New Jersey Sales and Use Tax EZ Telefile System Instructions (Forms ST-50 Quarterly Return and ST-51 Monthly Remittance Statement) Do NOT Use for 3rd Quarter 2006 Rate Change Other Sales and Use Tax Returns The New Jersey Sales and Use Tax will be reduced in two The forms listed below cannot be filed through the Sales and phases between 2017 and 2018. P.L. 2016, c.57 decreases the Use Tax EZ File System. Taxpayers must continue to complete Sales and Use Tax rate from 7% to 6.875% on and after Janu- and file these forms on paper according to the instructions that ary 1, 2017. The tax rate will decrease to 6.625% on and after accompany the forms. January 1, 2018. • Annual Business Use Tax Return (Form ST18B). • Sales and Use Tax Energy Return (Form STEN). Filing Forms ST-50/51 by Phone Complete the EZ Telefile Worksheet, call the Business Paper less Telefiling System at 6093414800, and select “1” from Who Must File the menu for the Sales and Use Tax EZ File System. You will Every entity registered in New Jersey to collect Sales Tax or to be prompted to enter the information from your worksheet on remit Use Tax must file Sales and Use Tax returns and remit- your touchtone telephone keypad. (Note: For best results, do tance statements on a regular basis. The amount of tax due not use a phone such as a cordless or cellular phone that has for each filing period must be remitted to the State on or before a keypad in the handset.) The system provides stepbystep the due date of the filing. instructions and repeats your entries to ensure accuracy. When your return is accepted, you will be given a sevendigit confir- • Quarterly Return (ST-50) – All businesses are required to mation number as proof that your return was successfully filed. file Form ST50 for each quarter, even if no tax is due and/or The tele filing system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a no sales were made for that particular quarter. The quarterly week. return must show total gross receipts for the entire three month period covered by that quarterly return. The quarterly Payments. The system automatically calculates the total payment does not have to be made at the same time the amount that you owe based on the information that you pro- ST50 return is filed; however, making only the quarterly vide. Be sure to enter all of the information that is requested payment does not satisfy the requirement to file the return. on the worksheet. (See “Instructions for Telefile Worksheet” on page 3.) Payments must be made electronically using either • Monthly Remittance Statement (ST-51) – Businesses that electronic check (echeck), electronic funds transfer (EFT), or collected more than $30,000 in New Jersey Sales and Use credit card. (See “How to Pay” on page 2.) During your phone Tax during the preceding calendar year must also file Form call you will have an opportunity to pay the amount due by ST51 for the first and/or second month of a calendar quar- echeck or EFT debit. You can also pay the amount due outside ter and make the required payment if the amount of tax due the telefiling system using a credit card or EFT (debit or credit). for that month exceeds $500. If $30,000 or less in Sales and Use Tax was collected in New Jersey during the preceding Identification. You will be asked to enter your New Jersey Tax- calendar year, a monthly remittance is not required, regard- payer Identification Number and either your 4digit Sales Tax less of the amount of tax due for that particular month. Personal Identification Number (PIN) or the first four characters When the amount due for any period covered by Form of your registered taxpayer name to access the system. ST51 is $500 or less, payment for that month may be remit- Note: For filing periods beginning on and after February 1, ted with the next quarterly return (Form ST50). Because 2016, if your business sells new or used boats or other vessels no taxpayers are required to file Form ST51 for periods in (including motorboats, sailboats, yachts, and cruisers) that are which $500 or less is due, there is no provision for a “zero” eligible for the partial Sales and Use Tax exemption (half of the monthly filing. applicable Sales Tax rate) and the $20,000 Sales Tax cap, you Taxpayers that are registered to remit payments by electronic cannot use the Sales and Use Tax EZ Telefile System. You must funds transfer (EFT) must make monthly payments of Sales file all quarterly returns and monthly remittance statements on- and Use Tax as required and must file ST50 quarterly returns. line and make the required payments electronically, even if your EFT payers are not required to file ST51 monthly remittance business made no sales that were eligible for the reduced Sales statements. Tax rate or the Sales Tax cap for a particular period. This packet contains four EZ Telefile Work sheets — one for More information on the partial Sales Tax exemption and the each calendar quarter. You will record both your monthly (if re- $20,000 Sales Tax cap is available on the Division of Taxation’s quired) and quarterly information on the same work sheet. The website at www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/boatbill.shtml. EZ Telefile Worksheets may be reproduced for future use. Cop- ies are also available online or by phone. (See “Where to Get Filing Online Information” on page 5.) You can also file your Sales and Use Tax Returns and Remit- tance Statements (Forms ST50/51) online at the Division of When to File Taxation’s website (www.njtaxation.org). Choose the “Busi- Both monthly remittance statements and quarterly returns are nesses” tab in the center column, select “File Business Taxes/ due by the 20th day of the month following the period covered Fees,” and then choose “Sales and Use Tax” to access the link by the filing. For example, a monthly remittance statement to the online filing application. EZ Telefile Instructions (2/17) 1 |
(Form ST51) for the month of November must be filed no Business Taxes/Fees.” Select “Sales and Use Tax” and then later than December 20, and a quarterly return (Form ST50) click on the link “File Online ST50/51.” Once you have entered for the fourth quarter (ending December 31) must be filed by your New Jersey Taxpayer Identification Number and PIN (or January 20. If a due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal business name), choose “All Other Payments – Deficiencies” holiday, the filing is due on the next business day. Returns and from the list, enter the month and year for which you are mak- remittance statements transmitted by 11:59 p.m. on the due ing a payment, and continue. Fees apply when you pay by date will be deemed timely. credit card. The fee is added to your actual payment. How to Pay Penalties, Interest, and Fees Payments made by 11:59 p.m. on the due date will be deemed Failure to file a return by the due date and/or failure to remit timely, even if the settlement date (date payment is debited any taxes due by the due date will result in penalty and interest from the account) is after the filing deadline, provided the pay- charges. Anyone required to collect Sales and Use Tax does so ment is made by echeck or EFT debit through the Business as a trustee on behalf of the State of New Jersey. As trustees Paperless Telefiling System, or by credit card. of the State, business owners, partners, corporate officers, and some employees of such businesses may be held personally Note: Echeck or EFT (debit or credit) payments made using liable for failure to collect the tax when required or for failure to an account that is funded from a financial institution outside the file returns and remit any taxes due on a timely basis. United States will not be accepted. Late Filing Penalties Electronic Check (e-check) The late filing penalty is 5% per month (or fraction thereof) of You will be given an oppor- the balance of tax liability due at original return due date not to tunity during your telephone exceed 25% of such tax liability. A penalty of $100 per month call to pay your tax liability by (or fraction thereof) for each month the return is late will also echeck. If you choose to pay be imposed. by echeck, be sure to enter the ninedigit routing number and the account number (up to 17 Late Payment Penalty characters – numbers only) in the Payment Information section The late payment penalty is 5% of the balance of the taxes due of the worksheet before you make your call. and paid late. If you choose not to pay the tax due when you file your quar- Interest terly return, you can make an echeck payment by itself in a The annual interest rate is 3% above the average predominant separate call later. However, your quarterly payment must be prime rate. Interest is imposed each month (or fraction thereof) made by the due date to avoid penalty and interest charges. on the unpaid balance of the tax from the original due date to the date of payment. At the end of each calendar year any tax, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) penalties, and interest remaining due will become part of the Taxpayers with a prior year liability of $10,000 or more in any tax balance on which interest is charged. are required to make their payments for all taxes by EFT. Other taxpayers may voluntarily submit payments by EFT with the Note: The average predominant prime rate is the rate as de- approval of the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. termined by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve