Belleville homeowners and tenants — for that matter, folks from anywhere in Jersey, really — are urged to access an online portal to receive a property tax rebate through “ANCHOR,” a new state program that stands for “Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters.”
Under the program, the state is planning to provide rebates for up to 2 million taxpayers in the current state budget, with an average check of $971.
“With the current state budget surplus, the governor and state Legislature have created a program to provide direct relief for property taxes and rent,” Belleville Mayor Michael Melham said. “But to receive a check — expected to arrive by the spring — it is important that you apply by the Dec. 30 deadline.”
There are income guidelines, in which the program will provide up to $1,500 to taxpayers with 2019 gross incomes up to $150,000, and up to $1,000 for those with gross incomes between $150,000 and $250,000.
ANCHOR also includes tenants, who can receive $450 if their gross income was $150,000 or less.
The filing deadline is Dec. 30, with checks sent by next May.
Applications were to be emailed Sept. 13, while paper applications were to be mailed beginning Sept. 19. State officials say the applications are being sent on a rolling basis through the end of this month. Note the mailing schedule here.
For more information, contact the ANCHOR Hotline at (888) 238-1233. Taxpayers may apply online or by phone at (877) 658-2972 once they receive the application.
Learn more about the writer ...
Kevin A. Canessa Jr. is the editor of and broadcaster at The Observer, a place where he has served on and off since 2006. He is responsible for the editorial content of the newspaper and website, the production of the e-Newspaper, writing several stories per week (including the weekly editorial), conducting live broadcasts on Facebook Live, including a weekly recap of the news — and much more behind the scenes. Between 2006 and 2008, he introduced the newspaper to its first-ever blog — which included podcasts, audio and video. Originally from Jersey City, Kevin lived in Kearny until 2004, lived in Port St. Lucie. Florida, for four years until February 2016 and in March of that year, he moved back to West Hudson to return to The Observer full time. Click Here to send Kevin an email.