ANCHOR Property Tax Relief

We filed about five weeks ago, but have not yet received our refund. What have other people experienced time-wise with the refund process.

For those who haven't filed yet, the deadline for filing is at the end of February.

it's scheduled for late Spring according to what I read here:

https://nj.gov/treasury/taxation/anchor/

Filing period extends through the end of February 2023. This is the second time the deadline for filing has been extended.  Depending on response level at end of February, it could be extended further.

Ours was direct deposited on 3/28.

Yes, I see ours was direct deposited on 3/28, too

According to an article in the current issue of Third Wave, ANCHOR rebates will be sent out in batches.  Everyone who filed and qualified should receive their payment by the end of May, 2023.

Got ours in the mail today.

I had a very pleasant surprise this AM when I saw my ANCHOR payment directly deposited. Thank you New Jersey. Although taxes are very high (which in a town which has few commercial ratables is "understandable") this helps and may help keep seniors in town who are debating whether to age in place/town or not.

While I like the check, the money would have been better spent offsetting the health care increases for state and municipal employees.  The state passed a huge increase on to municipalities this year for health care and preserved this political gimmick.  

This was not a political gimmick. It was a choice they made and frankly I am glad they chose that and I would have felt the same even if I worked for the state (which I have in the past). You do realize that the ANCHOR is for those of a certain age and below a certain income level yes? Edited to correct: The benefit has no age restriction but does have an income level maximum and those 65 and up received an additional amount. 
"

I am 65 years old. How much will I receive?

This year’s benefit provides an additional $250 for New Jersey residents who were 65 or older as of December 31, 2020. If you met the other requirements and reported 2020 New Jersey gross income of $150,000 or less, your benefit would be $1,750. If you met the requirements and earned between $150,001 and $250,000 in 2020, your benefit would be $1,250."

.

Never mind.

I do understand.  My point isn't about helping state and municipal workers, it's about the big increase in all of our tax bills to cover the increase.  I want to help everyone I can, but frankly no one who earns over $150k should get anything.  And I include myself in that.  What they are doing is increasing every households taxes to give us a rebate.  

I didn't know anything about this. Now I do and I applied. 

Thanks. 

DanDietrich said:

I do understand.  My point isn't about helping state and municipal workers, it's about the big increase in all of our tax bills to cover the increase.  I want to help everyone I can, but frankly no one who earns over $150k should get anything.  And I include myself in that.  What they are doing is increasing every households taxes to give us a rebate.  

If you think that then you clearly didn't make your point very well. Since most of our taxes are for the schools the only way to really change taxes in a meaningful way is to get away from doing it via property taxes and change it to income taxes. However there is a reason that very few states do this. Hint - home rule/racism, etc.

The_Soulful_Mr_T said:

I didn't know anything about this. Now I do and I applied. 

Thanks. 

Glad to help. You said in another thread (about cash back cards I started) that you no longer own a home. I assume you were a homeowner in 2020 however for you to be eligible. 

Actually I see there is an ANCHOR benefit for renters too just not as much. Live and learn. 
"Renters must have rented and occupied their principal residence on Oct. 1, 2020, and the property must have been subject to local property taxes, the state said. Their name must have been on the lease or rental agreement, and their New Jersey gross income must have been $150,000 or less in 2020."

wendy said:

Actually I see there is an ANCHOR benefit for renters too just not as much. Live and learn. 
"Renters must have rented and occupied their principal residence on Oct. 1, 2020, and the property must have been subject to local property taxes, the state said. Their name must have been on the lease or rental agreement, and their New Jersey gross income must have been $150,000 or less in 2020."

yep. 

Wendy, did you just indirectly say above that you are age 65 or older?  I am surprised as I remember you mostly as a youngish wonderful Maplewood resident.  I say to Gen Xers and Millenials when asked,  that, "I am a Baby Boomer..... and Proud of it."    You also know when you hit 65, is that every health insurance company in the country sends you mail every day.  I hope that I did not misplace my Anchor check in the health insurance junk mail.

That is so kind of you to say Bob; not about me being younger than I am but about being a "wonderful Maplewood resident." You and I go way back with the noise ordinance and other things. I am many years past 65 (my mom blessed me with good genes I suppose) and mostly embracing it except on days where things ache lol! I hope you're enjoying retirement. I haven't yet done so but am working in a much less stressful job than I've had in years' past. I am also a grandmother.  My Anchor check was direct deposited; get with the program old man! Signed a boomer as well. 

This weekend I noticed flyers outside the front door of my apartment building in Jersey City encouraging residents to file their Anchor claims. 

I'm glad many people got a significant check from the state. However, this is just a band-aid for the real issues that are driving our property taxes. No one on the state level has the political power or guts to try and fix it.  People have been talking about a state constitutional amendment for decades to address property taxes and how schools are funded. Instead there are several provisions in the constitution that nibble around the edges of the issue.

