New Jersey § 54a:9-6
Full text of New Jersey New Jersey Statutes § 54a:9-6, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 54a:9-6.
Additions to tax and civil penalties. (a) Failure to file tax return. In case of failure to file a tax return under this act on or before the prescribed
date (determined with regard to any extension of time for filing), unless it is shown
that such failure is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, there
shall be added to the amount required to be shown as tax on such return such amount
as is required under the State Tax Uniform Procedure Law, R.S.54:48-1 et seq. For this purpose, the amount of tax required to be shown on the return shall be
reduced by the amount of any part of the tax which is paid on or before the date prescribed
for payment of the tax and by the amount of any credit against the tax which may be
claimed upon the return. (b) Deficiency due to negligence. If any part of a deficiency is due to negligence or intentional disregard of this
act or rules or regulations hereunder (but without intent to defraud), there shall
be added to the tax an amount equal to 10% of the deficiency. (c) Failure to file declaration or underpayment of estimated tax. If any taxpayer fails to file a declaration of estimated tax or fails to pay all
or any part of an installment of estimated tax, the taxpayer shall be deemed to have
made an underpayment of estimated tax except as provided pursuant to subsection (d)
of this section. There shall be added to the tax for the taxable year an amount at the rate as is
required under the State Tax Uniform Procedure Law, R.S.54:48-1 et seq. , upon the amount of the underpayment for the period of the underpayment but not beyond
the 15th day of the fourth month following the close of the taxable year. The amount of underpayment shall be the excess of the lesser of: (1) the amount
of the installment which would be required to be paid if the estimated tax were equal
to 80% of the tax (two-thirds of the tax for farmers referred to in subsection (e) of section 54A:8-4 ) shown on the return for the taxable year (or if no return was filed, of the tax
for such year), or (2) 100% of the tax shown on the tax return of the taxpayer for
the preceding taxable year; over the amount, if any, of the installment paid on or
before the last day prescribed for such payment. No underpayment shall be deemed to exist with respect to a declaration or installment
otherwise due on or after the taxpayer's death. (d) Exception to addition for underpayment of estimated tax. The addition to tax under subsection (c) with respect to any underpayment of any
installment shall not be imposed if the total amount of all payments of estimated
tax and all payments of tax made pursuant to subsection a. of section 12 of P.L.2002, c. 40 ( C.54:10A-15.11 ) and credited to the taxpayer pursuant to subsection b. of section 12 of P.L.2002, c. 40 made on or before the last date prescribed for the payment of such installment equals
or exceeds whichever of the following set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2) and subject
to paragraph (3) is the lesser-- (1) The amount which would have been required to be paid on or before such date if
the estimated tax were whichever of the following is the least-- (A) An amount equal to 100% of the tax shown on the return of the taxpayer for the
preceding taxable year, except as provided pursuant to paragraph (3) of this subsection,
if a return showing a liability for tax was filed by the taxpayer for the preceding
taxable year and such preceding year was a taxable year of 12 months, or (B) An amount equal to 100% of the tax computed, except as provided pursuant to paragraph
(3) of this subsection, at the rates applicable to the taxable year, on the basis
of the taxpayer's status with respect to the taxpayer's personal exemptions for the
taxable year, but otherwise on the basis of the facts shown on the taxpayer's return
for, and the law applicable to, the preceding taxable year, or (C) An amount equal to 80% of the tax for the taxable year (two-thirds of the tax
for farmers referred to in subsection (e) of section 54A:8-4 ) computed by placing on an annualized basis the income for the months in the taxable
year ending before the month in which the installment is required to be paid (or,
in the case of a trust or estate, the income for the months ending before the date
one month before the month in which the installment is required). For purposes of this subparagraph, the income shall be placed on an annualized basis
by-- (i) Multiplying by 12 (or, in the case of a taxable year of less than 12 months, the
number of months in the taxable year) the income for the months in the taxable year
ending before the month in which the installment is required to be paid (or, in the
case of a trust or estate, the income for the months ending before the date one month
before the month in which the installment is required), (ii) Dividing the resulting amount by the number of months in the taxable year ending
before the month in which such installment date falls (or, in the case of a trust
or estate, the number of months ending before the date one month before the month
in which such installment date falls), and (iii) Deducting from such amount the deductions for personal exemptions allowable
for the taxable year (such personal exemptions being determined as of the last date
prescribed for payment of the installment); or (2) An amount equal to 90% of the tax computed, at the rates applicable to the taxable
year, on the basis of the actual income for the months in the taxable year ending
