KiwiSaver Calculator
Calculate your employee and employer KiwiSaver contributions at any contribution rate.
Your Contribution (3.5%)
Employer, after ESCT (3.5%)
Total into your account
ESCT band uses this salary plus employer contributions ($72,450.00) as last tax year's figure. If you started this job during the tax year, your employer bases the rate on the part year to 31 March instead; the ESCT calculator works that out. Government contribution: 25 cents per dollar you contribute from 1 July to 30 June, up to $260.72 (reached at $1,042.86 of your own contributions), for members aged 16–65 who mainly live in New Zealand and have taxable income of $180,000.00 or less.
Want the full picture?
The take-home pay calculator combines KiwiSaver contributions with all other deductions to show your actual net pay.
Calculate your take-home pay →How KiwiSaver works
KiwiSaver is New Zealand's work-based retirement savings scheme. Most new employees are auto-enrolled and can opt out within 56 days. Once you are in, your chosen percentage is deducted from gross pay, your employer adds a matching minimum, and the government tops up eligible contributions once a year. Three streams build the balance: your contribution, your employer's, and the government contribution.
Employee rates are 3.5%, 4%, 6%, 8%, or 10% of gross pay; 3% is now only a temporary reduction option. You can change your rate with your employer at any time.
The 2026–2028 contribution rate rise
Budget 2025 lifted the default employee and matching employer rate from 3% to 4%, phased in over two steps. If you contributed at the old 3% default you were moved to 3.5% automatically on 1 April 2026.
| From | Default employee rate | Employer minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Before 1 Apr 2026 | 3% | 3% |
| 1 Apr 2026 | 3.5% | 3.5% |
| 1 Apr 2028 | 4% | 4% |
You can apply to IRD for a temporary rate reduction back to 3% for 92 days to 1 year if the increase is hard to absorb. Your employer must still contribute at least 3.5% unless it chooses to match your reduced rate.
Employer contributions and ESCT
Your employer's contribution (3.5% from 1 April 2026) is paid on top of your salary, but it is not tax-free in your hands: it is subject to Employer Superannuation Contribution Tax (ESCT), deducted before the money reaches your account. The ESCT rate is tiered by your total salary plus employer contributions, so higher earners see a larger share taken. Since 1 April 2026, employers must also contribute for 16- and 17-year-old employees (16- and 17-year-olds became eligible for the government contribution earlier, from 1 July 2025).
The government contribution
Each year the government adds 25 cents for every dollar you contribute, up to $260.72. To get the full amount you need to put in at least $1,042.86 yourself between 1 July and 30 June. Two Budget 2025 changes apply from 1 July 2025: the maximum halved from $521.43, and you no longer qualify if your taxable income is over $180,000. Employer and government contributions do not count toward your own $1,042.86 — only your contributions do.
Using KiwiSaver for your first home or retirement
After three years of membership, first-home buyers can withdraw almost all of their KiwiSaver — their own, employer, and government contributions, and returns — leaving a $1,000 minimum, to put toward a New Zealand home they intend to live in. Otherwise, KiwiSaver locks in until age 65, when you can withdraw the full balance. Because the money is invested for the long term, your choice of fund type (defensive, balanced, or growth) usually matters more to your final balance than small differences in contribution rate.
Frequently asked questions
Is KiwiSaver compulsory?
KiwiSaver is automatically enrolled for most new employees, but you can opt out between 2 and 8 weeks after starting a new job. Once enrolled, contributions are deducted from your pay.
How much does my employer contribute?
The employer minimum rose from 3% to 3.5% of your gross salary on 1 April 2026, and rises again to 4% on 1 April 2028. Some employers contribute more. Employer contributions are paid on top of your own and are subject to ESCT.
What is the KiwiSaver contribution rate rising to?
Under Budget 2025, the default employee and matching employer rate increased from 3% to 3.5% on 1 April 2026 and will rise to 4% on 1 April 2028. If you were on 3%, you automatically moved to 3.5% unless you applied to IRD for a temporary rate reduction (available for 92 days to 1 year).
Can I change my contribution rate?
Yes. You can choose 3.5%, 4%, 6%, 8%, or 10% by notifying your employer or IRD. The 3% rate is now only available as a temporary rate reduction (92 days to 1 year) after the 1 April 2026 default increase.
Is the employer contribution taxed?
Yes. Employer contributions are subject to Employer Superannuation Contribution Tax (ESCT). The effective rate depends on your income level.
How much is the Member Tax Credit (government contribution)?
From 1 July 2025, the government contributes 25 cents for every dollar you put in, up to a maximum of $260.72 per year (down from $521.43 pre-Budget 2025). You need to contribute at least $1,042.86 yourself each year to get the full top-up, and your taxable income must be $180,000 or less.
Can I use KiwiSaver to buy my first home?
Yes. After being a member for at least 3 years, you can withdraw most of your KiwiSaver savings (including employer and government contributions) to buy your first home, leaving $1,000 in the account. You must intend to live in the home, and it must be in New Zealand.
Can I take a break from contributing?
Yes. After 12 months in KiwiSaver (or sooner if you are in financial hardship), you can apply to IRD for a savings suspension of between 3 months and 1 year. Your employer contributions stop during a suspension, and you will only get the 25-cent match on what you do contribute (the full amount needs $1,042.86 of your own contributions).
Sources
Information sourced from kiwisaver.govt.nz and IRD.
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Reflects the 1 April 2026 rate rise to 3.5% and Budget 2025 government-contribution changes. Rates sourced from IRD.
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