You must enroll with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise System, quoted by commercial banks to large businesses on Services to pay by either EFT debit or credit. The enrollment December 1 of the calendar year immediately preceding the process may take several weeks. For more information on mak- calendar year in which the payment was due or as determined ing payments by EFT debit or credit, call 6092929292, write to by the Director in accordance with N.J.S.A. 54:482. New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, EFT Unit, PO Box 191, Trenton, NJ 086460191, or visit the Division Collection Fees of Revenue and Enterprise Services’ website at www.state. In addition to the above penalties and interest, if your tax bill nj.us/treasury/revenue/eft1.shtml. Taxpayers that are required to is sent to a col lection agency, a referral cost recovery fee of remit payments by EFT can satisfy the EFT requirement by mak- 10.7% of the tax due will be added to your liability. If a certifi- ing echeck or credit card payments. FED Wires or other wire cate of debt is issued for your outstanding liability, a fee for the transfers are not acceptable methods of EFT payments. cost of collection may also be imposed. If you are an EFT debit payer, you can initiate payments through the Business Paperless Telefiling System when filing. If you General Information choose not to pay the tax due at the same time you file your Lease Transactions quarterly return, you can make an EFT debit payment by itself in A lessor must collect Sales Tax from a lessee (person who a separate call later. EFT credit payers must make their Sales leases or rents property) on a lease or rental. For transactions and Use Tax payments as separate transactions outside the with a term of six months or less, Sales Tax must be collected Business Paperless Telefiling System. Your payment must be with each periodic payment. For transactions with a duration of made by the due date to avoid penalty and interest charges. more than six months, the tax due on the full term of the lease must be remitted with the monthly remittance statement or Credit Card quarterly return for the period in which the property was deliv- To pay your tax liability by credit card, call 8886737694 or ered to the lessee. The amount upon which the tax was calcu- go to the Division of Taxation’s website at www.njtaxation.org lated must be included in gross receipts on the quarterly return after you have completed your telephone filing and received (ST50). This amount will be either the original purchase price a confirmation number. When paying online, choose the of the property or the total of the lease payments. “Businesses” tab in the center column and then choose “File EZ Telefile Instructions (2/17) 2 |
Gross Receipts exempt from Sales Tax (e.g., sales of grocery foods, clothing, The accrual method of accounting must be used when report- etc.). ing gross receipts. Under this method, all receipts are reported in the period in which the sale took place, no matter when, or if, Exempt Sales of Services. Deduct total charges for services payment is actually received from the customer. that are not subject to Sales Tax (e.g., professional services, certain personal services, etc.). Report gross receipts from all transactions, including exempt transactions, that occurred during the threemonth reporting Exempt Occupancies. Deduct receipts from occupancies ex- period covered by the quarterly return (Form ST50). This in- ceeding 90 consecutive days. cludes, but is not limited to: Exempt Admissions. Deduct any admission charges to sport- • Sales of tangible personal property or digital property, in- ing activities where a patron was a participant. cluding the rental, storage, and use of tangible personal property or digital property. Sales Covered by Certificates. Deduct receipts from sales of property or services for which a valid New Jersey exemption • Receipts from parking, garaging, and storing of motor certificate or Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement Certifi- vehicles. cate of Exemption was accepted in lieu of tax. • Receipts from membership fees, initiation fees, and dues. • Receipts from lease transactions. Returned Property. Deduct the total sales price of taxable purchases returned by the customer. Include only the amounts • Sales of services. refunded or credited to the customer. Do not include: • Sales of prepared foods. • Sales Tax collected on returned purchases. • Room occupancy charges. • Returns that were not subject to Sales Tax. • Admission and amusement charges. • Amounts not included in gross receipts on any return. • Receipts from sales of less than $0.08. • Installment sales or other sales on credit made during