New Jersey ANCHOR payments arrive between July and October, depending on when you submitted your documents and whether the state needed to verify your information.

The New Jersey Earned Income Tax Credit and Homestead Property Tax Credit program—called ANCHOR—sends money in two waves. The first wave typically goes out in July to people who filed early and had no issues with their application. The second wave runs through October and covers people who filed later or needed additional verification from the state.

If you filed your ANCHOR documents before the deadline (usually in late April or early May), you should expect payment by mid-October at the latest. The state processes applications in the order they arrive, so earlier filers generally receive money first. However, if the state's Department of Revenue and Enterprise Services flagged your application for review—because income didn't match tax records, or your property tax bill needed confirmation—your payment will be delayed until that review is complete.

Key Takeaways

  • ANCHOR payments arrive in two main waves: July for early filers with no issues, and July through October for later filers or those needing verification.
  • You can check your payment status by logging into your ANCHOR account on the New Jersey Department of Revenue website using your Social Security number and date of birth.
  • If the state needs to verify your property tax bill or income, your payment will be delayed until that verification is complete—this can add two to four weeks.
  • Payments arrive by direct deposit if you provided banking information, or by check if you did not; checks take longer to arrive than direct deposits.
  • If you have not received your payment by late October, contact the ANCHOR helpline or check your account status online before calling, since most delays are visible in your account first.

How to track your ANCHOR payment status

The fastest way to find out when your payment is coming is to check your account on the New Jersey Department of Revenue website. Go to the ANCHOR portal, sign in with your Social Security number and date of birth, and look for a status message. The portal will tell you whether your application is approved, pending review, or ready to pay.

If your status shows "approved" or "payment processing," your money is on the way. If it shows "under review" or "pending verification," the state is waiting for something from you or from another agency—usually a property tax bill confirmation or income verification from the IRS. In that case, your payment will not arrive until that step is done.

You can also call the ANCHOR helpline at 1-888-238-1233 to ask about your payment. Have your Social Security number and the address of the property you claimed ready when you call. Wait times are longest in July and August, so calling in September or October is usually faster.

Why your ANCHOR payment might be delayed

The most common reason for a delayed ANCHOR payment is that the state needs to verify your property tax bill. If you own your home, the state cross-checks the property tax amount you reported against the county assessor's records. If there is a mismatch—you reported $5,000 but the county shows $4,800—the state will contact you or the county to confirm the correct amount. This verification usually takes two to four weeks.

Income verification is the second common cause of delay. The state compares the income you reported on your ANCHOR application to your federal tax return. If you filed a 2023 tax return but reported 2024 income on ANCHOR, or if your income changed significantly from year to year, the state may ask for additional documents like a pay stub, 1099 form, or letter from your employer. Providing these documents quickly can speed up your payment by a week or more.

A smaller number of delays happen because someone else filed a claim on the same property. If you own a home with a spouse or co-owner, only one ANCHOR application per property is allowed. If both of you filed separately, the state will contact you to determine who should receive the payment, and the other application will be rejected or combined.

Direct deposit versus check payment

If you provided your bank account information when you filed ANCHOR, your payment will arrive by direct deposit. Direct deposits typically hit your account within one to two business days of the state sending them. If you did not provide banking information, the state will mail you a check instead.

Checks take longer. A mailed check usually arrives within five to seven business days after the state sends it, but mail delays can add another week. If you are expecting a check and it has been more than two weeks since you saw your status change to "payment processing," check your mailbox carefully and contact the helpline to confirm the address the state has on file.

You can update your banking information in your ANCHOR account at any time. If you add a bank account after your payment has already been sent by check, the state will not redirect it—you will receive the check as originally sent. Future ANCHOR payments (if you remain in the program) will use your new banking information.

What to do if you have not received your payment by late October

Start by checking your account status online. If it still shows "approved" or "payment processing" but you have not received money, log in and look for any messages from the state. Sometimes the state posts a note explaining a delay without sending an email notification.

If your status shows "payment sent" or "completed" but you have not received the money, the next step depends on how you were supposed to receive it. For direct deposit, contact your bank and ask whether the payment arrived and was rejected for any reason (wrong account number, closed account, etc.). For a check, wait another week and check your mail again, including any junk mail folder. Checks sometimes arrive in unexpected envelopes.

If your status is still "under review" in late October, call the helpline at 1-888-238-1233. The state may be waiting for a document you did not know you needed to send, or there may be an error in their records that only a representative can fix. Have your Social Security number, property address, and the date you filed ready.

Unclaimed ANCHOR payments and what happens to them

If you never received your ANCHOR payment and your account shows it was sent, the money does not disappear. New Jersey holds unclaimed property, including unclaimed ANCHOR payments, through the State Treasurer's office. You can search for unclaimed money at nj.gov/treasury/unclaimed using your name and Social Security number.

If you find your ANCHOR payment listed as unclaimed, you can file a claim through the same website. The process usually takes four to six weeks. You will need to provide proof of identity and proof that you lived at the property address during the year you claimed ANCHOR.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get my ANCHOR payment faster if I call the helpline?

No. Calling does not speed up processing. However, calling can tell you whether your application is stuck waiting for verification or if there is an error the state can fix immediately. If the state needs a document from you, providing it quickly is the only way to move your payment forward.

What if I moved after I filed ANCHOR but before I received my payment?

If you moved and provided a new address to the state, your check will be mailed to that address. If you did not update your address, the check will go to the address on file. Contact the helpline to update your mailing address if you have not received your payment and you moved. Direct deposits are not affected by address changes.

Do I have to do anything to receive my ANCHOR payment, or does it come automatically?

Once your application is approved, the payment comes automatically—you do not need to do anything else. However, if the state needs to verify your information, you may receive a letter or email asking for documents. Responding quickly prevents delays.

Can I receive my ANCHOR payment as a direct deposit if I already got a check?

You can update your banking information in your account for future payments, but a check that has already been sent will not be redirected. You must cash or deposit the check you received. If you want to avoid checks in the future, add your bank account information to your ANCHOR account now.

What if my ANCHOR payment was sent to the wrong bank account?

Contact your bank first to see if the payment arrived and was rejected. If it was rejected, the state should resend it by check within two to three weeks. If the payment went to a wrong account at another bank, contact the ANCHOR helpline with your correct banking information so the state can resend the payment to the right place.