NJ-1041: Fiduciary Income Tax Return (2025)
New Jersey · NJ Division of Taxation · Used for tax years 2025
Form NJ-1041 is the 2025 New Jersey Fiduciary Income Tax Return for estates and trusts. It reports income, distributions to beneficiaries, deductions, credits, and payments to determine the tax due or refund.
What you'll need
Have the estate or trust’s federal employer identification number (FEIN), the fiduciary’s name and address, and the income and payment information requested on the return.
Depending on what you report, the form calls for:
- Withholding statements: Enclose the statements supporting New Jersey Income Tax withheld on line 37.
- Schedules NJK-1 and NJ-K-1: Enclose the schedules requested for partnership income, S corporation income, and beneficiaries’ shares of income.
- Schedule E: All nonresident estates and trusts must complete and file this with Form NJ-1041.
- Business schedules: Use Schedule NJ-BUS-1 for business income and Schedule NJ-BUS-2 for the alternative business calculation adjustment. Enclose Form NJ-NR-A when allocating business income as directed.
- Property sale information: Schedule A asks for property descriptions, acquisition and sale dates, sales prices, and adjusted basis and selling expenses, using dispositions reported on federal Schedule D.
- Other-jurisdiction tax returns: If claiming the Schedule C credit, retain a copy of the other state or political subdivision’s tax return with your records.
How to file
Complete the applicable return lines and schedules. The fiduciary or officer representing the fiduciary must sign and date the return. There is also a signature area for a preparer other than the fiduciary.
The form directs you to pay the full balance on line 39. For a check or money order, write the FEIN on it and make it payable to State of New Jersey – TGI. The printed mailing address is:
Division of Taxation
Revenue Processing Center
PO Box 888
Trenton, NJ 08646-0888
You can also make a payment at nj.gov/taxation. The supplied text does not provide e-filing instructions.
Common mistakes
- Leaving out the FEIN: The form says you must enter it.
- Checking multiple residency boxes: Check only one residency status.
- Omitting Schedule E for a nonresident estate or trust: All nonresident estates and trusts must complete and file it with NJ-1041.
- Offsetting income categories on Schedule E: Net losses in one category cannot offset income in another. Enter zero for a category with a net loss.
- Double-counting income on Schedule C: Do not combine the same income taxed by more than one jurisdiction. Line 49 cannot exceed line 50.
- Discarding business schedules: Keep copies of Schedules NJ-BUS-1 and NJ-BUS-2 for your records.
Questions people ask
How do I mark an amended return?
Check the amended-return box at the top of Form NJ-1041.
What if the estate closed or the trust terminated?
Check the box on line 5 and enter the closing or termination date.
Does choosing the Gubernatorial Elections Fund increase the tax?
No. The form says designating $1 of your taxes for the fund will not increase the tax or reduce the refund.
Can an overpayment be applied to next year’s tax?
Line 41 allows a credit to 2026 tax. Subtract that credit from the overpayment on line 40 to determine the refund on line 42.
Does the return ask about digital assets?
Yes. For 2025, it asks whether the estate or trust received a digital asset as a reward, award, or payment for property or services, or sold, exchanged, or otherwise disposed of a digital asset or a financial interest in one.