benefits. · Income: Annual income of $168,268 or less for 2024 and $172,475 or less for 2025 (combined income for married/civil-union couples in the same home) · Must have been a continuous New Jersey resident for at least 10 years and have owned and lived in your home (or leased a mobile home site) since December 31, 2022 or earlier, still occupying it. Beginning with Tax Year 2024, age, disability, and residency requirements are applied to the application year. | November 2, 2026 | Official source ↗Form PTR-1 (first-time applicants) / Form PTR-2 (returning applicants who received prior-year approval) ↗ |
| $250 Veterans Property Tax DeductionVeteran | $250 deducted each year from property taxes due on the qualifying veteran's or surviving spouse's real property. | Must be a legal resident of New Jersey and the owner of the property as of October 1 of the pretax year. Surviving spouse must not have remarried or formed a new civil union/domestic partnership. | Deadline varies — confirm locally | Official source ↗N.J.S.A. 54:4-8.10 et seq.Form V.S.S. (Claim for Veteran Property Tax Deduction) ↗ |
| $250 Senior Citizens, Disabled Persons or Surviving Spouse Property Tax DeductionSenior (65+) | $250 deducted each year from the property taxes due on the qualified claimant's dwelling. | Age 65+ · As an alternative to age 65+, must be permanently and totally disabled (documented by a physician's certificate or Social Security Administration document). A surviving spouse must be age 55 or older. · Income: Income of no more than $10,000 during the year, excluding (with restrictions) Social Security benefits, or federal/state/local government pension, disability, and retirement payments · Must have been a legal resident of New Jersey for at least one year immediately prior to October 1 of the pretax year and be an owner and permanent resident of the dwelling as of October 1 of the pretax year. | Deadline varies — confirm locally | Official source ↗N.J.S.A. 54:4-8.40 et seq.Form PTD (initial claim) and Form PD5 (annual post-tax-year statement) ↗ |
| 100% Disabled Veteran Total Property Tax ExemptionVeteran | Full (100%) exemption from property taxes on the qualifying veteran's or surviving spouse's principal residence. | Honorably discharged veteran certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as 100% permanently and totally disabled from active-duty, service-connected causes. · Must be a legal resident of New Jersey who owns and occupies the dwelling as a principal/primary residence. Surviving spouse must not have remarried or formed a new civil union/domestic partnership. | Deadline varies — confirm locally | Official source ↗N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.30 et seq.Form D.V.S.S.E. (Claim for Property Tax Exemption on Dwelling of Disabled Veteran or Surviving Spouse) ↗ |
| Stay NJ Property Tax Credit ProgramSenior (65+)Verify locally | Credit for up to 50% of the property tax bill on the principal residence, capped at $6,500 for 2025. (For FY2026 the first-year payout was prorated.) | Age 65+ · Income: Annual income of less than $500,000 · Must have owned and lived in a home in New Jersey as a principal residence for the full 12 months of the tax year. Mobile homeowners are not eligible for Stay NJ. | November 2, 2026 | Official source ↗P.L. 2023, c.75 (Stay NJ Act), as amended by P.L. 2024, c.88Form PAS-1 (combined Property Tax Relief Application for Seniors: Stay NJ, ANCHOR, and Senior Freeze) ↗ |
For veterans
In most states a higher VA disability rating unlocks a larger — often total — property tax exemption.
Trusted Resources
Trusted tools to help you claim what you've earned
VA Claims Academy
A 100% VA disability rating unlocks full property tax exemptions in most states. VA Claims Academy helps veterans pursue the rating increases they may be owed.
Visit VA Claims Academy →*
* Affiliate disclosure: GovSifter may earn a commission from links above. This does not affect program listings or editorial content.
For seniors
Planning ahead protects your exemption and your home.
Trusted Resources
Trusted tools to help you claim what you've earned
CareSifter — Find trusted senior care
Property tax relief is one piece of aging in place affordably. CareSifter helps families compare in-home care, assisted living, and senior services.
Explore CareSifter →*Trust & Will — Estate planning made simple
Keeping a homestead exemption in the family often depends on how the home is titled. Trust & Will makes wills, trusts, and transfer-on-death deeds affordable and online.
Start with Trust & Will →*
* Affiliate disclosure: GovSifter may earn a commission from links above. This does not affect program listings or editorial content.
New Jersey property tax relief FAQ
What property tax exemptions are available in New Jersey?
New Jersey offers 7 main property tax relief programs: ANCHOR (Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters) - Homeowner Benefit, ANCHOR (Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters) - Renter/Tenant Benefit, Senior Freeze (Property Tax Reimbursement / PTR), $250 Veterans Property Tax Deduction, $250 Senior Citizens, Disabled Persons or Surviving Spouse Property Tax Deduction, 100% Disabled Veteran Total Property Tax Exemption, Stay NJ Property Tax Credit Program. Each is administered through your Municipal Tax Assessor.
How do I apply for a property tax exemption in New Jersey?
You apply through your Municipal Tax Assessor — for free. Most exemptions require a one-time application by the deadline; check each program for its form and cutoff date. You never need to pay a third party to file.
Is filing for a New Jersey property tax exemption free?
Yes. Filing is always free through your Municipal Tax Assessor. Letters offering to file your homestead exemption for a fee are private solicitations, not government notices.
Compare New Jersey to other states by relief type
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