KARCHER BILL TO EXEMPT ACTIVE-DUTY TROOPS FROM INCOME TAX ADVANCES

TRENTON - A bill sponsored by Senator Ellen Karcher which would exempt active-duty military personnel serving outside of the State from New Jersey's gross income tax was unanimously approved by the Senate Law, Public Safety and Veterans' Affairs Committee today.

"For those brave men and women serving our country on the front lines, we need to do everything we can at home to support them," said Senator Karcher, D-Monmouth and Mercer. "Our soldiers are sacrificing so much in the name of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and to ask them to pay taxes in support of services they are not here to use is ridiculous. When our servicemen and servicewomen are fighting the good fight, they should be exempt from income taxes back home."

Senator Karcher's bill, S-2571, would provide a gross income tax exclusion for all military compensation of military personnel serving outside of New Jersey. The exclusion would apply to any military personnel stationed or deployed out of State for more than six months in a calendar year. Senator Karcher noted that the bill is in direct response to concerns communicated to her by Paul Newell, an Oceanport resident, whose son, Paul, Jr., is stationed in Germany, but still pays a portion of his military wages in New Jersey income taxes.

"I really need to credit the Newell family for opening our eyes to this injustice," said Senator Karcher. "Paul Sr. began a letter-writing campaign, and through his efforts, we're pushing this bill through both Houses of the Legislature. I hope we can achieve swift approval, so our nation's military personnel are not punished with an unfair, unnecessary tax on their much-deserved military compensation."

The bill now heads to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, before going to the full Senate for approval. Identical legislation, sponsored by Assemblyman Mike Panter, is pending in the Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee.