NJ Bill Would Exempt Baby Cribs, Strollers From Sales Tax

NEW JERSEY — It’s time to stop making New Jersey residents pay sales tax on cribs, strollers and some other crucial baby care items, a pair of New Jersey lawmakers say.

Sens. Kristin Corrado (NJ-40) and Owen Henry (NJ-12) recently cheered the advancement of S-3248 in the state Legislature. Read the full text here.

Currently, the purchases of cribs, child restraint systems, nursing bottles and strollers are subject to New Jersey’s 6.625 percent sales tax. If it becomes law, the bill would exempt these items from the tax to help reduce the costs of caring for an infant.

The bill cleared the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee on June 20 and was referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, where it will face further review.

The bill’s two Republican sponsors pointed out that New Jersey exempted diapers and baby formula from the state sales tax decades ago. Now it’s time to take another look, they say.

“The joy of welcoming a child for new parents can be stressful and expensive, as families work to make ends meet during the State’s affordability crisis,” Corrado said. “Exempting baby necessities from the state sales tax is the least we can do to make life a little easier for new parents and families across the Garden State.”

Henry said the bill – his first to advance out of committee – will help New Jersey families cope with the rising cost of living.

“This is a commonsense change to the state sales tax law, as many other critical care items are already exempt from the tax,” Henry said.

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