New Jersey penny rounding law
No statute. Taxation and Consumer Affairs: rounding is voluntary, applies to the final cash total, must be disclosed, and does not change sales tax. A5233 passed the Assembly.
Short answer. New Jersey has no rounding statute yet, but two state agencies say rounding to the nearest nickel is voluntary and allowed if it is applied to the final cash total and clearly disclosed. A bill to write it into law passed the Assembly in September 2026.
New Jersey cash rounding calculator
Enter a cash total, or item prices plus your sales tax rate. The result updates as you type.
New Jersey law and bills
A5233 (Assembly members Freiman, Karabinchak and Calabrese), “Allows rounding for cash transactions,” was introduced June 8, 2026, amended in committee on September 17, and passed the Assembly 62-4-9 on September 24, 2026. It was received in the Senate on September 28 and referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. Its Senate companion, S3977 (Sen. Robert Singer), was advanced by the Senate Commerce Committee in May 2026. As reported, the bill would allow optional symmetric rounding of cash totals to the nearest 5¢, with penalties for a business that adopts the rules and then breaks them. The Legislature’s 2026–2027 session continues, so the bill remains alive.
What New Jersey agencies say
Division of Taxation, “Cash Transaction Rounding Guidance Due to Penny Supply Changes” (updated January 9, 2026): rounding applies only to the final cash total after taxes and fees, sales tax is due on the actual price, and for corporation business tax and gross income tax, rounding up adds to receipts while rounding down reduces them.
Division of Consumer Affairs, “Consumer and Business Advisory: Pennies and Cash Transactions” (January 9, 2026): rounding up or down to the nearest nickel, after tax, is voluntary; any rounding policy must be disclosed clearly and conspicuously before the customer incurs a charge; totals under 5¢ need not be rounded down; and it offers a sample printable notice. The advisory is guidance, not a binding rule.
Can a New Jersey store round cash totals?
Yes, if disclosed. New Jersey has required most retailers to accept cash since 2019, so rounding is a way to keep taking cash, not a reason to refuse it. Under the Consumer Affairs advisory, post your rounding policy where customers see it before paying and apply it only to the final cash total. ShopRite publishes a nearest-nickel policy.
Federal law
There is no federal rounding rule in force either. The Common Cents Act (H.R. 10167) passed Congress on September 28, 2026, but as of October 31, 2026 we found no record of it being signed. If enacted, it would let sellers in New Jersey round cash totals symmetrically to the nearest 5¢ without requiring anyone to round, keep pennies legal tender, and protect sellers that follow its method from conflicting state or local rules. Federal status of the penny.
Your options as a customer
- Pay by card, debit, EBT or app. Those payments are charged the exact amount; rounding only ever touches cash.
- Pay with exact change. Pennies are still legal tender (31 U.S.C. § 5103). The Federal Reserve notes, though, that no federal law makes a private business accept cash or coins. New Jersey is different: state law has required most retailers to accept cash since 2019. Federal Reserve FAQ.
- Check the receipt. It should show the exact total and a separate rounding line, so you can see which way it went.
- Report a problem. If a store rounds every cash total up without telling customers, contact the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs: consumer complaints (800-242-5846). See also is it legal for a store to round up?
Sales tax
New Jersey’s sales tax rate is 6.625% (with a reduced rate in Urban Enterprise Zones), and most groceries are exempt. Tax is due on the actual price before rounding; the rounding difference counts for corporation business and gross income tax purposes. More on sales tax and cash rounding.
SNAP, EBT and card payments
SNAP and WIC benefits are paid electronically, so the EBT part of any purchase in New Jersey is always charged to the exact cent. Federal rules require stores to treat SNAP shoppers the same as other customers, so a store that rounds the cash part of a split payment should use the same rule for everyone. SNAP/EBT, cards and refunds.
Stores and local news in New Jersey
New Jersey 101.5 reported in December 2025 that ShopRite was dropping the penny and rounding cash totals as cash rounding came to New Jersey.
Rules in neighboring states
Shopping across the line? Rounding rules change at the border.
| State | Status | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| New York | Bill pending | A9274-A / S8580-A passed both houses (June 2026) and awaits the governor. It would require in-person cash totals to be rounded to the nearest 5¢ (4¢ or less exempt), 180 days after enactment. |
| Pennsylvania | Bill pending | HB 2388 (Pennsylvania Common Cents Act) passed the House 187-15 in June 2026 and sits in Senate Finance. It would require symmetric rounding of in-person cash totals. |
| Delaware | No law found | No rounding law or guidance found. Delaware has no sales tax, so rounding is purely a store pricing policy. |
Frequently asked questions
Is rounding to the nearest nickel legal in New Jersey?
Must a New Jersey store post a rounding sign?
Has New Jersey passed a penny rounding law?
Does ShopRite round cash in New Jersey?
Sources
- New Jersey Division of Taxation: Cash transaction rounding guidance (updated Jan. 9, 2026)
- New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs: Consumer and business advisory, pennies and cash transactions (Jan. 9, 2026)
- New Jersey Legislature: A5233 (2026–2027 session)
- FastDemocracy: NJ A5233 bill history
- New Jersey Senate Republicans: S3977 advances (May 18, 2026)
- New Jersey 101.5: ShopRite drops the penny as cash rounding comes to New Jersey (Dec. 20, 2025)
- New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs: consumer complaints
- H.R. 10167 (119th Congress), Common Cents Act, enrolled bill text (GovInfo)