before the month in which the installment is required to be paid. (3) If the taxable gross income shown on the return of the taxpayer for the preceding
taxable year exceeds $150,000 ($75,000 in the case of a married individual within
the meaning of section 7703 of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986 , 26 U.S.C. s.7703 , filing separately for the taxable year for which the amount of the installment is
being determined) subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) of this subsection shall
be applied by substituting “110%” for “100%”. For purposes of this paragraph, “ taxable gross income ” means gross income after any allowable deductions under chapter 3 or 3A of the “New
Jersey Gross Income Tax Act” ( C.54A:3-1 et seq. or 54A:3A-1 et seq. ); or, in the case of a trust or estate, gross income after any allowable deductions
or exemptions, income commissions and amounts distributed or credited to beneficiaries;
and “ gross income ” for a nonresident means gross income calculated as if such nonresident were a resident. (e) Deficiency due to fraud. If any part of a deficiency is due to fraud, there shall be added to the tax an
amount equal to 50% of the deficiency. This amount shall be in lieu of any other addition to tax imposed by subsection
(a) or (b). (f) Nonwillful failure to pay withholding tax. If any employer, without intent to evade or defeat any tax imposed by this act or
the payment thereof, shall fail to make a return and pay a tax withheld by him at
the time required by or under the provisions of section 54A:7-4 , such employer shall be liable for such tax and shall pay the same together with
interest thereon and the addition to tax provided in subsection (a), and such interest
and addition to tax shall not be charged to or collected from the employee by the
employer. The director shall have the same rights and powers for the collection of such tax,
interest and addition to tax against such employer as are now prescribed by this act
for the collection of tax against an individual taxpayer. (g) Willful failure to collect and pay over tax. Any person required to collect, truthfully account for, and pay over the tax imposed
by this act who willfully fails to collect such tax or truthfully account for and
pay over such tax or willfully attempts in any manner to evade or defeat the tax or
the payment thereof, shall, in addition to other penalties provided by law, be liable
to a penalty equal to the total amount of the tax evaded, or not collected, or not
accounted for and paid over. No addition to tax under subsection (b) or (c) shall be imposed for any offense
to which this subsection applies. (h) Failure to file certain information returns. In case of each failure to file a statement of a payment to another person, required
under authority of subsection (c) of section 54A:8-6 (relating to information at source, including the duplicate statement of tax withheld
on wages) on the date prescribed therefor (determined with regard to any extension
of time for filing), unless it is shown that such failure is due to reasonable cause
and not to willful neglect, there shall, upon notice and demand by the director and
in the same manner as tax, be paid by the person so failing to file the statement,
a penalty of $2.00 for each statement not so filed, but the total amount imposed on
the delinquent person for all such failures during any calendar year shall not exceed
$2,000.00. (i) Additional penalty. Any person who with fraudulent intent shall fail to pay, or to deduct or withhold
and pay, any tax, or to make, render, sign or certify any return or declaration of
estimated tax or to supply any information within the time required by or under this
act, shall be liable to a penalty of not more than $5,000.00, in addition to any other
amounts required under this act, to be imposed, assessed and collected by the director. The director shall have the power, in his discretion, to waive, reduce or compromise
any penalty under this subsection. (j) Additions treated as tax. The additions to tax and penalties provided by this section shall be paid upon notice
and demand and shall be assessed, collected and paid in the same manner as taxes and
any reference in this act to income tax or tax imposed by this act, shall be deemed
also to refer to the additions to tax and penalties provided by this section. For purposes of section 54A:9-2 , this subsection shall not apply to: (1) Any addition to tax under subsection (a) except as to that portion attributable
to a deficiency; (2) Any addition to tax under subsection (e); and (3) Any additional penalty under subsection (i). (k) Determination of deficiency. For purposes of subsections (b) and (c), the amount shown as the tax by the taxpayer
upon his return shall be taken into account in determining the amount of the deficiency
only if such return was filed on or before the last day prescribed for the filing
of such return, determined with regard to any extension of time for such filing. (l) Person defined. For purposes of subsections (f), (g), (h) and (i), the term person or employer includes
an individual, corporation or partnership or an officer or employee of any corporation
(including a dissolved corporation) or a member or employee of any partnership, who
as such officer, employee, or member is under a duty to perform the act in respect
of which the violation occurs.
Frequently Asked Questions About New Jersey § 54a:9-6
What does New Jersey Statutes § 54a:9-6 cover?
Section 54a:9-6 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:9-6?
A common citation format is "New Jersey Statutes § 54a:9-6" (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:9-6 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.