The Department of the Treasury, New Jersey, has announced the rate for the NJ CTC for the tax year 2025. If you are a resident of NJ, you can expect to get a refund of $1,000 for each child; for this, you have to file a state tax return by the deadline.
The state tax return filing process in New Jersey is likely to begin in late January 2026, the deadline for which is going to be April 15, 2026. By claiming the NJ CTC for the tax year 2025, you can get a refund if you have no tax liability or reduce the amount you owe significantly.
The initial NJ CTC refund will most probably be received in mid-February 2026 for the individuals who e-filed earlier and opted for the direct deposit. Read this article to check if you’re eligible, how much you can get, and much more.
Who can get the New Jersey CTC refund in 2026?
To check if you are eligible to claim the New Jersey CTC for the tax year 2025 in 2026 with your NJ state tax return, please check the listed points.
- You are a citizen of the US and live in New Jersey.
- You must have a Social Security number or an Individual Tax Identification Number.
- You must be responsible, i.e., cover expenses for at least one child who is under the age of 5.
- You do not have the filing status of married filing separately.
Additionally, it is mandatory that your adjusted gross income for the tax year 2025 should not be above $80,000.
How much can you get by claiming the NJ CTC in 2026?
By claiming the NJ CTC for the tax year 2025 with the state tax return, you can get up to $1,000 as a refund. Note that the refund is received only if there is no taxability or the amount is smaller than the credit you are eligible to get.
The credit amount under the New Jersey CTC depends on one’s adjusted gross income. Individuals with lower AGI can claim the maximum; refer to the listed points to check what you can claim.
- $30,000 or less: $1,000
- Over $30,000 but not over $40,000: $800
- Over $40,000 but not over $50,000: $600
- Over $50,000 but not over $60,000: $400
- Over $60,000 but not over $80,000: $200
Let’s understand it by an example. Suppose that you have a tax liability of $500, and your adjusted gross income is $35,000 for the tax year 2025. The amount you can claim through the NJ CTC is $800. The liability of $500 will be deducted, and you will get a refund of only $300.
What to do to get the NJ CTC refund in 2026?
To get New Jersey child tax credit refunds for the tax year, it is mandatory to file the NJ state tax return before the deadline, which is April 15, 2026. You can file it electronically or on paper; the e-filing will help you to get the refund faster.
After e-filing, you will have to wait at least 3 weeks to get your NJ CTC refund in 2026 as a direct deposit in your bank account, and in the case of on-paper filing, you have to wait at least 8 weeks to receive the refund paper check in your mailbox.
When to expect the NJ CTC refund in 2026?
The initial NJ CTC refund in 2026 is likely to be received between early and mid-February 2026. It is highly expected that the New Jersey State Department of Treasury will start processing the refund in the third week of January 2026.
If you are eligible to get this refund, it is highly requested of you to e-file early and choose the direct deposit; if you do so, you can expect your refund before February 15, 2026. If you file the state tax return around the deadline, you may have to wait a little longer to get it.
Disclaimer: New Jersey CTC Refund 2026 details are for informational purposes only. Official eligibility and payment dates are determined by New Jersey state tax authorities.