New Jersey § 54a:2-1
Full text of New Jersey New Jersey Statutes § 54a:2-1, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 54a:2-1.
Imposition of tax. There is hereby imposed a tax for each taxable year (which shall be the same as
the taxable year for federal income tax purposes) on the New Jersey gross income as
herein defined of every individual, estate or trust (other than a charitable trust
or a trust forming part of a pension or profit-sharing plan), subject to the deductions,
limitations and modifications hereinafter provided, determined in accordance with
the following tables with respect to taxpayers' taxable income: a. For married individuals filing a joint return and individuals filing as head of
household or as surviving spouse for federal income tax purposes: (1) for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 1991 but before January 1,
1994: If the taxable income is: The tax is: Not over $20,000.00․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ 2% of taxable income Over $20,000.00 but not over $50,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $400.00 plus 2.5% of the excess over $20,000.00 Over $50,000.00 but not over $70,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $1,150.00 plus 3.5% of the excess over $50,000.00 Over $70,000.00 but not over $80,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $1,850.00 plus 5.0% of the excess over $70,000.00 Over $80,000.00 but not over $150,000.00․․․․․․․․ $2,350.00 plus 6.5% of the excess over $80,000.00 Over $150,000.00․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ $6,900.00 plus 7.0% of the excess over $150,000.00 (2) For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 1994 but before January 1,
1995: If the taxable income is: The tax is: Not over $20,000.00․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ 1.900% of taxable income Over $20,000.00 but not over $50,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $380.00 plus 2.375% of the excess over $20,000.00 Over $50,000.00 but not over $70,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $1,092.50 plus 3.325% of the excess over $50,000.00 Over $70,000.00 but not over $80,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $1,757.50 plus 4.750% of the excess over $70,000.00 Over $80,000.00 but not over $150,000.00․․․․․․․․ $2,232.50 plus 6.175% of the excess over $80,000.00 Over $150,000.00․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ $6,555.00 plus 6.650% of the excess over $150,000.00 (3) for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 1995 but before January 1,
1996: If the taxable income is: The tax is: Not over $20,000.00․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ 1.700% of taxable income Over $20,000.00 but not over $50,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $340.00 plus 2.125% of the excess over $20,000.00 Over $50,000.00 but not over $70,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $977.50 plus 2.975% of the excess over $50,000.00 Over $70,000.00 but not over $80,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $1,572.50 plus 4.250% of the excess over $70,000.00 Over $80,000.00 but not over $150,000.00․․․․․․․․ $1,997.50 plus 6.013% of the excess over $80,000.00 Over $150,000.00․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ $6,206.60 plus 6.580% of the excess over $150,000.00 (4) for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 1996 but before January 1,
2004: If the taxable income is: The tax is: Not over $20,000.00․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ 1.400% of taxable income Over $20,000.00 but not over $50,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $280.00 plus 1.750% of the excess over $20,000.00 Over $50,000.00 but not over $70,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $805.00 plus 2.450% of the excess over $50,000.00 Over $70,000.00 but not over $80,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $1,295.50 plus 3.500% of the excess over $70,000.00 Over $80,000.00 but not over $150,000.00․․․․․․․․ $1,645.00 plus 5.525% of the excess over $80,000.00 Over $150,000.00․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ $5,512.50 plus 6.370% of the excess over $150,000.00 (5) for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2004 but before January 1,
2018: If the taxable income is: The tax is: Not over $20,000.00․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ 1.400% of taxable income Over $20,000.00 but not over $50,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $280.00 plus 1.750% of the excess over $20,000.00 Over $50,000.00 but not over $70,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $805.00 plus 2.450% of the excess over $50,000.00 Over $70,000.00 but not over $80,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $1,295.50 plus 3.500% of the excess over $70,000.00 Over $80,000.00 but not over $150,000.00․․․․․․․․ $1,645.00 plus 5.525% of the excess over $80,000.00 Over $150,000.00 but not over $500,000.00․․․․․․․ $5,512.50 plus 6.370% of the excess over $150,000.00 Over $500,000.00․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ $27,807.50 plus 8.970% of the excess over $500,000.00 (6) for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2018 , but before January 1, 2020 : If the taxable income is: The tax is: Not over $20,000.00․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ 1.400% of taxable income Over $20,000.00 but not over $50,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $280.00 plus 1.750% of the excess over $20,000.00 Over $50,000.00 but not over $70,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $805.00 plus 2.450% of the excess over $50,000.00 Over $70,000.00 but not over $80,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $1,295.50 plus 3.500% of the excess over $70,000.00 Over $80,000.00 but not over $150,000.00․․․․․․․․ $1,645.00 plus 5.525% of the excess over $80,000.00 Over $150,000.00 but not over $500,000.00․․․․․․․ $5,512.50 plus 6.370% of the excess over $150,000.00 Over $500,000.00 but not over $5,000,000.00․․․․․ $27,807.50 plus 8.970% of the excess over $500,000.00. Over $5,000,000.00․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ $431,457.50 plus 10.75% of the excess over $5,000,000.00. (7) for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2020: If the taxable income is: The tax is: Not over $20,000.00․․․․․․․․ 1.400% of taxable income Over $20,000.00 but not over $50,000.00․․․․ $280.00 plus 1.750% of the excess over $20,000.00 Over $50,000.00 but not over $70,000.00․․․․ $805.00 plus 2.450% of the excess over $50,000.00 Over $70,000.00 but not over $80,000.00․․․ $1,295.50 plus 3.500% of the excess over $70,000.00 Over $80,000.00 but not over $150,000.00․․ $1,645.00 plus 5.525% of the excess over $80,000.00 Over $150,000.00 but not over $500,000.00․․ $5,512.50 plus 6.370% of the excess over $150,000.00 Over $500,000.00 but not over $1,000,000.00․․ $27,807.50 plus 8.970% of the excess over $500,000.00 Over $1,000,000.00․․․ $72,657.50 plus 10.750% of the excess over $1,000,000.00 b. For married individuals filing separately, unmarried individuals other than individuals
filing as head of household or as a surviving spouse for federal income tax purposes,
and estates and trusts: (1) for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 1991 but before January 1,
1994: If the taxable income is: The tax is: Not over $20,000.00․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ 2% of taxable income Over $20,000.00 but not over $35,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $400.00 plus 2.5% of the excess over $20,000.00 Over $35,000.00 but not over $40,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $775.00 plus 5.0% of the excess over $35,000.00 Over $40,000.00 but not over $75,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $1,025.00 plus 6.5% of the excess over $40,000.00 Over $75,000.00․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ $3,300.00 plus 7.0% of the excess over $75,000.00 (2) for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 1994 but before January 1,
1995: If the taxable income is: The tax is: Not over $20,000.00․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ 1.900% of taxable income Over $20,000.00 but not over $35,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $380.00 plus 2.375% of the excess over $20,000.00 Over $35,000.00 but not over $40,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $736.25 plus 4.750% of the excess over $35,000.00 Over $40,000.00 but not over $75,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $973.75 plus 6.175% of the excess over $40,000.00 Over $75,000.00․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ $3,135.00 plus 6.650% of the excess over $75,000.00 (3) for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 1995 but before January 1,
1996: If the taxable income is: The tax is: Not over $20,000.00․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ 1.700% of taxable income Over $20,000.00 but not over $35,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $340.00 plus 2.125% of the excess over $20,000.00 Over $35,000.00 but not over $40,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $658.75 plus 4.250% of the excess over $35,000.00 Over $40,000.00 but not over $75,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $871.25 plus 6.013% of the excess over $40,000.00 Over $75,000.00․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ $2,975.80 plus 6.580% of the excess over $75,000.00 (4) for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 1996 but before January 1,
2004: If the taxable income is: The tax is: Not over $20,000.00․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ 1.400% of taxable income Over $20,000.00 but not over $35,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $280.00 plus 1.750% of the excess over $20,000.00 Over $35,000.00 but not over $40,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $542.50 plus 3.500% of the excess over $35,000.00 Over $40,000.00 but not over $75,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $717.50 plus 5.525% of the excess over $40,000.00 Over $75,000.00․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ $2,651.25 plus 6.370% of the excess over $75,000.00 (5) for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2004 but before January 1,
