The State of NJ site may contain optional links, information, services and/or content from other websites operated by third parties that are provided as a convenience, such as Google™ Translate. Google™ Translate is an online service for which the user pays nothing to obtain a purported language translation. The user is on notice that neither the State of NJ site nor its operators review any of the services, information and/or content from anything that may be linked to the State of NJ site for any reason. -Read Full Disclaimer
In general, you will use the same filing status on your New Jersey return as you do for federal purposes. If you are not required to file a federal return, then you will use the same filing status on your New Jersey return that you would have used for federal purposes.
Partners in a civil union must file their New Jersey return using the same filing statuses that married couples use. Civil union partners cannot use the filing status single.
Single
Your filing status is single if you are unmarried or not a partner in a civil union on the last day of the tax year, and you do not qualify for head of household or qualifying widow(er)/surviving civil union partner status.
Married/Civil Union Couples
If you are married or in a civil union on the last day of the tax year, you and your spouse/civil union partner can choose to file as married/CU couple, filing a joint return, or married/CU partner, filing a separate return.
If you were a member of a domestic partnership registered in New Jersey, you are not considered 'married,' and you cannot use the 'joint' or 'separate' filing statuses.
Head of Household
If you meet the requirements to file as head of household for federal purposes, you can file as head of household for New Jersey. Certain married individuals/civil union partners living apart can file as head of household for New Jersey if they meet the requirements for federal purposes.
You also may qualify to file as head of household if you are no longer eligible to file as qualifying widow(er)/surviving CU partner, and you have not remarried or entered into a new civil union.
Qualifying Widow(er)/Surviving Civil Union Partner
If your spouse/civil union partner died during the year, you can file a joint return for the two of you as long as you did not remarry or enter into a new civil union before the end of the year. You can use the filing status 'qualifying widow(er)/surviving civil union partner' for 2023 only if your spouse/CU partner died in either 2021 or 2022, you did not remarry or enter into a new civil union before the end of 2023, and you meet the other requirements to file as qualifying widow(er) with dependent child for federal purposes.
Additional information is available in Tax Topic Bulletin GIT-4 , Filing Status.
Official Site of The State of New Jersey