New Jersey’s Stay NJ property tax relief payments will soon begin arriving in mailboxes across the state. The program, launched in 2025, is designed to help senior homeowners afford to remain in New Jersey during retirement by significantly reducing their property tax burden.

Stay NJ provides eligible residents with a reimbursement of 50 percent of their property tax bill, up to a maximum of $13,000. For the 2024 tax year, the benefit is capped at $6,500. According to the New Jersey Department of the Treasury, beginning February 9th the State will begin issuing checks to qualifying recipients. Payments will be made quarterly, generally timed when property taxes are due. Unlike the ANCHOR program – which allowed some recipients to choose direct deposit – all Stay NJ benefits will be issued as paper checks sent through the mail. 

To be eligible for Stay NJ, residents must:

• Be 65 or older
• Have owned and occupied their New Jersey home for all 12 months of 2024
• Have income under $500,000

“Daily my office helps our senior community file for both the Property Tax Freeze and Anchor programs,” Commissioner Tom Evans, Director of the Department of Revenue and Finance says.  “The Stay NJ program provides critical property tax relief and greater financial flexibility for our senior community. We are ready to assist here as well.”

Eligible seniors were required to file the PAS‑1 application by Oct. 31, 2025. This unified form allows applicants to claim Senior Freeze, ANCHOR, and Stay NJ benefits in a single filing. Most applicants should already have received a determination letter from the New Jersey Division of Taxation explaining whether they qualify for Stay NJ and, if so, the amount of their benefit.

If you did not receive a letter or are unsure of your status, you can check your benefit online. The New Jersey Division of Taxation has created a portal where applicants can review their Stay NJ, ANCHOR, and Senior Freeze information; the tool is accessible here: bit.ly/NJStay26.