New Jersey Budget raises online gambling taxes by over 66%
Gov. Phil Murphy is proposing the state spend a record $58.1 billion in its next budget year, calling for a series of revenue raisers in an attempt to bridge New Jersey’s deficits but largely avoiding broad-based tax hikes whose impact would be widely felt ahead of November’s elections.
The proposal also calls for the state to raise tax rates on online gambling and internet sports betting to 25%, from 15% and 13%, respectively. Those changes would bring in an additional $402.4 million but would still leave New Jersey with online gambling tax rates below that of its neighbors.
New York, Rhode Island, and Delaware tax online gambling winnings at no less than 50%, and Pennsylvania — which has the lowest tax rate of New Jersey’s neighbors — charges a 36% tax on online winnings.
The plan proposes doubling a 1% tax on property sales worth more than $1 million to 2%, with a 3% fee for property purchases in excess of $2 million. Together, those changes are expected to raise an additional $317 million.
Murphy is also urging legislators to raise excise taxes on cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, and alcohol. Excise taxes are often imposed on manufacturers and sellers, who generally pass them along to consumers.
His plan would raise taxes on cannabis from $2.50 per ounce to $15 per ounce, raise fees to obtain firearm purchaser ID cards and related documents, and introduce a new excise tax on guns and ammunition.