the No deduction may be taken for returned property that has been quarter. or will be deducted as an exempt sale on any Sales and Use Tax return. Note: Businesses subject to Atlantic City Luxury Tax must include in gross receipts the “Total Gross Receipts” amounts Property Delivered Out of New Jersey. Deduct total sales of reported on Line 1, Column B of Form ST250 (Combined At- property that was shipped to an outofState purchaser by com- lantic City Luxury Tax/State Sales Tax Monthly Return) for each mon carrier, delivered to an outofState purchaser by the seller month of the quarter. in its own carrier, or delivered by the seller to an outofState purchaser through an unregulated carrier hired by the seller. Do Do not include in gross receipts: not include sales of property to an outofState purchaser if the customer took possession of the items in New Jersey. • Installment payments from installment sales or other sales on credit. Services Performed Outside of New Jersey. Deduct receipts • Sales Tax collected. from services performed outside of New Jersey. • Tradein allowances. Exempt Capital Improvements. Contractors may deduct Adequate records should be maintained showing separately all sales of services that result in exempt capital improvements to exclusions from gross receipts. real property. Contractors are required to obtain a fully com- pleted Certificate of Exempt Capital Improvement (Form ST8) Deductions from customers for such transactions. You may deduct the amount of all sales included in gross re- ceipts that are not taxable under New Jersey law. No deduc- Rounding Off to Whole Dollars tion may be taken for any amount that was not included Eliminate any amount under 50 cents and increase any amount in gross receipts on your return. Deductions may be taken 50 cents or over to the next higher dollar. Round amounts for only once. For example, if a deduction has been taken for an the quarterly gross receipts and deductions lines only. No other exempt clothing sale, you may not deduct the amount again as lines are to be rounded. a sale of property that was delivered out of State. Examples of exclusions and deductions include, but are not limited to: Instructions for Telefile Worksheet Sales Jointly Taxable by Atlantic City and New Jersey. Identification Businesses subject to Atlantic City Luxury Tax may deduct the New Jersey Taxpayer Identification Number. Enter your “Taxable Receipts” amount from Line 3, Column B of the Com- 12digit New Jersey Taxpayer Identification Number as it ap- bined Atlantic City Luxury Tax/State Sales Tax Monthly Return, pears on your New Jersey Certificate of Authority. If your ID Form ST250. number begins with the letters “NJ,” enter “6,” “5,” and the remaining 10 digits. (Note: If you do not enter your ID number Excluded Fees for Parking, Garaging, and Storing of Motor correctly, you will not be able to file.) Vehicles. Deduct charges for residential parking or employee parking provided by an employer. PIN/Taxpayer Name. Enter your fourdigit Sales Tax PIN (Per- sonal Identification Number) or the first four characters of your Exempt Sales of Tangible Personal Property. Deduct the registered taxpayer name. If you are entering your taxpayer sales of any tangible personal property that is specifically name, use only letters and numbers. Omit symbols and spaces. EZ Telefile Instructions (2/17) 3 |
(Note: If you do not enter your PIN or the first four characters of Line 2 – Gross Receipts for Quarter. Enter on Line 2 the your taxpayer name correctly, you will not be able to file.) total gross receipts (to the nearest dollar) from all transactions, including exempt transactions, that occurred during the three Contact Phone Number. Enter the area code and phone num- month reporting period covered by the return. (See “Gross ber of a contact person for the taxpayer. Receipts” on page 3 for more information.) If you had no gross receipts for the quarter, enter “0.” Tax Preparer’s Identification Number. If the return or remit- tance statement is being filed by a tax preparer, enter the Line 3 – Deductions. Enter on Line 3 the amount of all sales preparer’s ninedigit federal identification number or Social (to the nearest dollar) included on Line 2 that are not taxable Security number. This information will be requested during the under New Jersey law. (See “Deductions” on page 3 for more signature portion of the phone call. information.) If you had no deductions for the quarter, enter “0.” Return Information Line 4 – Amount of Tax Collected. Enter on Line 4 the FORM ST-51 – MONTHLy REMITTANCE STATEMENT amount of Sales Tax collected for the quarter. If you did not col- Complete this section if you are filing a monthly remittance lect any Sales Tax for the