The_Soulful_Mr_T said:

This weekend I noticed flyers outside the front door of my apartment building in Jersey City encouraging residents to file their Anchor claims. 

This thread inspired me to go to the website and look at my status as I recall filing this year but not previous.  It told me that my rebate for 2018 and 2019 was sent to MW Township.   So it appears that the municipalities have incentive to get their residents to file.  

upthecreek said:

The_Soulful_Mr_T said:

This weekend I noticed flyers outside the front door of my apartment building in Jersey City encouraging residents to file their Anchor claims. 

This thread inspired me to go to the website and look at my status as I recall filing this year but not previous.  It told me that my rebate for 2018 and 2019 was sent to MW Township.   So it appears that the municipalities have incentive to get their residents to file.  

For previous years the rebate went to the Town but then your quarterly tax bill was reduced. If you qualified this year (which actually is for the year 2020) and filed you should be receiving a real check or Direct Deposit.

Can anyone say what typical turnaround time is for these claims? 

RobertRoe said:

You also know when you hit 65, is that every health insurance company in the country sends you mail every day. 

I was shocked at how much mail I received from Medicare Advantage plans in the months leading up to my 65th birthday. I felt sorry for my mail carrier. Medicare Advantage plans must be enormously profitable to justify that level of marketing, which is why I won't get one when I eventually retire and drop off my employer's plan. Don't trust them.

kthnry said:

RobertRoe said:

You also know when you hit 65, is that every health insurance company in the country sends you mail every day. 

I was shocked at how much mail I received from Medicare Advantage plans in the months leading up to my 65th birthday. I felt sorry for my mail carrier. Medicare Advantage plans must be enormously profitable to justify that level of marketing, which is why I won't get one when I eventually retire and drop off my employer's plan. Don't trust them.

It's not just this year, it's every year. I have gotten solicitations for Medicare plans from all sorts of organizations, some I belong to, like AAA, and the Elks, (the Elks!) and many that I do not. What a waste of paper. 

The good news is, I'm very happy with my Medicare and gap plans so throw all the solicitations directly in the recycling bin. And for vision and dental, I use my employer's coverage. Best of both worlds. 

The bad news is, I'd like to get, or try, hearing aids. Nobody covers that. 

kthnry said:

I was shocked at how much mail I received from Medicare Advantage plans in the months leading up to my 65th birthday. I felt sorry for my mail carrier. Medicare Advantage plans must be enormously profitable to justify that level of marketing, which is why I won't get one when I eventually retire and drop off my employer's plan. Don't trust them.

Its not just the Medicare Advantage plans.  You will receive an equal amount of mail from the Medigap plans. They all want your business and you will likely need one of them when you transition to Medicare.   When you are approaching leaving your employer's health insurance coverage for Medicare, I strongly recommend contacting SHIP and sitting down with a SHIP counselor to review your options.  Medicare enrollment is not for the faint of heart.  You can consult with a SHIP counselor even after your initial enrollment to make sure that the plan you are in is the best one for your changing needs and the changes in the plans from year to year.

The_Soulful_Mr_T said:

kthnry said:

RobertRoe said:

You also know when you hit 65, is that every health insurance company in the country sends you mail every day. 

I was shocked at how much mail I received from Medicare Advantage plans in the months leading up to my 65th birthday. I felt sorry for my mail carrier. Medicare Advantage plans must be enormously profitable to justify that level of marketing, which is why I won't get one when I eventually retire and drop off my employer's plan. Don't trust them.

It's not just this year, it's every year. I have gotten solicitations for Medicare plans from all sorts of organizations, some I belong to, like AAA, and the Elks, (the Elks!) and many that I do not. What a waste of paper. 

The good news is, I'm very happy with my Medicare and gap plans so throw all the solicitations directly in the recycling bin. And for vision and dental, I use my employer's coverage. Best of both worlds. 

The bad news is, I'd like to get, or try, hearing aids. Nobody covers that. 

I just learned recently that hearing aids aren't covered.  This seems totally bizarre to me. Imagine if glasses weren't covered.

yahooyahoo said:

I just learned recently that hearing aids aren't covered.  This seems totally bizarre to me. Imagine if glasses weren't covered.

Original Medicare only covers one pair of glasses immediately after cataract surgery.  Some advantage plans will pay a flat amount towards the cost of both glasses and hearing aides.  

The_Soulful_Mr_T said:

It's not just this year, it's every year. I have gotten solicitations for Medicare plans from all sorts of organizations, some I belong to, like AAA, and the Elks, (the Elks!) and many that I do not. What a waste of paper. 

The good news is, I'm very happy with my Medicare and gap plans so throw all the solicitations directly in the recycling bin. And for vision and dental, I use my employer's coverage. Best of both worlds. 

The bad news is, I'd like to get, or try, hearing aids. Nobody covers that. 

Several of the Medicare Advantage plans now  have some reimbursement for Audiology tests and hearing aids along with some dental care.  We are quite happy with The Braven Plan which covers all our doctors from Summit Health.