2018: If the taxable income is: The tax is: Not over $20,000.00․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ 1.400% of taxable income Over $20,000.00 but not over $35,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $280.00 plus 1.750% of the excess over $20,000.00 Over $35,000.00 but not over $40,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $542.50 plus 3.500% of the excess over $35,000.00 Over $40,000.00 but not over $75,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $717.50 plus 5.525% of the excess over $40,000.00 Over $75,000.00 but not over $500,000.00․․․․․․․․ $2,651.25 plus 6.370% of the excess over $75,000.00 Over $500,000.00․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ $29,723.75 plus 8.970% of the excess over $500,000.00 (6) for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2018 , but before January 1, 2020 : If the taxable income is: The tax is: Not over $20,000.00․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ 1.400% of taxable income Over $20,000.00 but not over $35,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $280.00 plus 1.750% of the excess over $20,000.00 Over $35,000.00 but not over $40,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $542.50 plus 3.500% of the excess over $35,000.00 Over $40,000.00 but not over $75,000.00․․․․․․․․․ $717.50 plus 5.525% of the excess over $40,000.00 Over $75,000.00 but not over $500,000.00․․․․․․․․ $2,651.25 plus 6.370% of the excess over $75,000.00 Over $500,000.00 but not over $5,000,000.00․․․․․ $29,723.75 plus 8.970% of the excess over $500,000.00 Over $5,000,000.00․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․․ $433,373.75 plus 10.75% of the excess over $5,000,000.00 (7) for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2020: If the taxable income is: The tax is: Not over $20,000.00․․․․․․ 1.400% of taxable income Over $20,000.00 but not over $35,000.00.․․․․․․ $280.00 plus 1.750% of the excess over $20,000.00 Over $35,000.00 but not over $40,000.00․․․․․․ $542.50 plus 3.500% of the excess over $35,000.00 Over $40,000.00 but not over $75,000.00․․․․․․ $717.50 plus 5.525% of the excess over $40,000.00 Over $75,000.00 but not over $500,000.00․․․ $2,651.25 plus 6.370% of the excess over $75,000.00 Over $500,000.00 but not over $1,000,000.00․․ $29,723.75 plus 8.970% of the excess over $500,000.00 Over $1,000,000.00.․․․․ $74,573.75 plus 10.750% of the excess over $1,000,000.00 c. For the purposes of this section, an individual who would be eligible to file as
a head of household for federal income tax purposes but for the fact that such taxpayer
is a nonresident alien, shall determine tax pursuant to subsection a. of this section. d. For the purposes of this section, for taxable year 2018, withholding by every employer
from salaries, wages and other remuneration paid by an employer for services rendered
described in subsections a. and b. of this section, in excess of $5,000,000 during
that taxable year, shall be at the rate of 15.6% as soon as practicable but no later
than September 1, 2018. The Director of the Division of Taxation is authorized to do all things necessary
to implement the withholding tax prescribed by this section for taxable year 2018. e. No additions to tax or penalty shall be imposed under N.J.S.54A:9-6 for insufficient payment of estimated tax that may otherwise be due on salaries,
wages and other remuneration received before September 1, 2018, on which there is
a rate of tax imposed pursuant to subsections a. and b. of this section. f. An employer maintaining an office or transacting business within this State and
making payment of any salaries, wages and remuneration subject to New Jersey gross
income tax or making payment of any remuneration for employment subject to contribution
under the New Jersey “unemployment compensation law,” pursuant to R.S.43:21-1 et seq. , that is subject to New Jersey gross income tax shall not be subject to interest,
penalties or other costs that may otherwise be imposed for insufficient withholding
of salaries, wages and other remuneration made before September 1, 2018, that is directly
attributable to the enactment of the taxable income tables and tax rates in subsections
a. and b. of this section.
Frequently Asked Questions About New Jersey § 54a:2-1
What does New Jersey Statutes § 54a:2-1 cover?
Section 54a:2-1 is part of the New Jersey Statutes, the codified statutory law of New Jersey. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite New Jersey § 54a:2-1?
A common citation format is "New Jersey Statutes § 54a:2-1" (New Jersey). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of New Jersey law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the New Jersey official source linked on this page or consult a licensed New Jersey attorney.
How does New Jersey § 54a:2-1 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in New Jersey can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in New Jersey.