New Jersey Property Tax Relief Resource Guide Official NJ Treasury
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For Seniors 65+

NJ Senior Property Tax Relief — Stay NJ & Senior Freeze

New Jersey's most powerful property tax relief is for seniors 65+. Stay NJ cuts your bill in half. Senior Freeze reimburses every dollar of increase. Most seniors qualify for both — with one application.

Calculate My Stay NJ Credit File the PAS-1 Form
$6,500
Max Stay NJ credit per year
50%
Of your annual tax bill
~$200K
New income limit (FY2027)
Nov 2
PAS-1 deadline 2026
One form covers all three programs. Seniors 65+ apply for ANCHOR, Stay NJ, and Senior Freeze simultaneously using the PAS-1 combined application. Deadline: November 2, 2026. File at propertytaxrelief.nj.gov or get step-by-step help here.
Stay NJ Program

Stay NJ | 50% Off Your Property Tax Bill

The Stay NJ Act was signed into law in 2023 and began paying out quarterly in 2026. New Jersey's FY2027 budget (June 2026) kept the program but tightened who qualifies.

Budget Update · June 2026

The FY2027 budget changed who qualifies

The full $6,500 maximum stays in place, but the income limit dropped from $500,000 to about $200,000, and the benefit is now tiered by income:

  • Income $100,000 or lessup to $6,500
  • $100,000 to $150,000up to $5,000
  • $150,000 to $200,000up to $4,000
  • Over $200,000not eligible

Eligibility uses NJ gross income, not federal AGI. Exact thresholds will be confirmed by the NJ Division of Taxation. The Senior Freeze program was not cut.

Stay NJ Credit Calculator

Enter your annual property tax bill and household income to estimate your Stay NJ credit. The credit is 50% of your tax bill, capped by your income: up to $6,500 under $100,000, $5,000 from $100,000 to $150,000, and $4,000 from $150,000 to $200,000. Over about $200,000 no longer qualifies.

Open the Stay NJ Calculator
Stay NJ is paid quarterly — February, May, August, and November. Your annual credit divided by 4 is your quarterly payment.

2026 Payment Schedule

Stay NJ pays quarterly — four equal payments throughout the year.

February
Q1 Payment
1st quarter
May
Q2 Payment
2nd quarter
August
Q3 Payment
3rd quarter
November
Q4 Payment
4th quarter

Stay NJ Requirements

  • Age 65 or olderMust have been 65 by the end of the benefit year
  • Surviving spouse age 55+Surviving spouses of eligible homeowners qualify at age 55
  • Household income up to about $200,000FY2027 limit, down from $500,000. Benefit is tiered by income; over ~$200,000 no longer qualifies
  • NJ principal residenceMust own and occupy as your primary NJ home
  • Apply via PAS-1 formFile at propertytaxrelief.nj.gov — deadline November 2, 2026

Stay NJ at a Glance

Age Requirement65 or older
Surviving SpouseAge 55+ qualifies
Income LimitUp to ~$200,000 (FY2027)
Benefit50% of your tax bill
Maximum Credit$6,500/yr (income-tiered)
Payment MethodQuarterly direct payments
ApplicationPAS-1 combined form
NJ Official Stay NJ Page
Senior Freeze (PTR)

Senior Freeze — Property Tax Reimbursement

The Senior Freeze reimburses you for every dollar your property taxes increase above your "base year" amount. The older your base year, the bigger your check.

How it actually works: You still receive and pay your full property tax bill every year. But the State reimburses you for the amount above your base year tax. If your 2026 taxes are $6,200 and your base year was $4,100, you receive a $2,100 reimbursement.

Senior Freeze Requirements

  • Age 65 or older — OR permanently disabledDisability must be receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement disability benefits
  • NJ resident for 10 or more consecutive yearsMust have lived in New Jersey for at least 10 straight years
  • Lived in current home for 3 or more yearsMust have been in your current home for at least 3 years
  • Income limit — 2024: $168,268 / 2025: $172,475Income limits increase slightly each year
  • Property taxes must be paidAll taxes due must be paid in full for the year you're claiming
First-time filers: Your first year of eligibility establishes your "base year." The reimbursement only applies to increases AFTER your base year. So the sooner you apply, the lower your base year — and the bigger your future reimbursements.

