Schedular Payments Calculator
Estimate withholding tax from an IR330C payment and test whether your chosen rate is likely to cover annual income tax.
Net payment
$800.0020.0% WT deducted
Withholding tax
$200.00GST excluded from WT
$0.00Estimated refund
$4,342.00- • Withholding is calculated on the GST-exclusive payment at 20.0%.
- • Withholding is a tax credit, not your final income-tax liability. You still claim business expenses and reconcile through your year-end assessment or IR3.
- • The year-end estimate models incremental income tax only. ACC levies, tax credits, losses and tailored IRD assessments are not included.
What the IR330C rate does
Schedular payments are contractor payments from which the payer must deduct withholding tax. The activity list sets standard rates. You may elect another rate within IRD's limits, or apply for a tailored rate when the standard range does not match your expected liability.
Withholding is not a substitute for business accounts. Claim eligible expenses and declare the net taxable profit. The annual comparison above models incremental income tax only; ACC levies, losses, tax credits and IRD adjustments are outside its scope.
Use our schedular payments guide for who must use IR330C and record-keeping examples.
Frequently asked questions
Are schedular payments final tax?
No. The amount withheld is a tax credit. Contractors generally declare gross income and eligible business expenses, then reconcile the final liability through their income-tax assessment.
Is withholding deducted from GST?
When a GST-registered contractor's payment includes GST, withholding is calculated on the GST-exclusive amount.
Is there an amount below which no tax is withheld?
Not for resident contractors — withholding applies from the first dollar of a schedular payment. There are two thresholds worth knowing. A non-resident contractor does not have tax withheld where total contract payments from all payers are $15,000 or less in any 12-month period, or where they are in New Zealand for 92 days or fewer in any 12-month period and a double tax agreement relieves the income. Separately, total schedular income of $200 or less in a year does not by itself require an IR3 (Tax Administration Act 1994, s 33AA) — but the tax is still deducted and comes back through your assessment.
How low can an elected IR330C rate be?
The standard minimum is 10% for resident contractors and 15% for non-resident contractors, unless Inland Revenue approves a tailored rate. The maximum elected rate is 45%.
Official sources: Inland Revenue — work out and declare a rate and IR330C form and activity table. Checked July 2026.
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