Assemblyman Rob Karabinchak and Senator Patrick Diegnan joined representatives from the New Jersey Department of the Treasury Saturday to provide dozens of Middlesex County homeowners and tenants with assistance receiving up to $1,500 in tax relief.
The legislators and Assemblyman Sterley Stanley, who represent the 18th District, organized the three-hour information session at James Monroe Elementary School in Edison to help state residents complete their Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters (ANCHOR) applications.
With the Feb. 28 deadline to apply for ANCHOR rapidly approaching, those who received in-person assistance Saturday expressed gratitude for the support filing.
“This is what government is all about,” Karabinchak said Saturday morning. “This is what an elected official is about, to be able to bring the service to the people who need it and to be available on a one-to-one basis. In person is a lot easier than online. Here it all gets settled. We have people that are direct from the Treasury that will tell you how to answer your questions. Everyone I spoke to already this morning is going to get some of that monetary relief for themselves.”
Under the ANCHOR program, both the size of the benefit and the number of eligible applicants has increased substantially compared to the previous Homestead Benefit, which ANCHOR is replacing.
Homeowners with incomes up to $150,000 can receive $1,500 in relief. Homeowners with incomes over $150,000 and up to $250,000 can receive $1,000 in relief. Renters with incomes up to $150,000 can receive $450 to help offset rent increases.
To be eligible for this year’s benefit, homeowners and renters must have occupied their primary residence on Oct. 1, 2019, and file or be exempt from New Jersey income taxes.
“It’s really been a gratifying day,” Diegnan said as Saturday’s information session was winding down. “It’s nice to be able to give necessary support for those that are confused about the program or really have not taken advantage of it. Anything we can do to make it available we should do.”
Diegnan, Karabinchak and Stanley thanked the Treasury for mobilizing its representatives on a Saturday to assist constituents, and expressed their gratitude to Edison Township Public Schools for making James Monroe Elementary School available to host the event.
“We are out here to reach people that have not been outreached by Taxation as of yet,” said Andrew Powers, supervisor of taxpayer services for the New Jersey Department of the Treasury. “We are going to the communities that have been traditionally underserved and making sure people get the opportunity to file applications that they would not have otherwise.”
All ANCHOR payments are scheduled to be awarded in late spring, regardless of when taxpayers file. Payments will be issued in the form of checks or direct deposits. Payments are not subject to federal or state income tax.
“We want to ensure everyone who qualifies for the ANCHOR program can take advantage of this tax relief,” Karabinchak said. “The goal of this program is to have money going right back into the pockets of middle-class households and provide direct financial support that will help make the lives of homeowners and renters more affordable and provide a boost to the economy.”
For more information about ANCHOR and to apply for benefits before the Feb. 28 deadline, please visit https://nj.gov/treasury/taxation/anchor/.
Senator Patrick Diegnan 