Tax Resources
Stay In Touch
More
Tax-Rates.org provides free access to tax rates, calculators, and more.
Donate BitCoin:
Donate BitCoin:
New Jersey State Excise Taxes 2024 - Fuel, Cigarette, and Alcohol Taxes
| Gasoline: 10.50¢ per gallon | Cigarettes: $2.70 per pack | Liquor: $5.50 per gal | Wine: 88¢ per gal | Beer: 12¢ per gal |
What is an Excise Tax?
An excise tax is a tax directly levied on certain goods by a state or federal government. The most prominent excise taxes collected by the New Jersey state government are the fuel tax on gasoline and the so-called "sin tax" collected on cigarettes and alcoholic beverages.
An excise tax is not the same thing as the New Jersey Sales Tax.
The New Jersey Sales Tax is collected as a percentage of the final purchase price of all qualifying sales, and is collected directly from the end consumer of the product.New Jersey's excise taxes, on the other hand, are flat per-unit taxes that must be paid directly to the New Jersey government by the merchant before the goods can be sold. Merchants may be required to attach tax stamps to taxable merchandise to show that the excise tax was paid.
Even though excise taxes are collected from businesses, virtually all New Jersey merchants pass on the excise tax to the customer through higher prices for the taxed goods.
New Jersey per capita excise tax
New Jersey collects an average of $419 in yearly excise taxes per capita, lower then 58% of the other 50 states.
New Jersey General Excise Taxes - Gasoline, Cigarettes, and More
New Jersey collects general excise taxes on the sale of motor fuel (gasoline and diesel), cigarettes (per pack), and cell phone service plans. Other general taxes, similar to excise taxes, may be collected on other items including gas guzzlers, transportation tickets, firearms, vehicle sales, tanning salons, and more.
New Jersey Gas Tax
49th highest gas taxThe New Jersey excise tax on gasoline is 10.50¢ per gallon, one of the lowest gas taxes in the country. New Jersey's excise tax on gasoline is ranked #49 out of the 50 states. The New Jersey gas tax is included in the pump price at all gas stations in New Jersey.
New Jersey Cigarette Tax
9th highest cigarette taxThe New Jersey excise tax on cigarettes is $2.70 per 20 cigarettes, one of the highest cigarettes taxes in the country. New Jersey's excise tax on cigarettes is ranked #9 out of the 50 states. The New Jersey cigarette tax of $2.70 is applied to every 20 cigarettes sold (the size of an average pack of cigarettes). If a pack contains more then 20 cigarettes, a higher excise tax will be collected.
New Jersey Cellphone Tax
28th highest cellphone taxThe average tax collected on cell phone plans in New Jersey is $8.87 per phone service plan, lower then 56% of the other 50 states. New Jersey's average cellphone tax is ranked #28 out of the 50 states. The New Jersey cellphone tax is already included in the service plan price you pay to your service provider, and may be listed as "Misc. taxes and Fees" or "Other" on your monthly bill.
New Jersey Car Tax
New Jersey collects a registration fee and a title fee on the sale or transfer of cars and motorcycles, which are essentially renamed excise taxes. Unlike standard excise taxes, however, the end consumer must pay the tax directly to the New Jersey Department of Transportation and receive documentation (registration and title papers) proving the fees were paid.
New Jersey Alcohol Excise Taxes - Liquor, Wine, and Beer
New Jersey collects special excise taxes on the sale of all types of alcohol, subdivided into specific taxes on wine, beer, and liquor (hard alcohol other then wine and beer). Alcohol taxes are sometimes collectively referred to as "sin taxes", which also include excise taxes on cigarettes, gambling, drugs, and certain other items.
Please note that the IRS also collects a federal excise taxes on alcoholic beverages, which are included separately from New Jersey's alcohol taxes in the final purchase price.
New Jersey Beer Tax
41st highest beer taxThe New Jersey excise tax on beer is $0.12 per gallon, one of the lowest beer taxes in the country. New Jersey's beer excise tax is ranked #41 out of the 50 states. The New Jersey beer tax is already added to the purchase price of all beer bought in New Jersey, whether in kegs, bottles, or cans.
New Jersey Wine Tax
24th highest wine taxThe New Jersey excise tax on Wine is $0.88 per gallon, higher then 52% of the other 50 states. New Jersey's excise tax on wine is ranked #24 out of the 50 states. The New Jersey wine tax is already added to the purchase price of all wine bought in New Jersey.
New Jersey Liquor Tax
26th highest liquor taxThe New Jersey excise tax on liquor is $5.50 per gallon, lower then 52% of the other 50 states. New Jersey's excise tax on Spirits is ranked #26 out of the 50 states. The New Jersey liquor tax applies to all hard alcohol (alchoholic beverages other then beer and wine), and is already included in the purchase price by the retailer.
New Jersey Excise Tax Deductions & Refunds
Can I deduct my New Jersey Excise taxes?
Unlike the New Jersey Sales Tax, excise taxes are not generally deductible on New Jersey income tax returns or on your federal tax return. However, the IRS occasionally allows certain excise taxes to be deducted for certain tax years.
- Vehicle Tax Deduction
- New Jersey sales and excise taxes on cars or vehicles bought during 2009 may be deducted once from your federal tax return. You cannot deduct excise taxes for vehicles bought during other years.
- Phone Tax Deduction
- You may deduct excise taxes paid on long-distance phone calls between the years of 2003 and 2006 from your federal tax return.
Can I get a New Jersey Excise Tax Refund?
While sales tax refunds are available for goods that are purchased in New Jersey and exported, New Jersey excise taxes paid on goods are generally non-refundable. Incentives may exist allowing certain state of federal excise taxes to be refunded on goods bought for specific uses, but such incentives change frequently.
Has this free tax information helped you? Like us on Facebook for useful tax tips!
New Jersey Excise Tax - References
- Tax Foundation, State Excise Tax Collections Per Capita, Updated 2009
- Tax Foundation, Gasoline Excise Taxes, Updated 2012
- Tax Foundation, Cigarette Excise Taxes, Updated 2012
- Tax Foundation, Liquor Excise Taxes, Updated 2011
- Tax Foundation, Beer Excise Tax Rates, Updated 2012
- Tax Foundation, Average Wine Taxes, Updated 2011
- Tax Foundation, Average Cell Phone Taxes, Updated 2010
