The New Jersey Division of Taxation is reminding taxpayers and practitioners that for the 2021 tax filing season, the New Jersey’s Earned Income Tax Credit (NJEITC) is 40% of the federal credit, following three annual increases under a 2018 law. Additionally, legislation signed as part of last year’s budget lowered the minimum age eligibility for the EITC from 21 to 18 and to those 65 and older without dependents. This means that for tax year 2021, New Jersey taxpayers could receive a refundable credit of up to $2,691 with qualifying dependents or $601 without dependents. The maximum credit available for workers without dependents is nearly tripled from previous years in thanks to provisions expanding the federal EITC in the American Rescue Plan. To be eligible for the NJEITC, a taxpayer must: (1) meet all qualifications for the federal earned income tax credit, except for the minimum age requirement; (2) be a resident of New Jersey who works or earns income; (3) have a qualifying child or be at least 18 years old; (4) meet the income limits for their filing status; and (5) have a valid social security number for themselves, their spouse and any qualifying child listed on the tax return.
To read more from the Division of Taxation on the NJEITC, click here. Martin D. Hauptman, Partner in the Firm’s Tax Law and Trust & Estates departments is available to help navigate any questions you may have.