How many allowances should I claim in New Jersey?
On New Jersey's NJ-W4, a single filer with no dependents usually claims 1 and a married couple 2, plus one for each dependent. Each allowance takes $1,000 a year off the wages New Jersey withholding is figured on. On a $60,000 salary paid every two weeks, one allowance more than that raises each paycheck by about $2.35. Claiming fewer means more withheld now and a bigger refund later.
How to count your allowances on the NJ-W4
The NJ-W4 has no allowance worksheet, so most people count 1 for themselves, 1 for a spouse, and 1 for each dependent. Each allowance takes $1,000 a year off the wages withholding is figured on.
Two-earner households can pick a letter from the wage chart on the form to change which rate table is used.
New Jersey withholding by number of allowances
Single filer earning $60,000 a year, paid every two weeks, federal W-4 with no adjustments. The highlighted row is the usual count for a single filer with no dependents.
| Allowances | New Jersey tax withheld | Take-home pay |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $77.50 | $1,843.56 |
| 1 | $75.15 | $1,845.91 |
| 2 | $72.81 | $1,848.25 |
| 3 | $70.46 | $1,850.60 |
| 4 | $68.12 | $1,852.95 |
| 5 | $65.77 | $1,855.29 |
Married couple on one $100,000 income, paid every two weeks:
| Allowances | New Jersey tax withheld | Take-home pay |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $117.31 | $3,117.29 |
| 1 | $114.96 | $3,119.64 |
| 2 | $112.62 | $3,121.98 |
| 3 | $110.27 | $3,124.33 |
| 4 | $107.92 | $3,126.68 |
| 5 | $105.58 | $3,129.02 |
Should you claim more or fewer?
Allowances only change how much is withheld during the year. Your actual New Jersey tax is settled on your state return. Claim more than you qualify for and you may owe at tax time. Claim fewer and you get the difference back as a refund. If you would rather keep the count simple, most forms also let you ask for an extra dollar amount from each paycheck.
The federal Form W-4 dropped allowances in 2020, so your federal and New Jersey forms work differently. See how many allowances to claim and how to fill out a W-4. To see your own numbers, open the New Jersey paycheck calculator and set the allowances under the state form step.
More New Jersey withholding questions
Where is the wage chart on the NJ-W4 and how do you find your letter?
The wage chart is printed on the NJ-W4 itself, below the lines you fill in. Find the row for the total of your other wages, including your spouse's, read across to the column for your filing status, and enter the letter in that cell where the chart tells you. You only need a letter if you are a married or civil union couple filing jointly, or if you or your spouse has a second job. One earner with one job can leave it blank. The letter picks which New Jersey rate table your employer uses, so it raises withholding without changing your allowance count. A single filer earning $60,000 paid every two weeks does not need the chart: at one allowance, New Jersey tax withheld is $75.15 a check and take-home is $1,845.91.
Sources
NJ Division of Taxation, Form NJ-W4 and NJ Division of Taxation, Withholding Rate Tables (NJ-WT). Withholding figures come from the same 2026 formulas the calculator uses; see how we calculate.