quarter, enter “0.” statement for the first or second month of the quarter. You are required to file a monthly remittance statement only if you col- Line 5 – Sales Tax Due. The system will calculate the Sales lected more than $30,000 in Sales and Use Tax in New Jersey Tax due and provide the amount to you. (The amount of Sales during the preceding calendar year, and only if the amount of Tax due may be greater than the amount collected.) Enter the tax due for that month exceeds $500. If you are filing a quar- amount stated on Line 5. terly return, go to “Form ST50 — Quarterly Return,” below. Enter on Line 6 the total amount of Use Line 6 – Use Tax Due. There are two monthly remittance statement sections on the Tax due for taxable tangible personal property or taxable ser- worksheet; one for the first month of the quarter and one for vices used during the quarter on which no Sales Tax was paid. the second month of the quarter. Complete the section that (For more information, see publication ANJ7, Use Tax in New corresponds to the month for which you are filing. Jersey.) Do not include here any tax due on lease transactions. If you Line 1 – Period Covered by Remittance Statement. The had no Use Tax liability for the quarter, enter “0.” twodigit number of the month (e.g., “01” for January, “02” for February) covered by the remittance statement is preprinted Note: Direct payment permit holders enter the total Sales and on this line of your worksheet. Enter the fourdigit year in which Use Tax liability on taxable purchases and uses during the the month fell in the boxes to the right of the month. quarter covered by the return. Line 2 – Amount of Tax Due. Multiply the total monthly tax- Line 7 – Total Tax Due. The system will calculate the total tax able receipts (gross receipts minus deductions) by the Sales due and provide the amount to you. Enter the amount stated Tax rate. Do not include in gross receipts amounts collected for on Line 7. Sales Tax. Enter on Line 2 the larger of this figure or the actual amount of Sales Tax collected for that month. Also include any Line 8 – Total Monthly Payments Previously Made. If you Use Tax that is due. Note: A monthly remittance statement can- have already paid part of your quarterly liability with a monthly not be filed by phone if the amount due is less than one dollar. remittance statement (Form ST51) for the first and/or second Monthly payments of less than one dollar must be included month of the quarter, or by electronic funds transfer, enter the to- with your quarterly return. tal of these payments on Line 8. If you did not make any monthly payments for the quarter, enter “0.” Line 3 – Penalty and Interest. Calculate any penalty and interest charges incurred for late payment and/or late filing for Line 9 – Quarterly Amount Due. The system will calculate the the month and enter the amount on Line 3. If you are unable to Sales and Use Tax balance due for the quarter and provide the determine this amount, enter “0.” The State will calculate the amount to you. Enter the amount stated on Line 9. If your total penalties and interest and send you a bill. monthly payments (Line 8) exceed the total tax due (Line 7), you may be eligible for a refund. (To obtain a refund you must Line 4 – Total Amount Due. The system will calculate the total file a Claim for Refund, Form A3730, which is available online amount due and provide the amount to you. Enter the amount and by phone. See “Where to Get Information” on page 5.) stated on Line 4. Continue completing the worksheet with the Enter “0” here and on Line 11 and continue filing the quarterly “Payment Information” section. (See instructions on page 5.) return. FORM ST-50 – QUARTERLy RETURN Line 10 – Penalty and Interest. Calculate any penalty and Complete this section when you are filing for the third month interest charges incurred for late payment and/or late filing for of the quarter. A quarterly return must be filed for each quarter, the quarter and enter the amount on Line 10. If you are unable even if no tax is due and/or no sales were made during that to determine this amount, enter “0.” You will be billed for any quarter. penalty or interest due. Line 1 – Period Covered by Return. The number that reflects Line 11 – Total Amount Due. The system will calculate the total the calendar quarter covered by the return (e.g., “1” for the first amount due for the quarter and provide the amount to you. quarter, “2” for the second quarter, etc.) is preprinted on this line Enter the amount stated on Line 11. If you have a balance due, of your worksheet. Enter the fourdigit year in which the quarter you must pay by echeck, credit card, or EFT. (See “How to Pay” fell in the boxes to the right of the quarter. on page 2.) You are not required to submit your payment on the same date as your telephone call, however, your payment must be made by the due date to avoid penalty and interest charges. EZ Telefile Instructions (2/17) 4 |
