NZ Tax Code SA SL
Secondary job + student loan (combined over $180,000) (2026-27).
Take-home on SA SL — 2026-27 IRD rates
Annual deductions for someone paid on code SA SL. Numbers below include income tax, ACC earner's levy, and student loan (where applicable). KiwiSaver is not included — add your chosen rate on top.
| Annual gross | Income tax (PAYE) | ACC levy | Student loan | Take-home | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20,000 | $7,800 | $350 | $2,400 | $9,450 | 52.8% |
| $50,000 | $19,500 | $875 | $6,000 | $23,625 | 52.8% |
| $100,000 | $39,000 | $1,750 | $12,000 | $47,250 | 52.8% |
Source: IRD published 2026-27 tax brackets, ACC earner's levy 1.75%, student-loan rate 12% over $24,128. See full PAYE calculator for any income and pay period.
Who should use SA SL?
Use SA SL on your non-main job when your TOTAL annual income from all jobs is over $180,000 AND you have an NZ student loan. Deductions on this job: 39% income tax + 12% SL = 51% from the first dollar — the highest PAYE deduction in NZ.
When to switch from SA SL
- ST SL Combined income falls to $180,000 or less.
- SA Student loan is paid off.
Common mistakes with SA SL
- ⚠51% combined is NZ's highest PAYE deduction. A $50k secondary job loses $25,500 to PAYE + SL alone before ACC and KiwiSaver.
- ⚠If your primary income is below $180k, the early dollars of SA SL are over-taxed (should be 33%). Expect a material refund at year-end — do not panic.
Unsure this is the right code? Use our tax-code checker wizard (5 questions), or jump to the full PAYE calculator for any income and pay period.
All NZ tax codes
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
Is 51% the highest marginal rate in NZ?
Through PAYE, yes: SA (39%) + SL (12%) = 51%. If you also pay 3% KiwiSaver from the same gross, that is 54% out of your paycheque. This is still lower than the ME SL abatement-window effective rate at the 30% bracket, which can also spike to around 55% but is a special edge case.
Can I use a Special Tax Code on SA SL?
Yes, if the resulting PAYE is demonstrably excessive. Lodge IR23BS asking for a custom rate with IRD. They typically approve when at least $1,000/year of over-payment can be shown.