'Real Housewives of New Jersey' Star Jacqueline Laurita -- Massive Tax Debt ... $340,000

The Garden State is picking a catfight with "Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Jacqueline Laurita -- claiming she needs to pay off a $340,000 tax bill ... OR ELSE.

The NJ Division of Taxation filed the tax lien against Jacqueline -- who has been a regular on the show since season 1 -- earlier this year for exactly $338,337.05.

The docs don't specify which year(s) Jacqueline allegedly racked up the debt, but if she doesn't pay up soon, they could go after her assets.

Jacqueline is not the only NJ housewife to botch her finances -- her two nemesis on the show, Danielle Staub and Teresa Giudice, are both in the middle of a bankruptcy right now.