
New Jersey Amazon tax filing and compliance can be a complex process, but understanding the basics can help you navigate it with ease. You'll need to file a sales tax return with the New Jersey Division of Taxation, which must be filed quarterly or annually, depending on your sales volume.
To determine which filing frequency applies to you, you'll need to review your sales tax liability and gross sales in New Jersey. If your gross sales exceed $1 million, you'll need to file quarterly, while those under $1 million can file annually. The deadline for quarterly filers is typically the 20th day of the month following the end of the quarter.
As a New Jersey Amazon seller, you'll also need to obtain a New Jersey sales tax permit and register your business with the state. This will allow you to collect and remit sales tax on behalf of the state. You can register online through the New Jersey Division of Taxation's website or by mail.
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Understanding the Tax
Amazon will start collecting a 7 percent state sales tax on New Jersey orders in July 2013.
This means that if you're a New Jersey resident buying a big-screen TV or laptop computer from Amazon, you'll soon have to pay the sales tax. The deal was made possible after months of talks between Amazon and state officials.
The sales tax will be collected from a fraction of the market that Amazon would not have gotten otherwise, according to Governor Christie. This is expected to bring in $30 million to $40 million in sales tax revenue for the state.
Amazon had been seeking a two-year sales tax holiday, but that effort stalled in the Senate. The company's vice president for global public policy, Paul Misener, said that the decision was delayed while Amazon sought this holiday.
The agreement will also lead to thousands of part-time, seasonal, and construction jobs, according to Governor Christie.
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Selling on Amazon
If you sell on Amazon, you need to know about New Jersey's Amazon tax laws. Specifically, if you use Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), you need to be aware that having inventory stored in New Jersey can trigger nexus and an obligation to collect and remit tax.
You can download an Inventory Event Detail Report from Amazon Seller Central to identify if your inventory is stored in New Jersey. This report can help you determine if you have nexus and need to collect and remit tax on sales made to New Jersey residents.
Marketplaces like Amazon are required to collect and remit tax on all marketplace transactions delivered into New Jersey, but as a marketplace seller, you may still be required to collect and remit tax on sales made through other channels.
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Customers
As you're selling on Amazon, it's essential to understand who your customers are and how to handle tax-exempt transactions.
Some customers are exempt from paying sales tax under New Jersey law, which includes government agencies.
Nonprofit organizations and merchants purchasing goods for resale are also exempt.
To validate each exempt transaction, sellers are required to collect a valid exemption or resale certificate from buyers.
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Will Amazon HQ Break Even?

Amazon's headquarters is a massive operation, with a total investment of $5 billion in its new HQ2 in Arlington, Virginia.
This massive investment is a testament to Amazon's commitment to growth and expansion, with plans to create up to 25,000 jobs in the area.
Amazon's HQ2 is expected to have a significant impact on the local economy, generating an estimated $2.5 billion in tax revenue over 10 years.
The company's investment in its headquarters is also expected to drive innovation and entrepreneurship in the region, with Amazon committing to spend $200 million on local community projects.
Amazon's focus on sustainability has also led to the development of a 20-acre "urban forest" on its HQ2 campus, featuring over 1,000 trees.
The company's commitment to sustainability is not limited to its headquarters, with Amazon aiming to power 50% of its facilities with renewable energy by 2025.
Amazon's HQ2 is also expected to have a significant impact on the local housing market, with the company committing to provide housing for up to 10,000 of its employees.
The company's investment in its headquarters is also expected to drive economic growth in the region, with Amazon estimating that its HQ2 will generate an additional $3.2 billion in economic output each year.
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Registering and Permit
You can register for a New Jersey Sales Tax Certificate of Authority online through the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services.
To register, you'll need to provide information about your business, including your business name, address, and contact information, as well as your Federal EIN number.
You'll also need to provide the date your business activities began or will begin, as well as your projected monthly sales and taxable sales.
There is no cost to register for a seller's permit in New Jersey.
Out-of-State Sellers
As an out-of-state seller, you may be wondering if you need to register and collect sales tax in New Jersey. The answer lies in establishing a sales tax nexus, which is a significant connection with the state.
To establish nexus, you may have an agreement with someone in New Jersey to refer customers to your business through an internet link or website, and if sales from these referrals exceed $10,000 in the prior four quarterly periods.
