1. a. In addition to any other tax, assessment or use fee authorized by law, there is imposed and shall be paid a hotel and motel occupancy fee of 7% for occupancies on and after August 1, 2003 but before July 1, 2004, and of 5% for occupancies on and after July 1, 2004, upon the rent for every occupancy of a room or rooms in a hotel or transient accommodation subject to taxation pursuant to subsection (d) of section 3 of P.L.1966, c.30 (C. 54:32B-3), which every person required to collect tax shall collect from the customer when collecting the rent to which it applies; provided however, that on and after the tenth day following a certification by the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the Department of the Treasury pursuant to subsection d. of section 2 of P.L.2003, c.114 (C. 54:32D-2), no such fee shall be paid or collected; and provided further that:

(1) the combined rates of the fee imposed under this section, plus the tax imposed under the “Sales and Use Tax Act”, P.L.1966, c.30 (C. 54:32B-1 et seq.), plus any tax imposed under P.L.1947, c.71 (C. 40:48-8.15 et seq.), shall not exceed a total rate of 14% on or before December 31, 2016, 13.875% on and after January 1, 2017 but before January 1, 2018, and 13.625% on and after January 1, 2018, and to the extent that the total combined rate of taxation for the listed fees and taxes would exceed 14% on or before December 31, 2016, 13.875% on and after January 1, 2017 but before January 1, 2018, and 13.625% on and after January 1, 2018, the fee imposed under this section shall be reduced so that the total combined rate equals 14% on or before December 31, 2016, 13.875% on and after January 1, 2017 but before January 1, 2018, and 13.625% on and after January 1, 2018;

(2) the combined rates of the fee imposed under this section, plus the tax imposed under the “Sales and Use Tax Act”, P.L.1966, c.30 (C. 54:32B-1 et seq.), plus any tax and assessment imposed under section 4 of P.L.1992, c.165 (C. 40:54D-4), shall not exceed a total rate of 14% on or before December 31, 2016, 13.875% on and after January 1, 2017 but before January 1, 2018, and 13.625% on and after January 1, 2018, and to the extent that the total combined rate of taxation for the listed fees and taxes would exceed 14% on or before December 31, 2016, 13.875% on and after January 1, 2017 but before January 1, 2018, and 13.625% on and after January 1, 2018, the fee imposed under this section shall be reduced so that the total combined rate equals 14% on or before December 31, 2016, 13.875% on and after January 1, 2017 but before January 1, 2018, and 13.625% on and after January 1, 2018; and

(3) the fee imposed under this section shall be at the rate of 1% in a city in which the tax authorized under P.L.1981, c.77 (C. 40:48E-1 et seq.) is imposed.

b. The hotel and motel occupancy fee imposed by subsection a. of this section shall not be imposed on the rent for an occupancy if the purchaser, user or consumer is an entity exempt from the tax imposed on an occupancy under the “Sales and Use Tax Act” pursuant to subsection (a) of section 9 of P.L.1966, c.30 (C. 54:32B-9).

c. Terms used in this section shall have the meaning given those terms pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1966, c.30 (C. 54:32B-2).

L.2003, c.114, s.1; amended 2006, c.44, s.18; 2016, c.57, s.6; 2018, c.49, s.22.