How to Get Your NZ Tax Refund
A step-by-step guide to checking if you're owed a refund and claiming it through IRD's myIR system.
Estimate your refund first
Use our Tax Refund Estimator to see if you're likely owed a refund before logging in to myIR.
Step-by-Step Process
- 1
Wait for the tax year to end
The NZ tax year runs 1 April – 31 March. IRD starts issuing automatic income tax assessments for the year just ended from the last weekend in May, continuing through June and July.
- 2
Log in to myIR
Go to ird.govt.nz and sign in to your myIR account. If you don't have one, you can register with your IRD number.
- 3
Check your income tax assessment
Navigate to "Income Tax" in myIR. IRD automatically calculates and issues your income tax assessment if it already holds all your income information — there's nothing to request. (The older "Personal Tax Summary" you had to actively request no longer applies; this automatic assessment replaced it.)
- 4
Review the details
Check your income sources, PAYE deducted, and any tax credits. Make sure everything looks correct. Add any donation receipts, and confirm your bank account and contact details are up to date.
- 5
Receive your refund
If a refund is shown on your assessment, it's paid automatically once processed. Refunds are typically paid to your bank account within 5-10 working days — make sure your bank account details are correct in myIR.
Common Reasons for a Tax Refund
- Wrong tax code: Using a secondary tax code (S, SH, ST) when you should be on M can result in over-deduction.
- Part-year employment: If you only worked part of the year, PAYE was calculated as if you earned that amount all year.
- Multiple jobs: Secondary tax codes often over-deduct if your combined income falls in a lower bracket.
- Donation tax credits: Donations over $5 to approved organisations qualify for a 33⅓% tax credit.
- Independent Earner Tax Credit: If you earn $24,000–$70,000 and don't receive Working for Families, you may be entitled to the $520 IETC.
Haven't received your tax refund yet?
1. Check an assessment has actually been issued
IRD can't pay a refund before it issues your income tax assessment. Automatic assessments for the tax year just ended (31 March) are issued in batches from the last weekend in May, continuing through June and July — if it's still early in that window, there's nothing to chase yet.
2. Check your assessment status and bank account in myIR
Sign in to myIR and open Income tax → Statements to see whether your assessment shows "Refund", "Tax to pay" or is still "Awaiting information". A missing or outdated bank account is the most common reason a refund doesn't arrive — IRD no longer pays refunds by cheque, so if the payment bounces because your account details are wrong, IRD holds the money and asks you to confirm an account under My details → Bank accounts. Once your assessment confirms a refund and your bank details are correct, refunds are typically paid within about 5-10 working days.
3. There's no minimum refund amount
IRD automatically writes off tax to pay of $50 or less, but that write-off only applies to money you owe IRD, not to refunds owed to you. A refund of any size, however small, is still calculated and paid out.
4. Check whether the refund was offset against a debt
If you owe IRD money elsewhere — unpaid tax from another year, a Working for Families overpayment, child support, or a student loan balance — some or all of your refund may be used to pay that debt automatically before anything is paid out to you. myIR will show this as a transfer rather than a payment.
5. Contact IRD if it's genuinely overdue
If your assessment shows a confirmed refund, your bank account is correct, and nothing has arrived after a few weeks, message IRD through myIR (fastest) or call 0800 227 774 (Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm). Have your IRD number and the tax year ready.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if I'm owed a tax refund?
Log in to myIR (ird.govt.nz) after the tax year ends (after 31 March). IRD automatically works out an income tax assessment for most salary/wage/interest/dividend earners — issued progressively from the last weekend in May through June and July — you don't need to request anything.
How long does a tax refund take?
Once your income tax assessment shows a refund and your bank account details are correct in myIR, refunds are typically paid within about 5-10 working days.
Do I need to file a tax return to get a refund?
Most salary and wage earners don't need to file a full return. IRD auto-calculates your income tax assessment if it holds all your income information. You just need to check the details (and update anything missing, like donation receipts). Self-employed individuals or those with other income (rental, overseas, bright-line, etc.) must file an IR3 return.
What if I owe tax instead?
If your income tax assessment shows tax to pay, you'll receive a notice with a due date. You can set up an instalment arrangement if you can't pay in full. Contact IRD early to avoid penalties.
Can I claim expenses to increase my refund?
Most employees cannot claim work-related expenses. Donations over $5 to approved donee organisations qualify for a 33⅓% tax credit — IRD generally needs your receipts uploaded to include this in your automatic assessment. Self-employed individuals can claim business expenses on their IR3.
Why haven't I received my tax refund yet?
Most often it's one of three things: your income tax assessment hasn't been issued yet (auto-assessments are issued in batches from the last weekend in May through June and July), your bank account details in myIR are missing or out of date so the payment bounced back to IRD, or your refund was used to pay off other debt you owe IRD — unpaid tax, a Working for Families overpayment, child support, or a student loan balance. Check Income tax → Statements in myIR for your assessment status first.
Is there a minimum amount for an IRD tax refund?
No. IRD automatically writes off tax to pay of $50 or less, but that write-off only applies to money you owe IRD — a refund owed to you is calculated and paid out regardless of how small it is.
Related Tools
Sources: IRD — Income tax assessments, IRD — Refunds and tax bills, IRD — Automatic write-offs, and IRD — Contact us (income tax). Last updated August 2026.