NZ Tax Code Checker
Find your correct NZ PAYE tax code in 30 seconds. Answer a few questions below, or scroll down for the complete reference list of every code (M, ME, M SL, ME SL, SB, S, SH, ST, SA, WT) with withholding rates.
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Tell us about your job and student loan situation — we'll match you to the correct code.
Is this your main job or a second job?
Key Takeaway
Using the wrong tax code means you’ll either overpay or underpay PAYE during the year. IRD adjusts at year-end, but the right code avoids surprises.
Complete NZ Tax Codes List (2025-26 & 2026-27)
Every PAYE tax code issued by Inland Revenue, with its withholding rate and use case. Click any code for a full breakdown: who uses it, take-home at three income levels, when to switch, and common mistakes.
| Code | Description | Withholding |
|---|---|---|
| M | Primary-job code with no student loan and no IETC | Progressive rates (10.5%–39.0%) |
| ME | Primary-job code with the Independent Earner Tax Credit | Progressive rates with IETC ($520/yr credit) |
| M SL | Primary-job code with student loan, no IETC | Progressive rates + 12.0% student loan above $24,128 |
| ME SL | Primary job with IETC and student loan | Progressive rates + student loan + IETC |
| SB | Secondary-job code when total annual income ≤ $15,600 | Flat 10.5% |
| S | Secondary-job code — total annual income $15,601–$53,500 | Flat 17.5% |
| SH | Secondary-job code — total annual income $53,501–$78,100 | Flat 30.0% |
| ST | Secondary-job code — total annual income $78,101–$180,000 | Flat 33.0% |
| SA | Secondary-job code — total annual income over $180,000 | Flat 39.0% |
| SB SL | Secondary job + student loan (combined income ≤ $15,600) | 10.5% + 12.0% student loan |
| S SL | Secondary job + student loan (combined $15,601–$53,500) | 17.5% + 12.0% student loan |
| SH SL | Secondary job + student loan (combined $53,501–$78,100) | 30.0% + 12.0% student loan |
| ST SL | Secondary job + student loan (combined $78,101–$180,000) | 33.0% + 12.0% student loan |
| SA SL | Secondary job + student loan (combined over $180,000) | 39.0% + 12.0% student loan |
| WT | Withholding tax for schedular payments (contractors) | Agreed rate with payer, or 45.0% if no IR330C given |
Secondary tax code chart — income bands (2026-27)
Secondary code bands are the same dollar thresholds as the PAYE income tax brackets — the rate on your secondary job matches what would be your marginal rate if all income were combined.
| Total annual income (all jobs) | No student loan | With student loan | Flat withholding rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 – $15,600 | SB | SB SL | 10.5% |
| $15,601 – $53,500 | S | S SL | 17.5% |
| $53,501 – $78,100 | SH | SH SL | 30.0% |
| $78,101 – $180,000 | ST | ST SL | 33.0% |
| $180,001+ | SA | SA SL | 39.0% |
Special tax codes
Beyond the standard primary and secondary codes, IRD has a small set of codes for specific work types.
| Code | Who it's for | Withholding |
|---|---|---|
| WT | Contractors receiving schedular payments for Schedule 4 activities (e.g. labour-only building work, agricultural contracting, sales commissions, freelance work) instead of salary or wages. | Rate you agree with the payer via an IR330C. If you don't give the payer a completed IR330C, they must withhold the 45.0% no-notification rate (20.0% for non-resident contractor companies). |
| CAE | Casual, day-to-day agricultural work (e.g. shearing or shearing-shed work) for the same employer for no more than 3 months. | Set by IRD's PAYE deduction tables for this code. |
| EDW | Temporary work during a general election — the advance-voting period plus election day. | Set by IRD's PAYE deduction tables for this code. |
| NSW | Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme workers in horticulture or viticulture, and non-resident crew on vessels fishing NZ waters. | Set by IRD's PAYE deduction tables for this code. |
| STC | Anyone whose standard code would significantly over- or under-tax them — apply to IRD for a tailored tax code certificate (IR23BS) and give it to your employer. | A custom rate IRD calculates for your specific circumstances. |
CAE, EDW and NSW rates are set within IRD's PAYE deduction tables (IR340) rather than a single published percentage — check with your employer or IRD if one of these applies to you.
How NZ tax codes work
Every employee in New Zealand must have a tax code that tells their employer how much PAYE to deduct from each pay. The code you use depends on whether the job is your primary or secondary employment, whether you have a student loan, and your expected annual income.
For your main job, the standard code is M. If your income falls between $24,000 and $70,000 and you don’t receive a government benefit, you may be eligible for the Independent Earner Tax Credit (IETC), which adds an E to your code (ME). A student loan adds an SL suffix (M SL or ME SL).
For secondary jobs, the code depends on your total income from all jobs. Secondary codes (SB, S, SH, ST, SA) apply flat withholding rates at increasing percentages as your total income rises. This ensures the correct amount of PAYE is deducted across all your employment.
If you are a contractor receiving schedular payments, you use the WT code. The withholding rate is agreed between you and the payer.
How to fill in the IR330
The IR330 (Tax code declaration) is the form you give your employer — or Work and Income, if the income is a benefit, NZ Superannuation, or Veteran's Pension — to declare your tax code. Your employer can't deduct the right amount of PAYE without it, and without a completed IR330, IRD requires the non-declaration rate (45.0%) to be deducted instead.
You need to complete a new IR330 whenever:
- You start a new job.
