N.J. companies may get tax break for allowing workers to telecommute

A New Jersey lawmaker wants to give a tax credit to companies that allow workers to skip their daily commutes and work from home.

Legislation introduced by Sen. Kip Bateman would provide a corporation business tax credit equal to 1 percent of an employee’s salary for the hours they do their job by telecommuting.

“The purpose of the legislation is to get more people off the roads — if they can work from home efficiently,” said Bateman, R-Somerset. “And it would help the environment as well as help the traffic conditions in New Jersey.”

He’s not sure how many workers might be able to take advantage of his proposal.

“The sky is the limit. A lot of people would love to work from home. A lot of people have computers in this day and age, and a lot of people in their type of employment it’s very easy for them to work from home,” Bateman said. “So I think it comes down to a trust factor with the employer and the employees, but if there’s a way of everybody saving a little money, saving the environment, getting cars off the road, I think it’s a win-win.”

Telecommuting arrangements would ease carbon emissions and reduce wear on roads and bridges, as well as making New Jersey a more attractive place to work.