This bill proposes to increase the New Jersey earned income tax credit from 40 percent to 50 percent of the federal earned income tax credit amount, effective for tax years beginning in 2026. The change directly affects New Jersey residents who qualify for the federal earned income tax credit, allowing them to receive a larger refundable state tax credit based on their federal eligibility. By amending the state tax code, the legislation ensures that eligible working individuals and families will calculate their state tax benefit using the new higher percentage.
This bill allows qualified veteran organizations to offer free post-traumatic stress disorder counseling to veterans and their family members through licensed clinicians. It requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to coordinate these efforts by recruiting clinicians, matching them with those in need, and maintaining a list of available providers. To encourage participation, the bill establishes a system where clinicians can receive a state tax credit for donated hours, capped between 20 and 40 hours annually, while also granting them immunity from civil liability. Additionally, the legislation defines key terms such as "clinician," "family member," and "veteran" to clarify who is eligible for these services and benefits.
This bill, titled the "End Data Center Tax Credits Act," sets a combined nine-year spending cap of $11.5 billion for various state tax credit programs, including those for economic recovery, arts, and manufacturing. It specifically reduces the amount of credits available under the Next New Jersey Program and directs $200 million of those credits to a housing agency through competitive auctions. Additionally, the legislation authorizes the Board of Public Utilities to issue tax credits for energy storage projects and creates a temporary income tax credit for certain residential electricity customers.
This bill creates a New Jersey gross income tax credit for volunteer first responders who pay for child care services. To qualify, a volunteer firefighter or member of an emergency, ambulance, or rescue squad must complete at least 150 hours of official work or training in a tax year. Eligible taxpayers can claim a credit equal to 50 percent of their child care expenses, with a maximum benefit of $5,000 per year. The legislation requires individuals to submit documentation proving both their volunteer service hours and the costs incurred for care.
This bill creates the ReadyReturn program in New Jersey, which allows the Division of Taxation to prepare initial income tax filings for low-income residents who typically do not file because their earnings fall below the required threshold. The program aims to help these individuals access the Earned Income Tax Credit and other benefits by removing barriers related to form access, document delivery, and filing complexity. Additionally, the legislation requires several state agencies to use existing tax data to streamline identification and enrollment for various social services programs, reducing the burden on applicants who must currently complete separate applications. The bill also includes an appropriation to fund these initiatives, with the goal of increasing tax compliance and improving access to essential safety net resources.
This bill creates a non-refundable tax credit for New Jersey residents who homeschool their children or dependents, allowing eligible taxpayers to claim up to $1,000 per child for qualified educational expenses, with a maximum total credit of $3,000 per household. To qualify, the taxpayer's gross income must not exceed $150,000, and the credit applies to expenses such as textbooks, educational software, curriculum rentals, and library memberships, while excluding items like furniture, basic school supplies, and internet fees. Married couples filing separately can each claim half of the total credit amount for jointly incurred expenses, and the credit can only be applied to reduce tax liability to zero, not result in a refund. The legislation takes effect for taxable years beginning on or after January 1 following its enactment.
This bill creates a program in New Jersey that offers tax credits to companies that contribute money to a student loan fund for residents attending in-state colleges. Companies that make contributions of at least $10,000 can receive an immediate 50% tax credit, plus an additional credit of up to 50% over time as they hire graduates who use the program loans. The program is designed to help businesses recruit and retain local college graduates by funding their education and then paying back portions of those loans when the employees work for the contributing company.
This bill increases benefit amounts and expands eligibility for New Jersey's Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program, directly affecting low-to-moderate income residents of the state. It raises the percentage of the federal EITC that New Jersey matches, increasing the credit rate to 45% for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. The legislation also allows individuals aged 18 and older who cannot claim a qualifying child for the federal EITC due to age restrictions to still qualify for the state credit, and it permits married taxpayers who are victims of domestic abuse to file separately without meeting the usual joint filing requirement.
This bill creates a state tax credit for healthcare professionals who supervise nursing students in clinical training programs. Eligible preceptors, including advanced practice nurses, physicians, and physician assistants, can claim up to $1,000 for each student they primarily supervise, provided they complete at least 100 clinical hours of instruction during the tax year. The program is funded through a $10 million annual appropriation to the Department of Treasury and includes administrative rules for verifying student supervision through nursing school certification forms.
This bill creates a state income tax credit for child care staff and registered family day care providers in New Jersey to help offset low wages in the industry. It allows eligible workers who have been employed for at least six months to receive a tax credit ranging from $500 to $1,500 depending on their annual income and the ages of children they care for. The credit is calculated based on income brackets, with lower-income workers receiving higher amounts, and provides refunds for those whose tax liability is reduced to zero. To qualify, employees must spend at least half their time directly supervising children under 30 months old to receive the maximum credit for that age group. The legislation also specifies how any unused credit amounts can be refunded or carried forward to the next tax year.
