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Start with what New Jersey says every business must do. The Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services states that all individuals or companies doing business in New Jersey must register. That covers businesses that withhold payroll tax, contract with a public agency, seek casino licenses or apply for a state grant or tax credit. Registration is the state's gate. A general license is not part of the steps we read.
Which steps does the state list?
The Business.NJ.gov registration guide says most businesses can expect to:
- Search for an available business name.
- Get an EIN from the IRS. Our EIN guide shows how.
- Form the business.
- Register for New Jersey tax and employer purposes.
Only an LLC, corporation, LP or LLP forms an entity with the Treasury. A sole proprietor or general partnership skips the entity filing. Our New Jersey LLC page covers the formation step.
What does tax registration give you?
After the form is processed you receive an NJ Tax ID. If you collect sales tax you also receive a Certificate of Authorization to Collect Sales Tax. The state says that certificate needs to be displayed in your place of business.
The Division's registration page names the form: Form NJ-REG, the tax and employer registration. The guide also lists what to have ready: your Entity ID, an NAICS code, sales tax collection information, the first payroll withholding date if you have staff, and your mailing and business addresses.
What is the Entity ID?
A 10 digit number that appears on your Certificate of Formation or Certificate of Authority. It identifies your corporate record. Corporate records are public. Tax records are kept separate and are confidential. General partnerships and sole proprietorships do not need an Entity ID for the tax form.
Where do you check a license?
We did not read a state license lookup for New Jersey, so we do not link one. To confirm that a company exists, use the entity tools described in our New Jersey guide. For a tax ID check, our state tax ID lookup page explains what is public.
What if you use a trade name?
A domestic LLC uses an alternate name, not a dba. A sole proprietor registers at the local clerk. The details are on the New Jersey DBA page.
What this page does not cover
Industry and professional licenses, local permits, zoning approvals and health permits are outside what we read. Ask the agency or the municipality that regulates your trade. We also do not quote any fee for tax registration, because the pages we read do not state one. Not registering for tax brings penalties and fees on taxes owed, so do not leave it for later. This is general information, not legal advice.