How New Jersey taxes your paycheck in 2026
New Jersey uses graduated marginal brackets for 2026 - 1.4% to 10.75% (7 brackets) for single filers. You pay each rate only on the income that falls inside that bracket, after subtracting the $1,000 personal exemption. On a $60,000 salary with 5% to a pre-tax 401(k), 2026 New Jersey income tax works out to about $1,601.50 for a single filer.
| New Jersey at a glance (2026, single filer) | Value |
|---|---|
| State income tax | 1.4% to 10.75% (7 brackets) |
| Personal exemption | $1,000 |
| State tax on a $60,000 salary (5% 401(k)) | $1,601.50 |
| Take-home on $60,000 (biweekly paycheck) | $1,774.94 |
2026 New Jersey tax brackets (single filer)
Marginal rates applied to New Jersey taxable income - wages after the $1,000 personal exemption. Each rate applies only to income within its band.
| New Jersey taxable income | Marginal rate |
|---|---|
| $0 to $20,000 | 1.4% |
| $20,000 to $35,000 | 1.75% |
| $35,000 to $40,000 | 3.5% |
| $40,000 to $75,000 | 5.53% |
| $75,000 to $500,000 | 6.37% |
| $500,000 to $1,000,000 | 8.97% |
| Over $1,000,000 | 10.75% |
Federal taxes are the same in every state
Wherever you live, 2026 federal income tax uses the same brackets (10% to 37%, after the standard deduction for your filing status - $16,100 for single filers), the same federal Child Tax Credit, and the same FICA rules: 6.2% Social Security on wages up to $184,500, plus 1.45% Medicare on all wages and an extra 0.9% above $200,000 ($250,000 for joint filers). State tax is what makes a New Jersey paycheck different from one across the state line.
What this estimate leaves out
Worked examples on this page use the calculator's defaults: a single filer with no dependents taking the standard deduction for 2026. The calculator itself also supports married filing jointly, head of household and children under 17, including the federal Child Tax Credit and New Jersey's dependent breaks where they apply. New Jersey's refundable child tax credit for children under 6 at lower incomes is not included in this estimate. New Jersey withholds small employee contributions for unemployment, temporary disability and family leave insurance (a few hundred dollars a year for most workers) that are not included in this estimate. Health insurance premiums, HSA contributions, itemized deductions and other credits are not modeled.