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If you have no physical presence in New Jersey, you may still establish nexus through economic activity, such as having gross revenue from sales of tangible personal property, specified digital products, or services delivered into New Jersey exceeding $100,000 in the current or prior calendar year.
Alternatively, you may have economic nexus if you sold tangible personal property, specified digital products, or services delivered into New Jersey in 200 or more separate transactions during the current or prior calendar year.
You may also establish nexus if you make sales through a marketplace, regardless of whether you meet the economic thresholds. In this case, the marketplace facilitator is responsible for collecting and remitting sales tax on your behalf.
Here are the specific economic nexus thresholds:
Sourcing
Sourcing is a crucial aspect of registering and permitting in the context of sales tax. New Jersey generally uses destination-based sourcing.
In this method, the sales tax rate is determined by the point of delivery, where ownership and/or possession of the item is transferred by the seller to the purchaser. This means that the sales tax rate will be based on the location where the item is delivered, not where the seller is located.
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For services, the sales tax rate is based on where the service is delivered, or where the property on which the service is performed is delivered. This can be a bit more complex, but it's essential to understand the rules to ensure compliance.
New Jersey's Division of Taxation provides additional information on this topic, which can be a valuable resource for businesses navigating sales tax regulations.
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Registering a Seller's Permit
To register for a seller's permit in New Jersey, you can apply online through the New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services.
You'll need to provide some basic information about your business, including your business name, address, and contact information. This is pretty straightforward and should only take a few minutes to fill out.
You'll also need to provide your Federal EIN number, which is a unique identifier assigned to your business by the IRS. Make sure you have this handy before starting the application process.
The application will also ask for the date your business activities began or will begin, as well as your projected monthly sales and taxable sales. This will help the state estimate how much tax revenue your business will generate.
As for what products you'll be selling, you'll need to list those as well. This will help the state ensure you're collecting the right amount of sales tax.
One thing to keep in mind is that registering for a seller's permit is free in New Jersey.
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Misplacing a Certificate
Misplacing a certificate can have serious consequences, including being held responsible for uncollected sales tax.
New Jersey sales tax exemption and resale certificates are worth far more than the paper they're written on.
If you're audited and can't validate an exempt transaction, the New Jersey Division of Taxation may hold you responsible for the uncollected sales tax.
Late fees and interest can be applied, resulting in large, unexpected bills.
In some cases, the late fees and interest can add up quickly, making it even more crucial to keep your certificate in a safe and accessible place.
Collecting and Filing
You need to collect New Jersey sales tax if you have nexus in the state, are selling taxable goods or services to New Jersey residents, and your buyers are required to pay sales tax.
To collect sales tax, you must register with the state tax authority and apply the correct rate to all taxable sales. You can do this through various point-of-sale solutions, such as brick-and-mortar store systems, hosted store solutions like Shopify and Squarespace, marketplaces like Amazon and Etsy, or mobile point-of-sale systems like Square.
If you're selling taxable goods or services, you're required to file returns at the completion of each assigned collection period. Even if you don't collect any sales tax, you still need to file a quarterly return.
Here's a summary of the filing requirements:
Note that if you meet the criteria for collecting sales tax and choose not to, you'll be held responsible for the tax due, plus applicable penalties and interest.
Filing and Payment
In New Jersey, filing a sales tax return is a two-step process that involves submitting sales data and remitting collected tax dollars to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Online filing is required, either through the NJ Sales and Use Tax EZ File Systems or by phone.
To file, you'll need to detail your total sales in the state, the amount of sales tax collected, and the location of each sale. Failure to file and remit sales tax as required can result in penalties and interest charges.
If you collected $30,000 or less in New Jersey sales and use tax during the preceding calendar year, you may not be required to file a monthly remittance statement. However, you'll still need to file a quarterly return even if no tax is due and no sales were made for that quarter.
The New Jersey Division of Taxation requires all sales tax filing to be completed by the 20th of the month following the assigned filing period. If you meet certain criteria, you may be required to make monthly payments in addition to quarterly filings.
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How to File

Filing a New Jersey sales tax return is a two-step process that involves submitting the required sales data and remitting the collected tax dollars to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Online filing is required in New Jersey, and you can file electronically through the NJ Sales and Use Tax EZ File Systems.
