Find the money you can keep
New Zealand rates and paperwork
Tax year 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 (2025/26).
Figures as published by Inland Revenue for 2025/26. Working for Families, student loans and the exact KiwiSaver position are not modelled.
Rates, allowances and thresholds
Income tax
One national system, with no tax free band and no regional income tax.
- 10.5%
- up to $15,600
- 17.5%
- $15,601 to $53,500
- 30%
- $53,501 to $78,100
- 33%
- $78,101 to $180,000
- 39%
- above $180,000
- Tax free band
- None
Tax starts on the first dollar, through PAYE on wages
ACC earner's levy
- Rate
- 1.67% of wages
- Cap
- $152,790 of earnings
- What it funds
- Accident compensation cover, separate from income tax
Collected inside PAYE
The levy stops above this
Capital gains and property
- General rule
- No capital gains tax
- Bright-line test
- 2 years
- Bought to resell
- Always taxable
- Crypto
- Taxed as property
Most investment gains are tax free
Residential land sold within 2 years is taxed as income, main home usually excluded
Intention to resell makes a gain taxable at any time
Profits on disposal are income
Business, savings and trusts
- Company rate
- 28%
- Trust rate
- 39% on trustee income
- GST
- 15%
- PIE top rate
- 28%
- KiwiSaver government contribution
- Up to $260.72 a year
Dividends carry imputation credits
Beneficiary income taxed at their own rate
Register once turnover passes $60,000 in 12 months
Fund earnings capped below the top personal rates
25 cents per dollar, to 30 June
What you can deduct or claim
Donation tax credits
33.33% of receipted gifts to approved charities, claimed through myIR or form IR526.
Everyone
Business use of home
IRD's square metre rate for the work area, plus a share of rates, rent or interest.
Self-employed
Vehicle costs
Business share fixed by a 90 day logbook, then actual costs or the mileage rate.
Self-employed
Income protection insurance
Premiums for loss of earnings cover are deductible.
Self-employed and employees
Rental costs and interest
Rates, insurance, repairs, management and, from 1 April 2025, 100% of interest.
Landlords
Accounting and tax agent fees
The cost of preparing your return is deductible.
Anyone who files
Forms to file with Inland Revenue
| Form | What it does | When | Who needs it | Official page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IR3 | Individual income tax return | 7 July after the 31 March year end, or later with a tax agent | Anyone with income beyond wages, interest and dividends | ird.govt.nz |
| IR3R | Rental income schedule | With the IR3 | Landlords | ird.govt.nz |
| IR526 | Donation tax credit claim | Any time, back four years | Donors | ird.govt.nz |
| IR833 | Property sale information | With the IR3 for the year of sale | Property sellers | ird.govt.nz |
| IR330 | Tax code declaration for your employer | When you start a job or your situation changes | Employees | ird.govt.nz |
| GST101A | GST return | Monthly, two-monthly or six-monthly, usually the 28th | GST-registered businesses | ird.govt.nz |
Not covered here
- Working for Families credits and abatement
- Student loan repayments
- Detailed KiwiSaver calculations
Tax year: 2025/26. Your year ends 31 March.
Why 5 April?
New Zealand has used a 31 March balance date since the 1800s, aligned with the government's own financial year.
Three countries now, more as we grow
Today Taxmiser covers the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia in full, with real rates and real forms. We add a new country only once its figures are checked against the official tax office, so nothing here is a guess. Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and more are next in line as we grow.
Every US state taxes you differently
In the United States there are two bills, not one. Federal tax is the same wherever you live. State tax is not. Some states take nothing, some take a flat slice, some have their own bands and their own allowances. That is why we ask which state you are in, and why two people on the same pay can keep very different amounts.
See the state by state figures