# New Jersey Sales Tax Calculator Calculate New Jersey sales tax at the 6.625% state rate. Find out which items are exempt in NJ and see the total price on any purchase. ## What this calculates Calculate New Jersey sales tax on any purchase. NJ has a flat 6.625% state sales tax rate with no local additions. The good news: clothing, groceries, and many essential items are completely tax-free in New Jersey. ## Inputs - **Purchase Price** ($) — min 0 — The pre-tax price of your purchase. - **Item Category** — options: General Goods (Taxable), Clothing / Footwear (Exempt), Groceries (Exempt), Urban Enterprise Zone (3.3125%) — NJ exempts clothing, groceries, and OTC meds from sales tax. ## Outputs - **Applicable Tax Rate** — formatted as percentage — Sales tax rate for this item category. - **Sales Tax Amount** — formatted as currency — Sales tax charged on the purchase. - **Total Price** — formatted as currency — Final price including NJ sales tax. - **Exemption Savings** — formatted as currency — How much you save from the exemption vs. full rate. ## Details New Jersey charges a flat 6.625% sales tax on most tangible goods and some services. Unlike many other states, New Jersey does not allow cities or counties to add local sales tax, so the rate is the same statewide. This makes NJ simpler than states like New York or California where combined rates vary by location. The biggest perk for NJ shoppers is the clothing exemption. All clothing and footwear are completely exempt from sales tax in New Jersey, regardless of price. A $500 coat, a $200 pair of sneakers, or a $10 t-shirt all ring up tax-free. This exemption saves NJ residents hundreds of dollars per year and draws shoppers from neighboring states. Other exempt items include unprepared food (groceries), prescription and over-the-counter drugs, medical equipment, and disposable paper products. Prepared food, electronics, furniture, and most general merchandise are taxable at the full 6.625% rate. New Jersey also has Urban Enterprise Zones (UEZ) in designated cities like Newark, Trenton, Camden, and Paterson. Qualifying retailers in these zones collect sales tax at half the normal rate (3.3125%), which is designed to encourage economic development in those areas. ## Frequently Asked Questions **Q: What is the NJ sales tax rate?** A: New Jersey has a flat statewide sales tax rate of 6.625%. There are no local or county taxes added on top, so the rate is the same everywhere in New Jersey. The only exception is Urban Enterprise Zones, where qualifying retailers charge half the rate (3.3125%). **Q: Is clothing taxed in New Jersey?** A: No. All clothing and footwear are completely exempt from New Jersey sales tax, with no price limit. This includes shoes, coats, dresses, suits, and accessories like hats and gloves. Fur clothing, sports equipment, and costume wear may be exceptions. This exemption saves NJ shoppers about 6.6% on every clothing purchase and is one reason the Garden State Outlet malls attract visitors from neighboring states. **Q: Are groceries taxed in New Jersey?** A: No. Unprepared food and grocery items are exempt from NJ sales tax. This includes items like bread, milk, eggs, meat, produce, and canned goods. However, prepared food (restaurant meals, deli items, catered food), candy, and soft drinks are taxable at the full 6.625% rate. The distinction is whether the food is ready to eat. **Q: What is a New Jersey Urban Enterprise Zone?** A: Urban Enterprise Zones (UEZ) are designated areas in 32 New Jersey cities where qualified retailers collect sales tax at half the normal rate (3.3125% instead of 6.625%). Cities include Newark, Jersey City, Camden, Trenton, and Paterson. The program is intended to encourage shopping and economic development in these areas. Shoppers save the difference automatically at participating retailers. --- Source: https://vastcalc.com/calculators/finance/new-jersey-sales-tax Category: Finance Last updated: 2026-04-08