ANCHOR confirmation letters are arriving now. Here is what under-65 New Jersey residents should do

ANCHOR Benefit Confirmation Letters are arriving in New Jersey mailboxes this August. If you are under 65 and one showed up this week, it usually means the state plans to file your 2025 ANCHOR application for you.

That is good news, but it is still worth reading the letter carefully. The state is using information it already has to auto-file many applications for homeowners and renters who are under 65 and are not collecting Social Security or Railroad Retirement disability benefits.

The biggest thing to know is that not everyone is being auto-filed. If you were 65 or older in 2025, or you receive Social Security or Railroad Retirement disability benefits, you must file the combined PAS-1 application yourself. The filing deadline is November 2, 2026.

I got the letter this week. Do I need to do anything?

For many recipients, there is no separate application to complete just because the letter arrived. The purpose of the notice is to tell you that New Jersey expects to auto-file your ANC-1 using information already on record.

Still, do not treat it like junk mail. Read the notice and make sure the information reflects your 2025 situation. Pay particular attention to your name and mailing information, the residence connected to the benefit, whether you are shown as a homeowner or renter, and the payment information provided by the state.

If the information is correct, keep the letter with your records and watch for the benefit payment. If something is wrong or your circumstances changed, use the official Division of Taxation filing process rather than assuming the auto-filed application will correct itself.

What the confirmation letter means

The New Jersey Division of Taxation says most eligible filers under age 65 will have their 2025 ANCHOR application, Form ANC-1, filed automatically. Those filers are expected to receive an ANCHOR Benefit Confirmation Letter in August 2026.

In plain English, the letter means the state already has enough information to prepare an ANCHOR application for you. It is not a property tax bill, and it is not a notice that your assessment changed.

It also does not mean a payment has already been sent. ANCHOR payments are scheduled to begin on a rolling basis starting September 15, 2026. The state says most payments are generally issued within 90 days, unless more information is needed.

Who should expect automatic filing?

Automatic filing is mainly for eligible homeowners and renters who were under 65 in 2025 and who are not receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement disability benefits.

For homeowners, 2025 ANCHOR eligibility is based on the home you owned and occupied as your main residence on October 1, 2025. Homeowners with New Jersey gross income of $150,000 or less can receive $1,500. Homeowners with income from $150,001 through $250,000 can receive $1,000.

For renters, the 2025 benefit is $450 for eligible applicants age 64 or younger. The renter income limit is $150,000.

Who still has to file?

This is where the new process can cause confusion.

If you were 65 or older during 2025, the state will not automatically file your property tax relief application. The same rule applies if you receive Social Security or Railroad Retirement disability benefits.

Those applicants use Form PAS-1. PAS-1 is the combined application New Jersey uses for Senior Freeze, ANCHOR and Stay NJ. You still use PAS-1 even if ANCHOR is the only program you qualify for.

The deadline to file the 2025 application is November 2, 2026.

What should you check when the letter arrives?

Do not throw the confirmation letter away after seeing the ANCHOR logo. Read the information on it and make sure it matches your situation for 2025.

• Check that the name and mailing information are correct.
• Make sure the home or rental listed was your main New Jersey residence on October 1, 2025.
• Review the payment information shown in the notice.
• Make sure your homeowner or renter status is correct.
• If something has changed, use the state filing system or contact the Division of Taxation rather than assuming the automatic filing will fix itself.

The Division of Taxation now uses ID.me for identity verification when an applicant needs to file online. The old ANCHOR ID and PIN system is no longer required for the current application.

What if no letter comes?

Not receiving a confirmation letter does not automatically mean you are ineligible.

The state says eligible people whose ANC-1 applications are not auto-filed can submit an application themselves. The general filing deadline remains November 2, 2026.

If you file online, keep the confirmation or Web Reference Number. The state's application status page warns that an online application was not successfully submitted if you never received that reference number.

When should the money arrive?

New Jersey says 2025 ANCHOR payments begin September 15, 2026. The state's current payment schedule says applicants can generally expect ANCHOR payments before December 1, 2026, although a payment can take longer if the Division needs more information.

Online applicants can choose direct deposit or a paper check. Paper applicants receive a paper check.

One more warning: watch for scams

Property tax relief season also brings scam messages. New Jersey specifically warns residents not to click links or share personal information in unsolicited texts or emails claiming to be about property tax relief.

If you are unsure whether a letter, email or text is real, go directly to the New Jersey Division of Taxation website instead of following a link in the message.

Watchdog takeaway

If you are under 65 and receive an ANCHOR Benefit Confirmation Letter this month, the state is likely handling the filing for you. Read the letter, verify the details and keep it with your records.

If you are 65 or older, or receive qualifying Social Security or Railroad Retirement disability benefits, do not wait for an automatic filing. You need to submit PAS-1 yourself by November 2.

Sources: New Jersey Division of Taxation, ANCHOR Program; ANCHOR Filing Information; How ANCHOR Benefits Are Calculated; New Jersey Property Tax Relief Application Status. Accessed August 15, 2026.