How to Register a Business in NJ: Formation, NJ-REG, and EIN

To register a business in NJ, you file with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES), part of the Department of the Treasury. The process has two core filings: a formation document that creates your legal entity, and a tax registration form called the NJ-REG. The standard filing fee is $125 for most entity types, and both steps can be completed online in a single session once you have the right information ready.1State of NJ – Department of the Treasury – Division of Revenue. Getting Registered

Pick Your Business Structure First

Your structure decides whether you file formation documents at all, and it shapes your tax picture and personal liability. The common options in New Jersey are:

  • Sole proprietorship. You and the business are the same legal person. No formation filing with the state, but you still complete the NJ-REG.
  • General partnership. Two or more people sharing profits and liability. No formation filing, but NJ-REG is required.
  • Limited liability company (LLC). A separate legal entity that shields members from personal liability. Requires a Certificate of Formation.
  • Corporation (C-Corp or S-Corp). Owned by shareholders, run by a board. Requires a Certificate of Incorporation.
  • Limited partnership (LP) or limited liability partnership (LLP). Partnership variants that limit liability for some or all partners. Both require formation filings.

If your business is already formed in another state and you want to operate here, you don’t create a new entity. You file a Certificate of Authority with DORES for the same $125 fee.1State of NJ – Department of the Treasury – Division of Revenue. Getting Registered

Check the Name Before You File

New Jersey requires every new entity to have a name that isn’t identical or confusingly similar to an active one. Run your proposed name through the free Name Availability Look-Up Service on the DORES website before you file anything.2State of NJ – Department of the Treasury – Division of Revenue. Check Business Name Availability

Sole proprietors and general partnerships operating under a name other than the owner’s legal name have an extra step: register the trade name with the county clerk’s office in every county where you operate. That is handled at the county level, not through DORES.3New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. Alternate Names Out-of-state businesses entering New Jersey under a name already taken here must adopt a “doing business as” name and list it on their registration form.4State of New Jersey. Register a Trade Name

File Your Formation Document

LLCs, corporations, LPs, and LLPs file a formation document before doing anything else. It’s called a Certificate of Formation for LLCs and LLPs, and a Certificate of Incorporation for corporations. Sole proprietors and general partnerships skip this step and go straight to the NJ-REG.

Your formation document needs to include:

  • The exact business name you confirmed through the availability search.
  • A brief description of the business purpose.
  • A registered agent: a person or company at a physical New Jersey street address who will accept legal documents on your behalf. You can serve as your own agent if you have a New Jersey address, or you can hire a commercial service.5Justia. New Jersey Revised Statutes Section 42-2C-14 – Office and Agent for Service of Process
  • The names and addresses of members, managers, or officers who will run the business.

Filing goes through New Jersey’s Online Business Formation Service at njportal.com. The fees are $125 for an LLC, for-profit corporation, LP, or LLP; $75 for a domestic non-profit corporation; and $125 for a foreign non-profit corporation.6State of NJ – NJ Treasury – DORES. Registry Fee Schedules You can pay by credit card or electronic check. Paper filings are still accepted, but the online portal gives you immediate confirmation.

Get a Federal EIN

Before you complete the NJ-REG, get a Federal Employer Identification Number from the IRS. It’s free, and if you apply online you receive the number immediately.7Internal Revenue Service. Get an Employer Identification Number

The IRS recommends forming your entity with the state before applying for the EIN. Apply too early and your application can be delayed. Sole proprietors without employees can use their Social Security number instead, but most banks and state agencies prefer an EIN even when it isn’t strictly required.

Complete the NJ-REG Tax Registration

Every business operating in New Jersey files the NJ-REG, regardless of entity type. This is how the Division of Taxation learns what taxes you owe and what forms to send you.8Business.NJ.gov. Register for Taxes If you filed your formation document online, the system moves you into the NJ-REG as the next step.

You’ll need:

  • Your EIN.
  • Your business start date in New Jersey.
  • Your six-digit NAICS code, which classifies your main economic activity and determines which tax obligations apply.
  • The tax types you’ll be responsible for, such as sales tax collection or payroll withholding.

The common registrations triggered by the NJ-REG are income tax on business profits, sales and use tax for businesses selling taxable goods or services, and payroll withholding for businesses with employees. If you indicate you’ll be collecting sales tax, the Division of Taxation issues a Certificate of Authority, which is your legal permission to collect sales tax from customers.9NJ Division of Taxation. Information for Vendors

Skipping the NJ-REG is not an option. You can’t file state taxes properly without it, and penalties compound quickly.10Business.NJ.gov. Register Your Business

Add Employer Registration if You Have Payroll

Once your business employs one or more people and pays at least $1,000 in wages during a calendar year, New Jersey treats you as an employer with obligations beyond basic income tax withholding. You file quarterly wage reports using Form WR-30 and pay contributions for four programs using Form NJ-927:11Department of Labor & Workforce Development. How and When to Register as an Employer

  • Unemployment Insurance (UI)
  • Workforce Development Fund (WF)
  • Temporary Disability Insurance (DI)
  • Family Leave Insurance (FLI)

The NJ-REG initiates this registration. Keep it current by filing an amended Form NJ-REG-C with the Division of Revenue whenever your payroll situation changes.

Your Business Registration Certificate

After DORES processes your formation document and NJ-REG, you receive a Business Registration Certificate (BRC), the official proof that your business is registered with the Division of Taxation. You’ll need it to bid on public contracts, apply for state grants, and qualify for state tax credits.1State of NJ – Department of the Treasury – Division of Revenue. Getting Registered

A paper BRC is mailed within 10 days. A digital copy is available for download from the DORES website starting two business days after filing.12Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. Business Records Online Service – DORES Site

Expedited Filing if You’re on a Deadline

DORES offers several expedited options on top of the base filing fee:13Legal Information Institute. N.J. Admin. Code 17-35-1.4 – Fees for Expedited Service

  • Same-day service, LLC filings only: $50 extra, submitted by 12:30 p.m.
  • 8.5 business hours: $15 extra.
  • Two business hours: $500 extra, submitted by 2:00 p.m.
  • One business hour: $1,000 extra, submitted by 3:00 p.m.

All expedited submissions must be filed during business hours on a regular business day.

Annual Reports Keep the Registration Alive

Registration isn’t a one-time event. Every LLC, corporation, LP, and LLP must file an annual report with DORES to stay in good standing. It’s due on the last day of the month you originally formed. Filed in March? Your annual report is due every March 31.14Business.NJ.gov. Taxes and Annual Report

Fees are $75 for a for-profit corporation, LLC, LP, or LLP, and $30 for a non-profit corporation.6State of NJ – NJ Treasury – DORES. Registry Fee Schedules Miss two consecutive annual reports and the state can void your charter or revoke your authority to do business in New Jersey. Reinstatement is possible but requires filing all missed reports plus back fees.15State of NJ – Department of the Treasury – Division of Revenue. Reinstate a Revoked or Voided Business

Local Permits and Professional Licenses Aren’t Included

State registration with DORES doesn’t cover local requirements. Most New Jersey municipalities require their own business license or mercantile permit, with rules and fees that vary by town. Check with your municipal clerk’s office about what’s needed locally.16Business.NJ.gov. Licensing and Certification Guide

If your business involves a regulated profession, from accounting and architecture to plumbing, real estate appraisal, or cosmetology, you also need a license from the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs before you can practice.17NJ Consumer Affairs. Licensed Professions and Occupations Some professional licenses take weeks or months to obtain, so check the Division’s list early if a license could delay your launch.