As summer reaches its end, New Jersey tax free week is heating up. It runs through Sept. 4 in 2023, aka Labor Day weekend.
New Jersey’s tax-free shopping week is actually a relative newcomer on the scene. It was first offered in 2022, giving shoppers a golden opportunity to purchase various back-to-school items and other essentials without paying sales tax. Before you join the hoards of shoppers in the crowded aisles, here’s what to know to save the most — and not get caught up in the fine print.
Don’t live in New Jersey? Check out other states’ tax-free shopping holidays for 2023.
When is New Jersey Tax-Free Week 2023?
New Jersey tax-free week in 2023 runs from Aug. 26 to Sept. 4. During this 10-day period (which makes it longer than most states’ sales-tax holidays), shoppers can enjoy the benefit of not paying sales tax on eligible items, making it an ideal time to shop, whether you’re sending a kid back to school or shopping for yourself. Plus, the timing is great — tons of Labor Day sales will be happening.
What is New Jersey Tax-Free Week?
The New Jersey tax-free week is a state initiative aimed at helping families and individuals save money on essential purchases while boosting the local economy. During this period, certain items are exempt from the state’s 6.625% sales tax. That’s not a huge discount in and of itself, but you can stack it with retailer coupons and back-to-school sales. The event is particularly popular among families with school-going children as it coincides with the back-to-school shopping season.
What’s Included in New Jersey Tax-Free Week?
New Jersey tax-free week encompasses a wide range of products that are exempt from sales tax during the event. Some of the key items included are (see a full list):
- School Supplies and School Instruction Materials: A variety of essential school and art supplies are eligible for tax exemption. Items such as notebooks, pens, pencils, backpacks, calculators, and binders are just a few examples of what falls under this category.
- Select Electronics: As technology becomes increasingly vital in education, New Jersey Tax-Free Week extends its benefits to certain electronic devices. Tax exemption applies to computers costing less than $3,000. Also, it applies to computing supplies under $1,000 per item.
- Sport and Recreational Equipment: This category includes goggles, mouth guards, dance shoes, athletic shoes, helmets and more. This category really stands out in New Jersey because most states do NOT include sporting equipment and clothing in their tax-free weekends and weeks.
What’s Not included in New Jersey Tax-Free Week?
While the New Jersey Tax-Free Week covers a wide range of items, not everything is eligible for tax exemption. It’s essential to be aware of what is not included to avoid any surprises during your shopping trip. Some items that are not eligible for tax exemption during this event include:
- Items Over the Price Threshold: Any single eligible item that costs more than the specified price threshold will not be tax-exempt. If you buy a computer costing more than $3,000, for example, the whole thing will be taxed, not just the amount over $3K. If you have a coupon or promo code that lowers the price at the point of purchase below the threshold, the item WILL be tax-free despite it originally being over the threshold. However, if you are trying to use a rebate or manufacturers’ coupon, that won’t work, as they require third-party reimbursement.
- Clothing: Most states include clothing and shoes in their tax-free weekends and weeks, but New Jersey does not.
Is New Jersey Tax-Free Week Online?
Yes. If your shipping address is in New Jersey, you’ll see sales tax from eligible items deleted at checkout. However, if the seller is in a different time zone, it’s the seller’s location that determines whether you’re shopping within New Jersey’s tax-free week time frame or not.
Can I Shop New Jersey Tax-Free Week if I Don’t Live in New Jersey?
Yes, if you travel to New Jersey, you can shop its tax-free weekend. Nobody’s going to be checking your ID at checkout. However, if you’re shopping online, you must have a shipping address in New Jersey.
The post New Jersey Tax-Free Week 2023: What to Know Before You Shop appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
