En español | New Jerseyans pay some of the country’s highest property and income tax rates, but the sales tax falls in the middle compared with other states, and there are numerous tax breaks for older adults. Though there’s no tax on Social Security, the Garden State does tax inheritances and most pensions.
The big picture:
- Income tax: 1.4 percent to 10.75 percent
There are seven tax brackets for single filers in New Jersey (eight for joint filers), ranging from 1.4 percent to 10.75 percent.
- Property tax: 2.23 percent of a home’s assessed value (average)
New Jersey has the highest average property tax rate in the U.S. at 2.23 percent of a home’s assessed value in 2021, according to the Tax Foundation. Taxes vary widely by county and municipality.
- Sales tax: 6.6 percent (combined state and local average)
The state levies a 6.625 percent sales tax on goods and services, and there are no local sales taxes. However, some retailers in economically distressed cities are permitted to collect only half the sales tax rate.
How is income taxed in New Jersey?
New Jersey residents must file state taxes if they earned more than $10,000 individually or $20,000 if married filing jointly. There are seven brackets for single filers and eight for those who file jointly:
Single filers:
Source: New Jersey Department of the Treasury
Joint filers:
* Taxable income: Gross income (wages, tips, bonuses, etc.) after subtracting for itemized or standard deductions
Source: New Jersey Department of the Treasury
Not all of your income is taxed at the same rate. For example, if you’re a single filer and earned $75,000 in taxable income, the first $20,000 is taxed at 1.4 percent, the next $20,000 to $35,000 is taxed at 1.75 percent, and so on.
Watch the video below to learn how to identify your 2023 federal income tax brackets.
Understanding Your 2023 Income Tax
Are pensions or retirement income taxed in New Jersey?
Pension and annuity income and IRA and 401(k) withdrawals are taxable in New Jersey, with a few exceptions. See the New Jersey retirement income tax bulletin for more information.
Taxpayers who are 62 and older or have a disability, and whose total income is $150,000 or less, can exclude all or part of their retirement income. The amount of the exclusion depends on your income and filing status.
In some cases, the taxable amount you report for state tax purposes may be different from what appears on your federal return. For more information on how to calculate your taxable retirement income, visit the New Jersey Division of Taxation website.
AARP’s Retirement Calculator can help you determine if you are saving enough to retire when — and how — you want.
What about investment income?
Most investment income is taxed as regular income in New Jersey, but there are exceptions. For instance, interest earned on government bonds or tuition savings programs isn’t taxable. Check the state’s guide to nontaxable investment income for more information.
Does New Jersey tax Social Security benefits?
No. But you may pay federal taxes on a portion of your Social Security benefits, depending on your income. Up to 50 percent of your benefits will be taxed if you file an individual tax return and make $25,000 to $34,000 in total income — or if you file jointly and as a couple make $32,000 to $44,000 in total income. Up to 85 percent of your benefits will be taxed by the federal government if your total income is more than $34,000 individually or $44,000 as a couple.
AARP’s Social Security Calculator can assist you in determining when to claim and how to maximize your Social Security benefits.
How is property taxed in New Jersey?
Property tax in New Jersey is a local tax that’s based on the value of your home, which is assessed annually by assessors in each municipality. The average property tax rate is 2.23 percent of the assessed value of your home, which is the highest rate in the country.
In New Jersey, counties decide what percentage of a home’s value is assessed, and all have chosen 100 percent of the home’s market value, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation.
Residents of Bergen, Essex, Hunterdon, Morris, Passaic and Union counties pay some of the nation’s highest property taxes; they are among just 11 counties in the U.S. where the median property tax bill topped $10,000 in 2021, according to the Tax Foundation.
Find out more about how property taxes are calculated, whether you qualify for property tax relief, and how to appeal your assessment, on the New Jersey Division of Taxation’s website.
What about sales and other taxes?
- Sales and use tax: New Jersey levies a 6.625 percent sales and use tax on most consumer goods, including cars, furniture and meals bought in restaurants, as well as some digital products and services, such as lawn maintenance, car repair and e-books.
There are no local sales taxes, but retailers in some cities may charge only half the state tax rate, resulting in a combined statewide average of 6.6 percent, according to the Tax Foundation. That puts New Jersey in the middle of the pack compared with other states.
- Groceries, clothing, prescription and over-the-counter drugs and paper products for household use, such as toilet paper and napkins, are exempt. See the New Jersey Sales Tax Guide for more information.
