Short answer. Senior homeowners and people receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement disability apply for ANCHOR, Senior Freeze and Stay NJ on one form, the PAS-1. ANCHOR has income limits of $250,000 for homeowners and $150,000 for renters. Senior Freeze requires owning and living in the home since 2022 or earlier and 2025 income of $172,475 or less. Stay NJ is for homeowners 65 and older who owned and lived in the home all of 2025; the Stay NJ page (updated November 4, 2026) gives an income limit of $200,000, while the 2025 PAS-1 instructions say less than $500,000. The deadline for the 2025 application was November 2, 2026. The Division of Taxation decides eligibility.
The three programs side by side (2025 application)
| Program | Who it covers | Income test | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANCHOR | Owned or rented and lived in a NJ main home on October 1, 2025 | Homeowners $250,000 or less; renters $150,000 or less | Homeowners $1,500 (income $150,000 or less) or $1,000; renters $450, or $700 if 65 or older |
| Senior Freeze | 65 or older on December 31, 2025, or receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement disability; owned and lived in the home since December 31, 2022 or earlier and still there on December 31, 2025 | 2024: $168,268 or less; 2025: $172,475 or less | Reimburses increases in property tax on the main home |
| Stay NJ | 65 or older during 2025; owned and lived in the home for all 12 months of 2025 (not renters) | See the next section: the State's pages give two figures | Stay NJ page: up to $6,500 (income to $100,000), $5,000 (to $150,000), $4,000 (to $200,000) |
All benefits combined, including the senior, disabled or veteran property tax deduction, cannot exceed the property taxes paid on your main home for the year.
The Stay NJ income limit: two official figures
The State's own documents don't agree, so here are both, with where each comes from:
- $200,000. The Stay NJ page, updated November 4, 2026, says total annual income must be no more than $200,000 and lists benefit tiers ending at $200,000.
- Under $500,000. The 2025 PAS-1 instructions say annual income must be "less than $500,000," and the February 13, 2026 handout says "$500,000 or less," describing the benefit as 50% of property taxes up to $6,500, minus ANCHOR and Senior Freeze.
The Stay NJ page is the most recently updated. If your household income falls between $200,000 and $500,000, check the official page or call the Property Tax Relief Hotline at 1-888-238-1233 rather than relying on any one document.
Step by step: filing the PAS-1
- Check whether you file it. Senior homeowners and people on Social Security or Railroad Retirement disability file the PAS-1 themselves. Homeowners under 65 without those benefits, and renters of all ages, are often enrolled in ANCHOR from the prior year. The State's FAQ adds that anyone eligible for ANCHOR who doesn't receive a confirmation letter must apply on their own by the deadline.
- Gather your numbers. Your 2025 NJ-1040 filing status, the block and lot from your property tax bill, the property taxes billed for your main home for 2024 and 2025, and your income for both years. Proof of property taxes doesn't have to be sent with the application.
- Work out income the PAS-1 way. Report all income, even amounts New Jersey doesn't tax. Social Security counts in full, including Medicare Part B premiums, from box 5 of Form SSA-1099. A married couple sharing a main home reports combined income. A loss in one category can't offset income in another.
- Fill in the sections. Filing status, birth year and disability, residency and moves, property details, property taxes, income for 2024 and 2025, then sign. Renters 65 and older say they rented at line 5 and skip to the signature section.
- Submit. File online (you'll verify your identity through ID.me with your Social Security number and an accepted ID), or mail it to NJ Division of Taxation, Revenue Processing Center, Property Tax Relief Programs, PO Box 635, Trenton, NJ 08646-0635, one application per envelope.
- Track it. Note the confirmation number. The Division has an online status lookup, and the hotline can help.
When the money arrives
From the State's FAQ: Senior Freeze payments begin July 15, ANCHOR payments start September 15, and Stay NJ is paid quarterly, subject to the state budget. The Stay NJ page says the 2025 benefit will be paid in February and May 2027. Online filers can choose direct deposit for some payments.
Two households compare their numbers
A widowed homeowner, age 71, has lived in the same house since 2009. Income was $61,000 in 2024 and $63,500 in 2025. Property taxes billed were $8,900 for 2024 and $9,350 for 2025. Her income sits inside the published limits for ANCHOR's higher homeowner tier, Senior Freeze and both Stay NJ figures. She files one PAS-1 with both years' taxes and income. Whatever the State awards across the three programs together can't exceed the property taxes paid on her home.
A married couple, both 67, moved into their home in 2023 and had combined income of $240,000 in 2025. Senior Freeze asks for ownership and residence since December 31, 2022 or earlier, which a 2023 move doesn't line up with. Their income is under ANCHOR's $250,000 homeowner limit, at the $1,000 tier. For Stay NJ, their income is above the $200,000 figure on the Stay NJ page and below the $500,000 figure in the PAS-1 instructions, so they call the hotline before filing and note the answer.
Missed the deadline?
The 2025 application deadline was November 2, 2026, and the State's FAQ doesn't describe late filing. Call the hotline or visit a Regional Information Center. The pages checked for this guide don't give dates for the next application; the 2025 form was issued in February 2026.
Official sources
- NJ Division of Taxation: Stay NJ (updated Nov. 4, 2026)
- NJ Division of Taxation: 2025 Form PAS-1 instructions
- NJ Division of Taxation: Senior Freeze, ANCHOR and Stay NJ handout (Rev. Feb. 13, 2026)
- NJ Division of Taxation: Senior Freeze eligibility requirements (updated June 22, 2026)
- NJ Division of Taxation: How ANCHOR benefits are calculated (updated July 16, 2026)
- NJ Division of Taxation: Property Tax Relief Programs FAQs (updated Nov. 4, 2026)
Checked November 2026 on irs.gov and nj.gov.
Common questions
What is the Stay NJ income limit?
The State's documents differ. The Stay NJ page, updated November 4, 2026, says no more than $200,000. The 2025 PAS-1 instructions say less than $500,000. Check the Stay NJ page or call 1-888-238-1233 if your income is between the two.
Do I need to send my property tax bills with the PAS-1?
No. The State says proof of property taxes paid isn't required with the application, though the Division may contact you later for documents.
What income goes on the PAS-1?
All income, including amounts New Jersey doesn't tax. Social Security counts in full, including Medicare Part B premiums, from box 5 of Form SSA-1099.
Can renters use the PAS-1?
Renters who are 65 or older or receiving Social Security disability can. They answer that they rented at line 5 and skip to the signature section. Stay NJ is for homeowners only.
Can I get all three programs?
You apply for all three at once. All benefits combined cannot exceed the property taxes paid on your main home for the year.
I missed the November 2, 2026 deadline. What now?
The State's FAQ doesn't describe late filing. Call the Property Tax Relief Hotline at 1-888-238-1233 or visit a Regional Information Center.
Related guides: Itemize or standard deduction in NJ · Tax documents checklist for 2027 · NJ property tax relief for seniors (overview)