Form NJ-W4: New Jersey Withholding Certificate Online

What is Form NJ-W4?

Form NJ-W4 is New Jersey's state withholding certificate, issued by the State of New Jersey Division of Taxation. The federal Form W-4 only covers federal income tax, so New Jersey employers use the NJ-W4 to set how much New Jersey Gross Income Tax to withhold: your filing status, an optional rate letter from the wage chart, your allowances, any extra amount, or an exemption. The current edition is dated 1-21.

The NJ-W4 has a twist most state forms don't: a wage chart. Married/civil union couples filing jointly, heads of household and qualifying widow(er)s can be under-withheld when two incomes push them into a higher bracket. The form's Instruction A chart matches your wages against all other household wages and gives a rate letter (A to E) that increases withholding to fit. Without a letter on line 3, those filers are withheld at Rate B.

FileIt lets you fill out the NJ-W4 online in a guided form. It pre-fills your name and address from the People records in your vault, looks up the wage chart letter for you from two numbers, and prints your answers into the Division's official PDF. The finished form is saved in your vault and can be sent for e-signature. FileIt never submits anything to the Division of Taxation or your employer — you hand the form to your employer yourself.

Who fills it: The employee (lines 1–7). The employer adds its name, address and employer identification number.
Given to: Your employer.
When: When you start a job with New Jersey withholding, when your situation changes, and every year if you claim exempt.
Signatures: The employee signs under penalties of perjury.
Edition: Form NJ-W4 (1-21).
Cost: Free to fill out on any FileIt account.

Who needs to fill out Form NJ-W4?

New employees whose wages are subject to New Jersey Gross Income Tax withholding.
Two-earner married/civil union couples filing jointly whose combined wages are over $50,000, who the form says should strongly consider the wage chart.
Heads of household and qualifying widow(er)s/surviving civil union partners with more than one job or source of income.
Employees whose filing status has changed through marriage, a civil union, divorce or the death of a spouse.
Low earners who meet the form's income limits and want to claim exemption from New Jersey withholding for the year.
Anyone who wants an extra dollar amount withheld from each pay to cover other income.

When to use Form NJ-W4

When you start a new job in New Jersey, together with the federal W-4 and Form I-9.
When your filing status changes, or when your spouse or civil union partner starts or stops working.
When your income situation substantially increases or decreases — the form asks you to resubmit a revised NJ-W4.
Every year you want to claim exempt: the form says an exemption is good for one year only.
When you realise too little tax was withheld last year and want to add a wage chart letter or an extra amount on line 5.

What you need before you start

Your name, Social Security number and home address.
Your filing status: Single; Married/Civil Union Couple Joint; Married/Civil Union Partner Separate; Head of Household; or Qualifying Widow(er)/Surviving Civil Union Partner.
For the wage chart: your expected yearly wages from this job and the total of all other wages in the household, including your spouse's or civil union partner's.
The number of allowances you plan to claim.
Any additional amount you want deducted from each pay.
If claiming exempt: an estimate of your wages plus taxable nonwage income for the year (and your spouse's or partner's wages if filing jointly).

What’s on Form NJ-W4

The 2021 edition has 2 pages. FileIt asks for it in 6 parts, and it is signed by Employee:

Line 1: Your detailsEmployee
Line 2: Filing statusEmployee
Instruction A: Wage chart (works out line 3)Employee
Lines 3–6: Rate letter, allowances, extra withholding, exemptionEmployee
Line 7: SignatureEmployee
Employer's name, address and EINEmployer

How to fill out Form NJ-W4, step by step

1 Line 1: Social Security number, name and address

Enter your Social Security number, name, street address, city, state and ZIP code. FileIt fills these from the person's record in your vault.

2 Line 2: Filing status

Check only one of five boxes. Box 1 (Single) and box 3 (Married/Civil Union Partner Separate) are withheld at Rate A. Box 2 (Married/Civil Union Couple Joint), box 4 (Head of Household) and box 5 (Qualifying Widow(er)/Surviving Civil Union Partner) are withheld at Rate B unless you choose a letter from the wage chart on line 3.

The form's note says that if you checked box 2, 4 or 5 and your spouse/partner works, or you have more than one job or source of income, and combined wages are over $50,000, you should look at Instruction A.

3 Instruction A: Wage chart

The wage chart has your wages down the left side and the total of all other wages across the top, in $10,000 bands up to over $90,000. Where the row and column meet is the letter of the withholding rate table that best reflects your situation. The rate tables themselves are printed on page 2 of the form.

The chart only adjusts for wages being taxed at a higher rate when combined; the form says it is not meant to cover other income — use line 5 for that. Single filers and partners filing separately don't use the chart. In FileIt you switch on the wage chart part, enter the two figures, and the letter is filled into line 3.

4 Line 3: Wage chart letter

If you chose to use the wage chart, enter the letter it gave you (A, B, C, D or E). Leave it blank if you're not using the chart.

5 Line 4: Total number of allowances

Enter the number of allowances you are claiming. The instructions warn that entering a number here decreases your withholding and could result in an underpayment on your return. Page 2 shows each allowance is worth $1,000 of annual wages ($19.20 for a weekly payroll).

