Filing your New Jersey sales tax return is simple with the state’s online system. You can file and pay directly through the NJ Tax Portal, as long as your business is registered to collect and remit sales tax.
This guide will walk you through the step-by-step process of filing online so you can submit returns on time, avoid penalties, and stay compliant with New Jersey’s sales tax rules.
What You Need Before Filing
Before filing your sales tax return, you must prepare specific records to ensure your report is accurate. Here are the standard documents required to file a sales tax return in New Jersey:
- New Jersey Taxpayer ID Number (FEIN) – To file a sales tax return in New Jersey, you must prepare your FEIN and your business’s registered name. Your FEIN is recognized as your Taxpayer ID number. Add three zeros (000) at the end of your 9-digit FEIN to complete the 12-digit Taxpayer ID number required by the NJ Tax Portal.
- New Jersey Tax Portal Account Log-in Details – The primary way to file your New Jersey sales tax return online is by using the NJ Tax Portal webpage. To access the site, ensure you have your log-in credentials ready (e.g., your username and password).The NJ Tax Portal also allows filing and paying returns as a guest user, meaning that logging in is not required. However, creating an account is highly encouraged to receive real-time updates and easier tracking of your sales tax returns.
- Total Sales – Gather your total revenue during the filing period. This includes all sales, whether they’re taxable or not. Even if you currently have no sales records, the state still requires you to file a return.
- Taxable Sales – Compile the total taxable sales your business made within the filing period. You’ll need this data to determine how much sales tax you owe and must pay for the filing period.
- Taxable Purchases – Verify the total amount of taxable purchases your business spent within the filing period. This applies to both in-state and out-of-state transactions. Generally, businesses do this to report Use Tax, which is due when they did not pay sales tax at the time of purchase.
- Use Tax Liability – Be prepared to report any use tax owed. Businesses owe use tax on taxable items they purchased for business use where the seller did not collect sales tax.
- Bank Account and Routing Number – Select which bank account you want to use for paying the due taxes in your report. Prepare your bank details and routing number ahead of time.
- Filing Frequency Schedule – The state assigns a specific due date for every registered business. In New Jersey, the state only allows a quarterly filing frequency. However, some are required to make monthly payments.To find out your designated schedule, you can check your New Jersey Certificate of Authority documents. You can also use the table in the next section for reference.
Step-by-Step: How to File New Jersey Sales Tax Online
Step 1. Go to the state sales tax portal website – MyNewJersey Step 2. Prepare your Ecommerce Sales Tax Data (e.g., Taxes Report from Shopify). Step 3. Enter your Account Credentials: Log in using your username and password. Check your shared email or phone number, and input the OTP when applicable.
Step 4: On the dashboard, scroll to the “Tax Portal-Admin” section. Once you’re in the correct section, click “Online Transactions>File a Form.”
Step 5: Choose the appropriate return information from the drop-down menu and then click “Next”
Step 6: On the actual tax return form, enter the Gross Sales based on your ecommerce sales tax report. After that, the other necessary fields will automatically compute after clicking “Compute”. Once the automatic computation is done, click “Submit.”
Step 7: After submitting your return, you can now make a payment or choose to print a copy of your return. To prevent late payments, make a payment now.
Step 8: To complete your return, enter your payment details and then click on “Submit” to make the payment.
Step 9: After that, save a copy of your return and/or the payment confirmation. This serves as proof of successful submission.
Step 10: Additionally, you can save the confirmation in your preferred location for recordkeeping purposes. Keeping online records using Google Drive is a common practice.
Helpful Tip: You can always click on “Save and Submit Later” to avoid losing your progress. This tip helps in case internet issues, website downtime, or other disruptions interrupt the filing process.
Due Dates
In New Jersey, businesses are required to file a quarterly return (Form ST-50). However, certain high-volume taxpayers are also required to remit monthly payments using the Monthly Voucher form. This form is only for payments and is filed through the New Jersey Tax Portal. To find out if you’re required to make monthly payments, refer to the table below for guidance:| FREQUENCY | REQUIREMENT | REPORTING PERIOD | DUE DATE |
| Monthly Voucher | Must meet BOTH conditions:
|
Every month (for the first and second months of the quarter) | Due every 20th of the month |
| Quarterly | Required for All Registered Sellers |
|
|
Timely Filing Discount
Some states give businesses a discount for collecting, filing, and remitting sales tax on time. However, New Jersey currently does not offer any timely filing discount. Therefore, the state requires taxpayers to remit the full amount of sales tax collected.Filing Amended Returns
If you wish to correct a previously submitted return, you may amend it using the NJ Tax Portal. You should correct errors made on a monthly remittance voucher on the quarterly Form ST-50, not by filing an amended monthly voucher. TIP: Generally, for future returns, it’s recommended to have an NJ Tax Portal account to easily track your previously submitted returns and access the ‘File Amended Return’ option.Refunds
If you overpaid your taxes or the state owes you a refund after amending a return, here’s how you can request a refund. A: Request a Refund Online as a Guest User in NJ Tax Portal- Step 1: Go to NJ Tax Portal.
- Step 2: Click on “Login and Create a New Profile”
- Step 3: Select the “Tax Services” option.
- Step 4: On the drop-down list, click on “Request Refund as Guest”
- Step 5: Fill out the required fields and then submit your claim.
- Step 1: Log in to your NJ Tax Portal account.
- Step 2: After that, click the “Online Transactions” option.
- Step 3: From the dropdown list, select “Submit Application”
- Step 4: On the new page, choose form type “A-3730 Refund Application”
- Step 5: After that, fill in the rest of the required fields.
- Step 6: Optionally, you can upload additional relevant documents to support your refund claim.
- Step 7: Click “Save and Continue” and then review your claim.
- Step 8: Lastly, enter your e-signature to finalize your refund application.
Filing Zero Returns in New Jersey
In New Jersey, the state still requires businesses to file a return even if there is no sales tax to report or pay. To file a zero return in New Jersey, simply enter “0” (zeros) in the fields asking for your total sales tax amount. However, you must know that monthly payments cannot be zero. You do not need to send any payment after filing a zero return. You only need to file Monthly Vouchers if:- Your collected sales tax is more than $30,000 during the prior calendar year.
- Your collected sales tax is more than $500 in the first or second month of the current calendar quarter.
Other Filing Methods in New Jersey
If you’re having difficulties filing your New Jersey sales tax return online, you can try other options.- File with TaxHero – Let expert accountants in TaxHero prepare your sales tax returns for you. We’ll take everything off your hands so that you can spend your time more efficiently managing your business.