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PAYROLL TAX REGISTRATION

New Jersey payroll tax registration

What to set up in New Jersey before the first payroll, in date order, with each agency, online portal and deadline. Enter the first employee's start date and the first pay date to see the dates.

Facts checked on October 5, 2026 against the official sources listed at the end of this page. For employers. General information, not legal or tax advice: confirm a deadline with the agency before you rely on it.

Setup steps before the first payroll

  1. Workers' comp

    Get workers' compensation coverage

    Deadline
    Before anyone starts work
    Workers' comp in New Jersey (Worklio Insurance) (opens in a new tab)
    Source
    www.nj.gov/labor/workerscompensation/employer-requirements/ (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
  2. Posters

    Put up the NJDOL employer poster packet

    Deadline
    Before the first employee starts work
    Online
    www.nj.gov/labor/wageandhour/tools-resources/forms-publications/employer-poster-packet/index.shtml (opens in a new tab)
    Source
    www.nj.gov/labor/wageandhour/tools-resources/forms-publications/employer-poster-packet/index.shtml (opens in a new tab), checked October 5, 2026
  3. State tax accounts

    File Form NJ-REG online (registers withholding and UI, TDI and FLI contributions)

    Deadline
    Before the first payday
    Agency
    Withholding: New Jersey Division of Taxation (opens in a new tab)
    Online
    www.njportal.com/DOR/BusinessRegistration/Home/FirstStep (opens in a new tab)
    Returns
    Quarterly Form NJ-927 by the 30th of the month after the quarter, even with no tax withheld; monthly payments on Form NJ-500 for the first and/or second month of a quarter when more than $500 was withheld in that month.
    Agency
    Unemployment: New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Employer Accounts (opens in a new tab)
    Online
    www.njportal.com/DOR/BusinessRegistration/Home/FirstStep (opens in a new tab)
    Source
    www.nj.gov/treasury/revenue/gettingregistered.shtml (opens in a new tab), checked October 5, 2026
  4. Date depends on the deadline below
    Local taxes

    In Newark or Jersey City, register for the city payroll tax

    Deadline
    Before the first quarterly city return (Newark: the 30th day after the quarter; Jersey City: April 30, July 31, October 31, January 31)
    Newark payroll tax (employer-paid, 1% of wages for services in Newark; 0.5% if more than 50% of the workforce are Newark residents)
    City of Newark: online Payroll Tax Registration Form linked from the Payroll Tax page; quarterly returns 'due by the 30th day following the end of each quarter (April, July, October, and January)' www.newarknj.gov/647/Payroll-Tax (opens in a new tab)
    Jersey City payroll tax (employer-paid, 1% of gross payroll; employers with quarterly gross payroll under $2,500 exempt; Jersey City residents' wages exempt; may not be withheld from employees)
    City of Jersey City: 'you must register your business AND file a return'; 'Registration is only required once', online (apps.hlssystems.com/JerseyCity/FilePayrollTax (opens in a new tab)); returns and payments due April 30, July 31, October 31 and January 31 www.jerseycitynj.gov/cityhall/finance/taxes/payrolltaxfaq (opens in a new tab)
    Source
    www.newarknj.gov/647/Payroll-Tax (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
  5. New hire reporting

    Report each new hire to the state new hire registry

    Deadline
    Within 20 days of the hire dateCounted here from the start date; report sooner if the employee was hired before it.
    Agency
    New Jersey Child Support Employer Services Portal (opens in a new tab)
    Online
    njcsesp.com (opens in a new tab)
    Source
    njcsesp.com/reporting_fundamentals (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
  6. State tax accounts

    File the first quarterly unemployment tax and wage report

    Deadline
    NJ-927 and WR-30 with payment by the 30th of the month after the quarter: April 30, July 30, October 30, January 30.January 30, 2027 is a Saturday; whether New Jersey moves it to the next business day is not confirmed.
    Rates
    New Jersey payroll tax rates
    Source
    www.nj.gov/labor/ea/employer-services/rate-info/ (opens in a new tab), checked October 5, 2026

Federal dates for this pay date

Federal returns follow the compliance calendar, which dates them for every employer:

A 501(c)(3) organization generally owes no FUTA tax and files no Form 940 (Form 940 instructions (opens in a new tab)).

Also in New Jersey

More on New Jersey

WORKLIO HCM

Hiring in a new state? We help open the accounts.

We help open state withholding and unemployment accounts when you hire somewhere new, and our registration service can register your employer tax accounts for you: withholding, unemployment and paid leave contributions where the state's tax agency collects them. After that, Worklio HCM calculates, deposits and files your payroll taxes in every state and locality, new-hire state reporting is automatic, and rates and rules update without you noticing.

Registration in other states

Sources

The agency page or document behind each fact, as checked.

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm current requirements with the relevant agency or your advisor. You remain responsible for registering and for your employment taxes.

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