Sales tax in Clifton, NJ is 6.625 percent. That’s the statewide New Jersey rate, and because New Jersey does not let cities or counties add their own sales tax, you’ll pay the same 6.625 percent whether you shop in Clifton, drive down to Newark, or cross into any other town in the state. There is no separate Passaic County rate layered on top.1State of New Jersey. NJ Division of Taxation – Sales and Use Tax
The rate applies to most physical goods, to specified digital products like downloaded software and e-books, and to a long list of services from auto repair to landscaping.2Justia. New Jersey Code 54:32B-3 – Taxes Imposed It’s calculated on the total sales price, and delivery charges on taxable items are included in that total.
What’s Exempt in New Jersey
Several categories of everyday spending come with no sales tax at all. You don’t need to show anything at the register; the exemption is built into how the item is coded.
Clothing and Footwear
Most clothing and shoes are exempt. Shirts, pants, dresses, sneakers, coats, and the everyday wardrobe basics ring up tax-free. The exemption does not cover fur clothing, accessories such as handbags and jewelry, or sport and recreational equipment, all of which are taxable at the full 6.625 percent.3Justia. New Jersey Code 54:32B-8.4 – Clothing, Footwear, Exemption From Tax; Definitions
Groceries
Food and food ingredients sold for off-premises consumption are exempt. That covers the bulk of a normal grocery run. The exemption stops at candy, soft drinks, and prepared food, so a restaurant meal, a deli sandwich made to order, or a bottle of soda is taxed at 6.625 percent.
Medical Items
Prescription drugs are exempt, and so are over-the-counter medications, prosthetic devices, diabetic supplies, durable medical equipment for home use, and medical oxygen. New Jersey’s medical exemption is broader than many states, where the break is limited to prescription drugs.
Professional Services
Fees to doctors, lawyers, accountants, and architects are not subject to sales tax.4State of New Jersey. New Jersey Sales Tax Guide Many hands-on services are taxable (car repair, dry cleaning, landscaping), but professional consultation generally is not.
A Lower Rate in Passaic and Paterson
Clifton itself is not an Urban Enterprise Zone, and some online resources get this wrong. The official UEZ list from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs does not include Clifton.5New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. UEZ Locations
Two of Clifton’s immediate neighbors are UEZ cities, though: Passaic and Paterson. Certified retailers inside those zones charge 3.3125 percent, exactly half the standard rate. Conditions apply. The sale has to happen in person at the certified business, and you must take delivery at that location or have the retailer ship it from the UEZ location. Phone orders, online orders, and catalog sales don’t qualify.6State of New Jersey. UEZ Requirements
For a big-ticket purchase like furniture or an appliance, that short drive can be worth it. On a $2,000 purchase, the difference between 6.625 percent and 3.3125 percent is about $66.
Online and Out-of-State Purchases
Most online shopping already has the 6.625 percent tax baked into checkout. Since November 2018, large online platforms have been required to collect and remit New Jersey sales tax on behalf of their third-party sellers. When you buy from a third-party seller on Amazon, Walmart.com, eBay, or Etsy, the platform handles the tax, not the individual seller, and this applies even when the seller is not registered in New Jersey.7State of New Jersey. TB-83 – Sales Through a Marketplace
If you do buy something from an out-of-state seller that doesn’t collect New Jersey sales tax, you technically owe the same 6.625 percent as use tax. This shows up most often with smaller online retailers, purchases made while traveling, and private-party sales. New Jersey residents report use tax on their state income tax return. If you paid another state’s sales tax at a lower rate, you owe New Jersey the difference. If you paid a higher rate elsewhere, you don’t get the overage back. In practice, marketplace collection has made use tax a rare issue for routine online shopping.