6 Line 5: Additional amount

Enter any additional amount you want deducted from each pay. This is the place to cover tax on interest, a side business or other income that the wage chart doesn't account for.

7 Line 6: Exemption

Write "EXEMPT" here only if you meet one of the conditions: Single or Married/Civil Union Partner Separate with wages plus taxable nonwage income of $10,000 or less for the year; Married/Civil Union Couple Joint with combined wages plus taxable nonwage income of $20,000 or less; or Head of Household or Qualifying Widow(er)/Surviving Civil Union Partner with $20,000 or less. The exemption is good for one year only.

In FileIt you tick the box and "EXEMPT" is printed for you.

8 Line 7: Signature and date

You certify under penalties of perjury that you are entitled to the allowances claimed or to exempt status. FileIt prints the date; you sign by hand or with FileIt's e-signature.

9 Employer's name, address and EIN

The bottom row is for the employer's name and address and its federal Employer Identification Number. Your employer can complete it, or you can fill it in if you have the details.

Common mistakes to avoid

Checking more than one filing status box — the form says check only one.
Skipping the wage chart when both spouses work and combined wages are well over $50,000, which can lead to under-withholding at Rate B.
Using the wage chart as a single filer or partner filing separately; the form says those filers don't need it.
Expecting the wage chart letter to cover investment or self-employment income — use line 5 for that.
Claiming too many allowances on line 4 and ending up with a balance due on the NJ-1040.
Writing "EXEMPT" without meeting the income limits, or forgetting to file a new exempt form each year.

After you fill it out

Sign the NJ-W4 and give it to your employer's payroll or HR team. It stays with your employer; the form doesn't ask you to send it to the Division of Taxation.

FileIt keeps the finished PDF in the person's folder in your vault, so you can compare your withholding with your New Jersey tax at the end of the year.

Check your first pay stubs to see the New Jersey tax withheld. If your household income changes significantly, fill in a revised NJ-W4 — the form specifically asks you to.

Fill out Form NJ-W4 online with FileIt

Pick the person. Choose someone from People and FileIt fills in their name, date of birth, address and other details it already knows.
Answer plain-language questions. One part of the form at a time, with the official help text beside each question — 19 fields in all. Your answers save as you go.
Check the live preview. Watch your answers land on the real State of New Jersey, Department of the Treasury, Division of Taxation form, and let FileIt do any worksheet arithmetic.
Generate the official PDF. FileIt prints your answers into the agency’s own PDF and files it in that person’s folder in your vault. Sign it, or send it for e-signature.

FileIt fills the form — it never files or submits anything for you. Deliver the finished form to whoever asked for it, the way the form’s instructions say.

Start Form NJ-W4 now — it’s free

Form NJ-W4: frequently asked questions

What is the NJ-W4 form?

Form NJ-W4 is the Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate for New Jersey. It tells your employer how much New Jersey Gross Income Tax to withhold based on your filing status, wage chart letter, allowances and any extra amount, or records that you are exempt.

Can I fill out the NJ-W4 online?

Yes. With FileIt you can fill out the NJ-W4 online free. It pre-fills your details, looks up the wage chart letter, and prints everything into the Division of Taxation's official PDF, which you can download, print or send for e-signature.

Where do I send my NJ-W4?

Give it to your employer. The form is used by your employer to set your payroll withholding. FileIt doesn't submit it to your employer or the State for you.

Do I need an NJ-W4 if I already filled out a federal W-4?

Yes. The federal W-4 only covers federal income tax. New Jersey uses its own certificate for New Jersey Gross Income Tax withholding.

How do I use the NJ-W4 wage chart?

Find your wages in the left-hand column, find the total of all other wages (including your spouse's or civil union partner's) along the top, and read the letter where they meet. Enter that letter on line 3. FileIt does the lookup when you enter the two amounts.

What rate am I withheld at if I leave line 3 blank?

Single and Married/Civil Union Partner Separate filers are withheld at Rate A. Married/Civil Union Couple Joint, Head of Household and Qualifying Widow(er) filers are withheld at Rate B if line 3 is left blank.

Who can claim exempt on the NJ-W4?

Single or separate filers whose wages plus taxable nonwage income will be $10,000 or less, and joint, head of household or qualifying widow(er) filers at $20,000 or less, as printed on the 1-21 form. The exemption lasts one year; you must file a new form each year.

Is the 1-21 NJ-W4 still current?

The 1-21 edition is the NJ-W4 linked from the Division of Taxation's forms page as of September 2026. FileIt uses that official PDF.

Official sources

Blank form (PDF), published by State of New Jersey, Department of the Treasury, Division of Taxation: https://www.nj.gov/treasury/taxation/pdf/current/njw4.pdf
Official instructions and guidance: https://www.nj.gov/treasury/taxation/prntgit.shtml
Edition shown on this page: Form NJ-W4 (1-21) (checked 2026-09-26).

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by State of New Jersey, Department of the Treasury, Division of Taxation or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-09-26.