Property taxes are one of those expenses homeowners feel every year. For many South Jersey homeowners, they are also one of the biggest ongoing costs of owning a home.

What many people do not realize is that New Jersey offers property tax relief options for eligible homeowners, seniors, disabled residents, and renters. The challenge is knowing what you may qualify for, what information you need, and when to apply.

Whether you live in Cherry Hill, Pennsauken, Marlton, Mount Laurel, Voorhees, Maple Shade, Merchantville, Haddon Township, or another South Jersey community, it may be worth taking a closer look before assuming you are not eligible.

For the current filing season, the deadline to apply for 2025 property tax relief benefits is November 2, 2026.

Why This Matters for South Jersey Homeowners

A lot of homeowners hear “property tax relief” and immediately think it will be too complicated, or they assume their income, age, or situation automatically disqualifies them.

That is not always the case.

Eligibility can depend on several factors, including whether you owned or rented your primary residence, your income, your age, your residency history, and whether you receive certain disability benefits. The state uses tax records, residency information, and property details to determine what benefits may apply.

For some households, the relief may come through ANCHOR. For others, especially seniors or eligible disabled residents, there may be additional relief available through Senior Freeze or Stay NJ. Some residents may even qualify for more than one benefit.

Homeowners and Renters May Both Have Options

New Jersey’s ANCHOR benefit is available to eligible residents who owned or rented their main home in 2025. Homeowners may qualify for different benefit amounts based on age and income, while eligible renters may also receive a benefit.

For homeowners, the current ANCHOR benefit can range from $1,000 to $1,750, depending on income and whether the homeowner is under or over age 65. Renters may qualify for $450 or $700, depending on age. Homeowners with income above $250,000 are not eligible for the 2025 ANCHOR benefit.

This is one reason it is worth checking your eligibility instead of guessing. Even if you have never applied before, you may find that you qualify for relief you were not aware of.

Longtime Homeowners Should Pay Extra Attention

For many people who have lived in the same home for years, property taxes can become a growing concern.

The Senior Freeze program, also called the Property Tax Reimbursement program, may help eligible seniors and disabled residents manage increases in property taxes on their primary residence.

For the 2025 application year, applicants generally must be age 65 or older by December 31, 2025, or have received qualifying Social Security or Railroad Retirement disability benefits by that date. They must also have owned and lived in their home since December 31, 2022, or earlier, and still owned and lived there on December 31, 2025.

Income limits also apply. For the 2025 filing year, combined income must generally be $168,268 or less for 2024 and $172,475 or less for 2025.

For longtime South Jersey homeowners, especially those hoping to stay in the home they love, this is something to review carefully.

Seniors May Have Additional Relief Available

Stay NJ is another benefit that may apply to eligible homeowners age 65 and older.

For the 2025 benefit year, the maximum Stay NJ benefit is $6,500. To qualify, an applicant generally must be age 65 or older, have owned and lived in the home for all of 2025, and have income below $500,000. Mobile homeowners are not eligible for Stay NJ.

One important detail is that Stay NJ is calculated after ANCHOR and Senior Freeze benefits are determined. The total amount of property tax relief cannot be more than the property taxes paid on the primary residence for that same year.

That means eligible seniors should not assume these benefits are separate in a simple way. The state reviews the information and determines how the available relief applies.

What You May Need Before Applying

Before you start, it helps to gather the information you may need. Depending on your situation, this may include your New Jersey income tax returns, property tax bill, property details from your local tax collector, county and municipality information, block and lot details, and identification for online verification.

It is also important to be careful with unsolicited texts or emails about property tax relief. New Jersey warns residents not to click links or share personal information through suspicious messages. When in doubt, use the official state website or contact the Division of Taxation directly.

In-Person Help May Be Available

For residents who prefer help in person, New Jersey has scheduled property tax relief filing events throughout South Jersey. Events have been listed in communities including Mount Laurel, Maple Shade, Voorhees, Cherry Hill, Berlin Township, Runnemede, Medford, Lindenwold, and Delran.

Dates, times, and locations can change, so it is always best to confirm the official event details before attending.

Property Taxes Can Be Part of a Bigger Decision

As a South Jersey Realtor with 31 years of experience, I know property taxes are often part of a larger conversation.

Some homeowners want to stay exactly where they are and simply need to understand what financial relief may be available. Others are starting to think about downsizing, moving closer to family, reducing home maintenance, or finding a home that better fits their next chapter.

Before making any major decision, it helps to look at the full picture:

What is your home worth today?
What would you likely net if you sold?
Would property tax relief make staying more comfortable?
Would downsizing create more flexibility?
What housing options would better fit your current lifestyle?

The right answer is different for every homeowner. It depends on your home, your finances, your family, and what you want life to look like moving forward.

Thinking About Your Next Move?

Whether you are considering selling soon, thinking about downsizing in the next year or two, helping a parent understand their options, or simply wondering what your home may be worth, I would be happy to help.

For 31 years, I have helped South Jersey homeowners in Cherry Hill, Pennsauken, Marlton, Mount Laurel, Voorhees, Maple Shade, Merchantville, Haddon Township, and surrounding communities make smart real estate decisions with strong local guidance and personal attention from start to finish.

Contact Michaela Hartery for a confidential conversation about your home, your options, and what may make the most sense for you.

And please share this article with a parent, friend, neighbor, or past coworker who may benefit from learning about New Jersey property tax relief.

This article is for general informational purposes only and is not tax or legal advice. Eligibility rules, income limits, benefit amounts, and payment schedules may change. Please confirm your individual eligibility through the New Jersey Division of Taxation or a qualified tax professional.