The deadline for New Jersey homeowners and renters who qualify for ANCHOR property tax relief program to file their applications has been pushed further by one week to December 6, therefore changing the November 30 date previously set. This announcement was made by the Department of Treasury mainly for the benefit of the taxpayers who may need more time to make their application before the busy holiday season starts on November 28, Thanksgiving. State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio stated that the added week is also meant to make sure that all eligible New Jerseyans who want the benefit can apply without hurrying towards the holidays. In this regard Muoio underlined the significance of the program by encouraging the people to check on their status and apply so as to not lose the financial assistance.
One of the advantages that comes with the ANCHOR scheme is the considerable property tax relief offered to those who qualify. Homeowners who qualify for this program can receive up to $1,500 in relief cost, including an extra $250 in relief for seniors. Qualifying renters can receive $450, plus an additional $250 for qualifying senior renters. Such benefits are designed to help relieve residents of New Jersey from the pressure of paying these high property taxes which in fact are some of the highest in the country. This program is one of the ways in which the state hopes to help its citizens in settling their property tax bills by focusing assistance on the elderly and low-income renters.
Continuous Payments are being approved under the ANCHOR scheme, with the Treasury already dispersing benefits carefully over $ 1.9 billion to more than 1.6 million taxpayers. This method of payment, which is done in phases, serves the purpose of timely relief to those who are eligible since there are funds that come in on a continuous basis. The Treasury also noted that this year it has got around 500 thousand newcomers’ claims on top of the more than 1.45 million claims automatically lodged for eligible persons in the state. The alarmingly high number of this response serves to acknowledge the purpose of this kind of relief and the need for monetary help for the people of New Jersey.
For residents who wish to view the status of their ANCHOR benefit, the state has provided a website at anchor.nj.gov. Through the portal, applicants can check the status of their application and whether their benefit is currently under process. Besides that, a specific assistance center for ANCHOR applicants can be reached at telephone number (609) 826-4282 or toll-free number 1-888-238-1233 to allow residents seeking help over the phone. Nonetheless, because of the numerous applications, there will be some waiting period for the caller on the helpline especially as the last date for receiving applications nears. In this regard, the Treasury Department has introduced face-to-face assistance in a number of Regional Information Centers throughout the state. The department is also conducting a number of outreach meetings during autumn allowing the residents more time to assist in filling out the applications.
The extension of the ANCHOR program offers a shot for New Jersey citizens to access imperative property tax relief before the year ends. Avoiding the holidays and prolonging the window for submitting applications; the government is making a deliberate attempt to guarantee this benefit is available to all those who qualify. The purpose of this program, which has been implemented by the government, is seen by many as a critical intervention in addressing the exorbitant property taxes which in turn impose a heavy financial burden to the residents of New Jersey who still have some prohibitive living costs. The ANCHOR Program is another measure introduced in New Jersey aimed at assisting the people in dealing with those expenses.
