Here’s What Nutley Senior Homeowners Need To Know About ‘Stay NJ’ Tax Program

NUTLEY, NJ — Nutley seniors who are struggling to pay their property taxes may find a lifeline with a state tax relief program in New Jersey – and they should make sure they apply, a local official says.

Nutley Commissioner Tom Evans recently put out an advisory about the Stay NJ program, which offers benefits to eligible homeowners aged 65 and older.

According to Evans, the program – launched in 2025 – helps retired, senior homeowners who want to remain in New Jersey by lowering their property tax burden.

To be eligible, seniors must have owned and occupied their New Jersey home for all 12 months of 2024, and have income under $500,000.

Here’s how it works, the commissioner said:

“Stay NJ provides eligible residents with a reimbursement of 50 percent of their property tax bill, up to a maximum of $13,000. For the 2024 tax year, the benefit is capped at $6,500. According to the New Jersey Department of the Treasury, beginning Feb. 9, the state will begin issuing checks to qualifying recipients. Payments will be made quarterly, generally timed when property taxes are due. Unlike the ANCHOR program – which allowed some recipients to choose direct deposit – all Stay NJ benefits will be issued as paper checks sent through the mail.”

Those checks should begin arriving soon in mailboxes across New Jersey, Evans said.

According to the commissioner, eligible seniors were required to file the PAS‑1 application by Oct. 31, 2025. This unified form allows applicants to claim Senior Freeze, ANCHOR, and Stay NJ benefits in a single filing. Most applicants should already have received a determination letter from the New Jersey Division of Taxation explaining whether they qualify for Stay NJ and, if so, the amount of their benefit.

Seniors who have not received a letter or who are unsure of their status can check their benefit online here.

Need more guidance? Nutley town staff are ready to lend a hand, Evans said.

“Daily my office helps our senior community file for both the Property Tax Freeze and Anchor programs,” said Evans, who serves as the town’s director of the Department of Revenue and Finance.

“The Stay NJ program provides critical property tax relief and greater financial flexibility for our senior community,” he said. “We are ready to assist here as well.”

>> READ MORE: Property Taxes Keep Rising In Nutley And Belleville (See Latest 5-Year Breakdowns)

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.