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Stay NJ Property Tax Credit Program for Senior Citizens

The Stay NJ program is New Jersey’s newest property tax relief program. It provides eligible seniors with a 50% property tax credit, up to $6,500.

To qualify for Stay NJ, individuals must be a resident of New Jersey aged 65 or older in the year preceding the application and have an annual income of $500,000 or less.

The program is scheduled to begin in fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026). Payments under Stay NJ for the 2026 calendar year will be halved, maximum of $3,250, due to the difference between the fiscal and calendar year — it will only cover the first half of 2026. There will be one combined application for Stay NJ and the two other property tax programs, ANCHOR and Senior Freeze. 

In March 2025, the new combined application was mailed to residents whom the Department of Taxation identified as potentially being eligible to any of the three programs. Online filing is also available on the state’s website at propertytaxreliefapp.nj.gov—you need to file online to get a direct deposit. To file online, residents need to have their identities verified through ID.me and will need a driver’s license, state ID, passport card, or passport to complete the process. The deadline to apply is October 31, 2025.

The Stay NJ property tax credit will be payable by check, direct deposit, or by crediting your property tax bill payable to the municipal tax collector. For the first year, the Stay NJ property tax credit must be paid by check or direct deposit. 

Residents who receive tax benefits from ANCHOR or the Senior Freeze will have their Stay NJ benefits reduced by the amount received from the other two programs. The three programs, combined, will have a benefit of no more than $6,500 or half of a resident’s property tax bill, whichever is less. The maximum credit will increase annually at the same rate as the state’s average property tax bill.This information has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for tax, legal, or accounting advice. If you have any questions regarding property tax credits, please do not hesitate to contact us at Lear & Pannepacker.