Official Site of The State of New Jersey

E-File Individual Income Tax Returns

New Jersey offers two options for electronically filing resident and non-resident income tax returns: the Federal-State Modernized e-File (MeF) program and NJ Online Filing.

Electronic filing offers key benefits to taxpayers including assured delivery, online edits that reduce filing errors, improved overall processing time (from receipt to posting to the Division of Taxation’s system) and, in cases where a balance is due, the option to submit post-dated electronic check payments (defer payment for up to 90 days in advance of the due date).

You can take advantage of these benefits whether you file the return yourself or have a tax professional file it on your behalf.

State of New Jersey Services

The NJ Online Filing Service is for resident and non-resident income tax return filers. The service is free and most all taxpayers may use it. It allows filers to upload scanned copies of required financial documents and schedules, and provides e-check and credit card payment options for filers with balances due.

MeF

Filing Your Own Return

With MeF, you use vendor-supplied software or Internet applications to file. You can file the current year's return and/or returns from two (2) prior years. You will be able to file your returns whether you are expecting a refund, have a balance due, or no balance. The program accepts individual resident and non-resident income tax returns (NJ-1040 and NJ-1040NR) and fiduciary income tax returns (NJ-1041). It also accepts amended returns.

Companies that offer software for New Jersey returns must successfully test their products with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. While there are variations within each software package, the typical process for filing your own return electronically involves preparing and sending your return to the company. Once you have submitted your return to the company, the following automated events occur:

• The company forwards your return to the IRS.
• The IRS sends a notice back to the company acknowledging that they have received the return and indicating whether or not they have accepted it. If they accept it, the State return is made available to New Jersey.
• The Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services then downloads your return and sends a second notice to the company confirming receipt and indicating whether or not the State has accepted it for final processing.
• The software company sends all notices to you as they receive them. The returns may not be received at the same time. You may receive the State acknowledgment a day later.

If your State return is rejected, you may correct and refile it electronically, essentially through the same process outlined above. If your return is accepted, the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services forwards it to Taxation electronically for final processing.

The entire transmission and receipt confirmation cycle typically takes one to two business days.

Consult with your software company or tax service provider for details regarding their products and services.

See below for a list of software companies approved by the State of New Jersey.

Approved E-File Software Vendors

Filing With a Tax Professional

You may wish to utilize the services of a tax professional to prepare and submit your return using the same approved software products and processes described in the preceding section.

You can obtain additional information on MeF from the IRS online or by visiting your local IRS office.

Correspondence regarding New Jersey's program can be addressed to: State of New Jersey, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, e-Gov Services Unit, PO Box 191, Trenton, NJ 08646-0191.