New Jersey sales tax at a glance
New Jersey's typical combined rate of 6.6% ranks 30th highest among the 50 states. New Jersey has no general local sales taxes, and sellers in designated Urban Enterprise Zones charge half the state rate (3.3125%). Clothing is exempt.
What sales tax adds at the register
At the average combined rate of 6.6%:
| Price | Sales tax | Total |
|---|---|---|
| $25 | $1.65 | $26.65 |
| $100 | $6.60 | $106.60 |
| $500 | $33.00 | $533.00 |
| $2,000 | $132.00 | $2,132.00 |
New Jersey vs. the national average and its neighbors
The average combined state-and-local sales tax across the 50 states is about 6.66%. New Jersey's 6.6% is 0.06 points below that — on a $30,000 car, about $18 less than the national average buyer pays. Combined with a graduated income tax topping out at 10.75%, that shapes how New Jersey funds itself — see the New Jersey paycheck calculator for the payroll side.
Border shopping is real: here's what the same purchases cost across state lines, at each state's average combined rate.
| State | Combined rate | Tax on $250 | Tax on $30,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 6.6% | $16.50 | $1,980 |
| Delaware | 0% | $0.00 | $0 |
| Pennsylvania | 6.34% | $15.85 | $1,902 |
| New York | 8.54% | $21.35 | $2,562 |
Vehicle purchases are usually taxed by the state where the car is registered, not where it's bought — so the car column shows the rate you'd owe as a resident, not a border-shopping opportunity.
Reading a New Jersey receipt
A New Jersey receipt typically shows tax as a single line at the combined rate, even though it all goes to the state. To check a receipt: multiply the taxable subtotal by 0.0660 (the 6.6% average) — if the tax line is meaningfully higher, you're in a locality above the average, up to 9.94%; if lower, some items were exempt (groceries and prescriptions are exempt or reduced in most states). The reverse mode on the calculator above recovers the pre-tax price from any total.
Frequently asked questions
+What is the sales tax in New Jersey in 2026?
New Jersey charges a single statewide rate of 6.625% with no local sales taxes, so every purchase in the state is taxed the same. New Jersey has no general local sales taxes, and sellers in designated Urban Enterprise Zones charge half the state rate (3.3125%). Clothing is exempt.
+How do I calculate New Jersey sales tax backwards from a total?
Divide the total by 1 plus the rate as a decimal. At 6.6%, a $106.60 total means a $100.00 price and $6.60 tax. Choose "Total after tax (reverse)" above to do it automatically.
+Do online orders charge New Jersey sales tax?
Yes. Since the Wayfair decision, large online sellers must collect New Jersey sales tax based on your delivery address — the same state rate you'd pay in a store.
+How much is sales tax on a $30,000 car in New Jersey?
About $1,980 at the 6.6% average combined rate ($1,988 at the 6.625% state rate alone). Vehicle tax is generally assessed by your state of registration and collected when you title the car; some states cap or exempt private-party sales.
+How does New Jersey's sales tax compare nationally?
New Jersey's 6.6% average combined rate ranks 30th highest of the 50 states, versus a national average of about 6.66%.
+Is the rate the same everywhere in New Jersey?
Yes — New Jersey is one of the states with a uniform statewide rate and no local add-ons.
Rates as of July 1, 2026, from state revenue departments compiled by the Tax Foundation; local averages are population-weighted. Product exemptions (groceries, clothing, medicine) vary by state. Estimates only — see our terms.