- Use tax: You’ll owe use tax if you bought a taxable item or service outside the state and didn’t pay sales tax, or paid sales tax at a lower rate than New Jersey’s. This includes items purchased in person, online, or by mail and brought or shipped to New Jersey. The use tax rate is the same as the sales tax.
- Gas tax: Drivers in New Jersey pay an additional 42.3 cents a gallon at the pump for gas. The tax on diesel fuel is 49.3 cents a gallon. The total is a combination of two taxes — the Motor Fuels Tax and the Petroleum Products Gross Receipts Tax. The state sets the rate annually. Gasoline is exempt from sales tax.
- Alcohol taxes: New Jersey taxes beer at 12 cents a gallon, wine at 87.5 cents a gallon and liquor at $5.50 a gallon. These taxes are paid by the manufacturer, but some or all may be included in the retail price. Alcoholic beverages are also subject to sales tax.
- Lottery: The state taxes New Jersey Lottery winnings exceeding $10,000. Taxability is determined by the individual prize, not the cumulative amount of lottery winnings during the year. The state taxation division has more information.
Will I or my heirs have to pay inheritance or estate tax?
New Jersey phased out its estate tax in 2018, but the Garden State continues to levy an inheritance tax. The tax rate your heirs will pay depends on the size of the inheritance and their relationship to you.
For example, some immediate family members (including spouses, domestic partners, children, stepchildren, parents, grandparents and grandchildren) are exempt. Siblings, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law must pay a tax ranging from 11 to 16 percent on inheritances that exceed $25,000.
Nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and most other heirs are taxed 15 to 16 percent on inheritances of $500 or more.
Are there any tax breaks for older New Jersey residents?
New Jersey offers several tax relief programs for older residents and retirees:
Property tax
- The Senior Freeze Program reimburses eligible adults 65 and older for property tax increases on their primary home. In 2024, the state raised the income limits to qualify and no longer requires applicants to have 10 consecutive years of state residency. You now may be eligible if you earned no more than $150,000 in 2022 and $163,050 in 2023. Check the New Jersey Division of Taxation website for details about eligibility and answers to frequently asked questions.
- Homeowners of any age with incomes up to $250,000 may qualify for a property tax rebate of up to $1,750 a year through the state’s ANCHOR (Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters) program. Renters with incomes up to $150,000 may qualify for a $700 credit. Filing information for the upcoming ANCHOR season will be available later this year on the New Jersey Division of Taxation website.
Income tax
- If you were 65 or older on the last day of the year for which you’re filing, you’re eligible for a $1,000 income tax exemption.
- New Jersey has also expanded eligibility for its Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to include those 65 and older who do not have a dependent. Visit the New Jersey Division of Taxation website for details and to see if you qualify.
- Taxpayers 62 and older whose total income is no more than $150,000 are exempt from paying taxes on some or all of their retirement income. Find more information on the New Jersey Division of Taxation website.
Are military benefits taxed in New Jersey?
New Jersey does not tax military pensions or survivor’s benefits, and honorably discharged veterans are eligible for an additional $6,000 exemption of their state income tax.
Military pay is taxable for New Jersey residents, even when stationed out of state. Combat pay has been exempt since tax year 2021.
If New Jersey wasn’t your permanent home when you entered the service, you’re not considered a resident for tax purposes, even if you are stationed in the state. For more information about taxes on military benefits, visit the New Jersey Division of Taxation website.
What is the deadline for filing New Jersey taxes in 2024?
The deadline to file a New Jersey state tax return is April 15, 2024, which was also the deadline for federal tax returns. For help estimating your annual income taxes, use AARP’s Tax Calculator.
For details on how to file for a six-month extension (until Oct. 15, 2024), visit the New Jersey Division of Taxation website. You must request the extension on or before the original tax filing deadline and pay at least 80 percent of any taxes owed by that date to avoid a late filing penalty.
Visit the Division of Taxation website to file your state taxes electronically, check your refund status, make payments and find more information.
This guide was originally published on Feb. 23, 2023. It has been updated to reflect new information.
Natalie Missakian covers federal and state policy and writes AARP’s Fighting for You Every Day blog. She previously worked as a reporter for the New Haven Register and daily newspapers in Ohio. Her work has also appeared in the AARP Bulletin, the Hartford Business Journal and other publications.