Senior Freeze at a Glance

Age Requirement65+ or permanently disabled
NJ Residency10+ consecutive years
Home Residency3+ years in current home
Income Limit (2024)≤ $168,268
Income Limit (2025)≤ $172,475
What You GetTax increase reimbursed
ApplicationPAS-1 combined form
NJ Official PTR Page
Getting Both

Can I Get All Three Programs?

Yes — and most eligible seniors should be. Here's how they all work together.

Example: South Jersey Senior with $8,000/yr Property Tax

ANCHOR Benefit
$1,500
Paid as lump sum
Stay NJ Credit
$4,000
50% of $8,000 tax bill
Senior Freeze
Varies
Based on your base year
Combined from ANCHOR + Stay NJ alone:
$5,500
Plus Senior Freeze reimbursement on top
NJ Treasury coordinates these programs. The PAS-1 application determines eligibility for all three programs at once. You don't need to calculate anything — just answer the questions accurately and the Division of Taxation determines your benefits. File one form, get everything you're owed.
File the PAS-1 Now — Deadline November 2, 2026 →
Common Questions

Senior Program FAQ

Does the Senior Freeze actually stop my taxes from going up?
No — your actual tax bill still goes up each year. What the Senior Freeze does is reimburse you for the increase above your base year amount. So your bill goes up, but the State sends you a check for the difference. Your net out-of-pocket stays close to your base year level.
Did the 2026 state budget change Stay NJ?
Yes. New Jersey's FY2027 budget, passed in June 2026, kept the $6,500 maximum credit but lowered the income limit from $500,000 to about $200,000 and made the benefit tiered: up to $6,500 for income under $100,000, $5,000 from $100,000 to $150,000, and $4,000 from $150,000 to $200,000. Seniors above about $200,000 in NJ gross income no longer qualify. Eligibility uses NJ gross income, which is not the same as your federal AGI. The Senior Freeze program was not cut. Exact thresholds will be confirmed by the NJ Division of Taxation.
When did Stay NJ start paying out?
Stay NJ payments began in February 2026 for the 2024 benefit year applications. The program was signed into law in 2023 but took time to implement. Payments now go out quarterly — February, May, August, and November — via direct deposit or check.
My spouse passed away. Do I still qualify?
Surviving spouses may still qualify for Stay NJ if they are at least 55 years old and meet the other requirements. For Senior Freeze and ANCHOR, contact the hotline at 1-888-238-1233 to understand how benefits transfer in your specific situation.
I just turned 65 this year — when can I first apply?
You can apply via the PAS-1 for the benefit year in which you turned 65. This is also important because this first year establishes your "base year" for the Senior Freeze — locking in the lower tax amount as your baseline. Apply as soon as you're eligible to lock in the lowest possible base year.
Is Stay NJ taxable income?
The NJ Division of Taxation has not classified Stay NJ credits as taxable income for NJ state tax purposes. However, federal tax treatment of state benefits can be complex. Consult a tax professional regarding your specific federal filing situation.
What if I missed the PAS-1 deadline?
The NJ Division of Taxation sometimes accepts late applications with a written explanation. Call 1-888-238-1233 immediately if you've missed a deadline — do not assume you've lost the benefit. In some cases, late applications are processed. For future years, mark November 2 on your calendar now.
Can I pay someone to fill the PAS-1 out?
You can pay a paid preparer to fill the PAS-1 out, but it is their responsibility to sign the form as well if you paid them to do so.
Does the form only need to be filled out once?
Applications must be filled out annually. Advice: Consult your tax professional who should be able to complete the PAS-1 form for you after filing your income taxes.

Questions About Stay NJ or Senior Freeze?

Get a free answer from a South Jersey tax professional. John Scafide has 15+ years of tax experience and specializes in helping NJ seniors navigate these programs.

  • Free eligibility questions answered
  • PAS-1 filing help — $20 flat fee
  • Accepts Venmo, Zelle, credit, debit, cash
  • South Jersey home buying and selling
John Scafide
Licensed NJ Agent · 15+ Yrs Tax Experience
NJ #2079591 · The McKenty Team · Opus Elite
@thetaxwatchdog
Heather Scafide
Licensed NJ Agent · South Jersey Specialist
856-310-6746
NJ #2192318 · The McKenty Team · Opus Elite

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