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Friday, April 24, 2026

New Jersey Treasury reports March revenues on target with 9.4% growth

The New Jersey Department of the Treasury announced that March revenue collections for major taxes totaled $4.321 billion, marking a 9.4 percent increase over the same period last year. The $370 million year-over-year gain keeps the state’s fiscal year-to-date (FYTD) revenues at $32.313 billion, tracking closely with annual targets.

The monthly growth was primarily fueled by a surge in the Gross Income Tax (GIT), though officials noted that much of the spike was attributed to a shift in the timing of refund issuances.

March GIT collections, which are constitutionally dedicated to the Property Tax Relief Fund, totaled $1.595 billion—a significant 43.9 percent increase over last year.

Treasury officials explained that while employer withholding and final payments saw genuine gains, the primary driver was a decrease in refunds paid out during March. A large tranche of Tax Year 2025 refunds was processed in late February rather than the traditional early March window, creating a year-over-year mismatch that inflated March’s net total.

While overall revenues are up, some sectors showed the impact of severe weather in February:

  • Sales and Use Tax (SUT): The state’s largest General Fund source dipped 2.4 percent to $883.5 million. Since SUT collections reflect economic activity from the prior month, officials believe February’s winter storms suppressed consumer spending.

  • Realty Transfer Fee: Revenues fell 8.4 percent to $31.3 million, with officials again pointing to storms as a likely cause for a temporary slowdown in home sales.

The Corporation Business Tax (CBT) experienced a notable decline, falling 19.9 percent in March to $368.5 million. On a fiscal year-to-date basis, CBT revenues are down 35.2 percent ($952.6 million), driven by elevated refund levels from prior tax periods and broader declines in estimated payments.

Conversely, the Pass Through Business Alternative Income Tax (PTBAIT) remained steady. Despite a minor 1 percent dip compared to a high baseline last year, collections totaled $929.8 million. FYTD, PTBAIT is up 8.7 percent, which the Treasury characterized as a “promising” result for the annual filing season.

Summary of major revenue sources (March 2026)

Tax Source March Collections Change vs. Last Year FYTD Performance
Gross Income Tax $1.595 Billion +43.9% +10.2%
Sales & Use Tax $883.5 Million -2.4% +2.4%
Corp. Business Tax $368.5 Million -19.9% -35.2%
PTBAIT $929.8 Million -1.0% +8.7%
Realty Transfer Fee $31.3 Million -8.4% +8.2%

The Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) saw mixed monthly results due to the March 1 prepayment deadline, falling 46.4 percent for the month. However, when combining February and March collections to account for payment timing, the IPT is up 7.4 percent over the same two-month period last year, with FYTD revenues up a robust 30.8 percent.

Overall, the Treasury reports that the state’s total major revenues remain $1.249 billion higher than this time last year, maintaining a stable fiscal trajectory heading into the final quarter of the fiscal year.

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