Payment Information Amended Returns If you want to pay by echeck, enter on the worksheet the Errors on monthly remittance statements (Forms ST51) are to ninedigit bank routing number, the account number (omit be adjusted on the quarterly return (Form ST50) for that quar- hyphens, spaces, symbols, and letters), the type of account, ter. Errors on quarterly returns must be corrected by filing an and the date you want the payment to be debited from your amended return. You may amend a quarterly return through the account. If you are paying by EFT debit during your phone call, Business Paperless Telefiling System or on line. If the correction enter only the account type and the payment debit date. The results in an overpayment of tax for the quarter, file a Claim for earliest date you may select is the next business day. However, Refund (Form A3730). To obtain Form A3730, visit the Division payment transactions initiated by 11:59 p.m. on the due date of Taxation website or call the Forms Request System. (See will be deemed timely, even if the settlement date (date pay- “Where to Get Information” below.) ment is debited from the account) is after the filing deadline. You can also pay by credit card or EFT (debit or credit) after Where to Get Information you have completed your telephone filing and received a con- By Phone firmation number. (See “How to Pay” on page 2.) Call the Division of Taxation’s Customer Service Center at 609-292-6400. Note: Echeck or EFT (debit or credit) payments made using an account that is funded from a financial institution outside the Online United States will not be accepted. • Division of Taxation website: www.njtaxation.org • Email general State tax questions: Signature and Confirmation nj.taxation@treas.nj.gov Signature. You are required to affirm and sign your return or Do not include confidential information such as Social Secu- remittance statement by agreeing to the following statement rity or federal tax identification numbers, liability or payment and then providing a voice signature: “I verify and affirm that amounts, dates of birth, or bank account numbers in your all tax information provided during this telephone call is cor- email. rect. I am aware that if any of the information provided by me is knowingly false, I am subject to punishment.” Your return or Forms and Publications remittance statement cannot be processed without this affirma- To obtain copies of the EZ Telefile Worksheet and Instructions, tion or a signature. Tax preparers filing on behalf of clients will as well as other tax forms and publications: also be required to enter their own tax identification number. • Visit the Division of Taxation’s website: Confirmation Number. After you sign your return or remit- Forms: www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/prntsale.shtml tance statement, stay on the line until the system assigns you a • Publications: www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/pubs.shtml sevendigit confirmation number. This number serves as proof • that your filing was completed. Enter the number and the date Call the Forms Request System at 800-323-4400 (within NJ, you filed your return or remittance statement in the boxes on NY, PA, DE, and MD) or 609-826-4400 (touchtone phones the worksheet for the appropriate period along with the name only) to have printed forms or publications mailed to you. of the person who “signed” the return or remittance statement. Note: Due to budgetary constraints, supplies are limited and your return or remittance statement is not filed until you only certain forms and publications can be ordered through receive a confirmation number. this System. Your confirmation number is your only proof that your return In Person or remittance statement was filed. Enter it on your worksheet Visit a New Jersey Division of Taxation regional office. For and keep the worksheet for your business files for four years in the address of the office nearest you, call the Automated Tax case of audit. Do not mail it to the Division of Taxation. Information System from a touchtone phone at 800-323-4400 (within NJ, NY, PA, DE, and MD) or 609-826-4400 or visit our If you file your quarterly return in one phone call, but make your website (www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/ot1.shtml). quarterly payment by echeck or EFT debit in a separate call to the Business Paperless Telefiling System, you will receive a separate confirmation number for the payment transaction. EZ Telefile Instructions (2/17) 5 |