As of June 1st, 2023, employers hiring teenagers must register online to receive a unique 8-digit code and share that code with every minor they intend to hire. The potential hire can then visit the website to create an account and start their working papers application, entering the employer's unique code. Caregivers must review the details of the job and provide proof of the minor’s age. The NJ Department of Labor will notify the business once the application is approved.

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New Jersey businesses that file Corporation Business Tax or Insurance Premiums Tax can bid for tax credits at a discount of up to 15 percent at a tax credit auction now underway. The Food Desert Relief Tax Credit Auction will fund programs aimed to improve and increase access to healthy and affordable food throughout New Jersey's 50 Food Desert Communities (FDCs).

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A recently passed law made a series of technical corrections, clarifications, and changes to the Corporation Business Tax Act (CBT) and Gross Income Tax Act (GIT). A series of Technical Bulletins from the Division of Taxation summarizes the new requirements and categorizes them by effective date.

Companies with social equity designation can begin applying for recreational cannabis wholesale, distribution, and delivery licenses on September 27^th, 2023 at 9 a.m.  Applications will open for Diversely-owned businesses on December 27^th 2023 and to the wider public on March 27^th , 2024.

Learn to protect your business against electronic theft and other cyber threats at "Small Business, Big Threats: Together for a Cyber Resilient Tomorrow," a webinar on September 21st, 2023 at noon. The webinar, presented by the New Jersey Business Action Center, will help attendees understand the cyber threats businesses face, such as phishing/smishing, ransomware, and more.

Connect and network with State agencies, technical assistance providers, and lenders to grow your business by attending Resources for Growth, a free event on September 27th, 2023 from 1-5 p.m. at Stockton University in Galloway. Attendees can meet one-on-one with representatives of the New Jersey Business Action Center, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Department of the Treasury, the Board of Public Utilities, the Small Business Development Center, and others.

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A recorded webinar from New Jersey Clean Communities and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection explains the inspection process the State uses to ensure compliance with the plastic bag and straw ban at New Jersey businesses. For questions please call 1-800-537-7397(1-800-JERSEY-7).

Members of the business community and the general public who want help with online business services can watch a new series of videos from the Treasury. The videos offer guidance on a range of business related subjects, ranging from business formation through business status and certification reporting.

Banking corporations and financial business corporations that are separate filers will soon need to use Form CBT-100 to file their returns. Form BFC-1 is being discontinued. The discontinuation of Form BFC-1 does not impact combined filers.

Businesses in New Jersey must comply with rules and regulations, but under a new law that takes effect on June 19th, 2023, state agencies can suspend enforcement of penalties on certain first-time violations at their discretion. Penalties may be suspended only if the first-time violation doesn’t impact public welfare, cause employees to lose income or benefits, or present the risk of environmental harm. The temporary waiver provided under this new law is available to businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees and subject to several important exceptions, including:

1. Violations of a criminal nature
2. Violations that were intentional or knowing acts
3. Violations that are grounds for the suspension or revocation of the owner’s authority to operate the business
4. Violations that are grounds for the business to be disqualified from bidding for State contracts
5. Violations of any State employment or labor-related law
6. Violations that are grounds for the issuance of a stop-work order
7. Violations of federal law that require the State to impose a penalty

If none of these apply to the first-time violation, agencies have the discretion to give the cited business up to 60 days to “cure,” or resolve, the violation. Failure to cure or resolve the violation will result in the business being assessed all fines and penalties available under the law upon the expiration of the cure period.

If your business has been cited for a first-time violation and you believe that it is eligible for a cure, contact the agency that issued the violation. State agencies will report annually on how they are using this discretionary authority.

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