In an effort to incentivize businesses to reassign New Jersey residents who are working in another state to a New Jersey location, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority board approved the creation of a new program that will provide grants to companies to come back to the Garden State.
The $35 million New Jersey Reassigning In-State Employees, or NJ RISE, Program hopes to help firms relocate their New Jersey-resident employees and help redirect tax revenue to New Jersey by ensuring that residents’ income taxes stay in state.
“For far too long, other states have benefited off hardworking New Jerseyans, using their tax withholdings to fund budget priorities that grow other economies, and fund out-of-state priorities,” Gov. Phil Murphy said. “Through the NJ RISE program, we will be able to bring employee tax dollars back into our state, to support initiatives that make New Jersey the best place to live, work and raise a family.”
“New Jersey residents deserve to have their income taxes support projects in their communities, as opposed to funding another state’s coffers,” NJEDA CEO Tim Sullivan said. “Gov. Murphy has been committed to bringing more businesses to the Garden State, and the NJ RISE program will not only help incentivize companies to reassign their New Jersey employees back to their home state, but it will also increase economic activity and continue our efforts to grow a stronger and fairer economy.”
The NJ RISE Program is a pilot program that will provide grants to businesses principally located out of state that reassign New Jersey residents currently assigned to work in a state that employs the “convenience of employer” income taxation rule to work in a New Jersey location.
The grant is equal to the amount of New Jersey Gross Income Tax withholdings of the reassigned resident employees during one tax year of the business, not to exceed $500,000 in the aggregate per business. The sum of all grants approved will not exceed $35 million per state fiscal year.
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States such as Delaware, Nebraska and New York use “convenience of employer,” where an employee who resides out of state is taxed based on the employer’s assigned location.
“Anytime we can bring tax dollars back to New Jersey from a competing state is a win in my book,” state Sen. Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield) said. “The additional funding generated from NJ RISE will allow municipalities to support local projects and initiatives that benefit New Jerseyans, first and foremost.”
“This initiative represents another significant investment into our communities as we encourage businesses throughout the country to relocate their workers to the Garden State,” Assemblyman Chris Tully (D-Paramus) said. “I’m proud to have been the sponsor of the bill that created this program, to bolster our tax base, support our statewide economy and recruit and maintain talent here in New Jersey.”
Eligible businesses must have 25 or more domestic full-time employees and be principally located in another state. Applications for the NJ RISE program are expected to open later this year.