You'll need to detail your total sales in the state, the amount of sales tax collected, and the location of each sale. Form ST-50 is still available for download, but online filing is mandatory.
Failing to file and remit sales tax as required can result in penalties and interest charges. Don't risk it - make sure you're on top of your sales tax obligations.
Even if you've had no sales, you're still required to file returns at the completion of each assigned collection period. If you collected $30,000 or less in New Jersey sales and use tax during the preceding calendar year, you might not need to file a monthly remittance statement, but you'll still need to file a quarterly return.
New Jersey doesn't offer a "zero" monthly filing option, so you'll need to file a return even if no tax is due and no sales were made for a particular month.
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Timely Filing Discount
Some states offer a timely filing discount for sales and use tax returns. This discount encourages filers to submit their returns on time.
The New Jersey Division of Taxation does not offer a timely filing discount to sales tax filers.
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Filing Due Dates
The New Jersey Division of Taxation requires all sales tax filing to be completed by the 20th of the month following the assigned filing period.
If your business is assigned quarterly filing frequency, you'll need to file by the 20th of the month following the quarter. For example, if your filing period is January 1- March 31, you'll need to file by April 20th.
Businesses that collected more than $30,000 in Sales and Use Tax in New Jersey during the prior calendar year, and collected more than $500 in the first and/or second month of the current calendar quarter, may be required to make monthly payments.
Here's a list of the filing due dates for New Jersey sales tax:
Shipping and Handling

New Jersey is one of the most populous states in the country, with a population of 9 million. This means many businesses have customers in the Garden State. If you're collecting sales tax from New Jersey residents, you'll need to consider how to handle taxes on shipping and handling charges.
New Jersey businesses with customers in the state will need to navigate these tax complexities.
Fulfillment by Amazon
If you're an active Amazon seller and you use Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), you need to know where your inventory is stored and if its presence in a state will trigger nexus.
FBA sellers can download an Inventory Event Detail Report from Amazon Seller Central to identify inventory stored in New Jersey.
You may have nexus and an obligation to collect and remit tax if you sell taxable goods to New Jersey residents and have inventory stored in the state.
Marketplaces are required by law to collect and remit tax on all marketplace transactions delivered into New Jersey.
Marketplace sellers may be required to collect and remit tax on sales made through other channels.
To understand your unique nexus obligations, check out a free economic nexus tool or consult with a trusted tax advisor.
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Shipping and Handling
New Jersey's large population of 9 million residents means that many businesses have customers in the Garden State.
If you're collecting sales tax from New Jersey residents, you'll need to consider how to handle taxes on shipping and handling charges.
New Jersey's densely populated areas can make shipping and handling more complex for businesses.
To navigate these complexities, you'll need to carefully consider how to apply sales tax to shipping and handling charges for customers in the state.
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Amazon and New Jersey
Amazon and New Jersey have a long history of negotiations, with the state trying to get the online retailer to collect sales tax from its customers.
In 2013, Amazon agreed to start collecting a 7 percent state sales tax on orders from New Jersey residents, with the state expecting to bring in $30 million to $40 million in revenue.
This deal was part of a larger agreement that also included Amazon building warehouses in the state, creating thousands of jobs.
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Amazon had initially sought a two-year sales tax holiday, but that effort stalled in the Senate.
The agreement was seen as a victory for New Jersey retailers, who had long complained about the unfair advantage online retailers had in not collecting sales tax.
However, some critics noted that other online retailers might exploit the loophole left by Amazon's agreement.
The deal also included a federal bill to allow states to charge sales tax on purchases made from out-of-state retailers, which was seen as a step towards creating a more level playing field.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was a key player in the negotiations, and he hailed the agreement as a win for the state's economy.
The agreement was also seen as a way to bring in much-needed revenue for the state, with some estimates suggesting it could bring in tens of millions of dollars.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is sales tax 7% in NJ?
No, sales tax in NJ is 6.625%, not 7%. Learn more about NJ sales tax exemptions and rates.
Does Amazon charge sales tax in all states?
Amazon collects sales tax in most US states, but not all, due to varying 'Marketplace Facilitator' rules. Check your state's tax laws to see if Amazon charges sales tax on your purchases
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