- Your circumstances change — your income moves in or out of the IETC range, you take out or finish paying off a student loan, or you pick up a second job.
- You start or stop receiving a benefit, NZ Super, or an overseas pension (this affects IETC eligibility).
IR330 vs IR330C: the IR330 is only for employees receiving salary or wages. If you're a contractor or self-employed and receive schedular payments instead, you fill in the separate IR330C to notify your payer of your chosen withholding rate — you don't use the M/ME/S/SH codes at all, your code is always WT. If you're weighing up contracting vs employment, the Self-Employment Tax Calculator compares the two.
Wrong tax code — what happens
A mismatched tax code doesn't change how much tax you actually owe for the year — it changes how much is deducted during the year versus settled up afterwards.
- Over-withholding (e.g. using SA when your combined income is much lower) means too much PAYE comes out of each pay — you're due a refund.
- Under-withholding (e.g. using M on a second job) means too little comes out — you'll owe IRD at year-end.
For most people whose only income is PAYE wages, IRD automatically squares this up: it begins issuing income tax assessments from the last weekend in May and continues through June and July, comparing what was actually deducted against what should have been. If you're owed a refund, it's paid automatically; if you have a bill, IRD tells you how to pay it. People with other income (self-employment, rental, overseas income) generally need to file an IR3 instead of waiting for an automatic assessment.
Want to estimate the outcome now rather than waiting? Use the Tax Refund Estimator, or read how to get your tax refund.
Worked example: $70,000 salary under three different codes
Same $70,000 annual gross on a single job — here's what changes if it's coded as M (correct, if this is your only/main job), S, or SH (both wrong for a sole $70,000 job, but shown to illustrate how a mismatched secondary code under- or over-withholds).
| Code | Mechanism | Income tax (PAYE) | ACC levy | Net | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | Progressive brackets | $13,221 | $1,225 | $55,555 | 20.6% |
| S | Flat 17.5% | $12,250 | $1,225 | $56,525 | 19.3% |
| SH | Flat 30.0% | $21,000 | $1,225 | $47,775 | 31.8% |
M taxes the $70,000 progressively across all five brackets. S and SH would only apply if this were a secondary job and your combined income from all jobs fell in the S or SH band — using either one on a sole $70,000 job over- or under-withholds against what M would deduct. ACC earner's levy is calculated separately from income tax and applies the same way regardless of code. Try your own numbers on the PAYE Calculator.
Tax codes at a glance
Primary Codes
M, ME, M SL, ME SL
Secondary Codes
SB, S, SH, ST, SA
Student Loan
Adds SL suffix
IETC Range
$24,000 – $70,000
Browse by code
Every code has its own page with take-home scenarios, switch triggers, and common mistakes.
Frequently asked questions
What is a tax code?
A tax code tells your employer how much PAYE (Pay As You Earn) income tax to deduct from your wages. The code reflects your employment situation — whether the job is your primary or secondary employment, whether you have a student loan, and your expected annual income. See IRD tax codes for individuals.
How do I change my tax code?
Fill in an IR330 Tax code declaration form and give it to your employer, or to Work and Income if the income is a benefit, NZ Superannuation, or Veteran's Pension. Your employer or Work and Income will adjust your PAYE deductions from the next pay period.
What happens if I use the wrong tax code?
If you use the wrong tax code, you will either overpay or underpay PAYE during the year. IRD begins issuing automatic income tax assessments from the last weekend in May, continuing through June and July, for most people whose only income is PAYE. If you overpaid, you'll receive a refund; if you underpaid, you'll owe tax. Using the correct code from the start avoids these year-end surprises.
What is the Independent Earner Tax Credit (IETC)?
The IETC is a tax credit of up to $520 per year for individuals earning between $24,000 and $70,000 who do not receive a government benefit or Working for Families tax credits. If eligible, your tax code will include an 'E' suffix (e.g. ME or ME SL) so the credit is applied through your PAYE.
What is a schedular payment?
Schedular payments are payments made to contractors for specific types of work listed in the Income Tax Act, such as labour-only building work, sales commissions, or freelance work. These payments use the WT tax code. The withholding rate is normally agreed between the contractor and the payer via an IR330C — without one, the payer must withhold the 45.0% no-notification rate.
Do I need a different tax code for each job?
Yes. You can only use a primary tax code (M, ME, M SL, ME SL) for one job — your main source of employment income. All other jobs must use a secondary tax code (SB, S, SH, ST, SA, or their student loan variants). Using a primary code for more than one job will result in underpaid tax.
What does the "S" tax code mean?
S is a secondary tax code for a non-main job. Use it when your TOTAL annual income from all jobs combined is $15,601 – $53,500. Your employer deducts a flat 17.5% from every dollar on this job — see the full S tax code breakdown.
What's the difference between the IR330 and IR330C forms?
IR330 is the standard tax code declaration for employees — it selects one of the salary/wage codes (M, ME, M SL, ME SL, or a secondary code). IR330C is a separate form used by contractors receiving schedular payments to notify their payer of the withholding rate to apply under the WT code. Employees never fill in an IR330C; contractors on schedular payments never fill in an IR330.
What is the "WT" tax code?
WT is the tax code for schedular payments made to contractors (not employees). See the "Complete NZ Tax Codes List" and "Special tax codes" tables above for the full withholding rules, or read our schedular payments guide.
Sources
Related Calculators
Last updated April 2026. Tax codes sourced from IRD.
2026 IR3 filing — due 7 July: IR3 2025-26 hub, how to file IR3, common IR3 mistakes, IR3 vs auto-assessment
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