Tax Return / IR3
An IR3 is New Zealand's individual income tax return — an annual declaration of all your income, expenses, and tax credits filed with IRD. However, most employees do not need to file one. If your only income is from salary or wages with correct PAYE deductions, IRD will automatically issue you an income tax assessment after 31 March.
You need to file an IR3 if you earned income not covered by PAYE: self-employment income, rental property income, overseas income, partnership or trust income, or significant untaxed income from other sources. The standard filing deadline is 7 July, or 31 March the following year if you use a registered tax agent.
Even if you're not required to file, it's worth checking your automatic assessment in myIR each year. IRD sometimes misses income sources or credits, and you may be entitled to a refund — or you may owe additional tax that accumulates interest if unpaid.
Related Terms
IRD
Inland Revenue Department (IRD), commonly known as Inland Revenue or simply IRD, is the New Zealand government agency responsible for collecting taxes, distributing social support payments, and enforcing tax compliance.
PAYE
PAYE (Pay As You Earn) is the system that New Zealand employers use to deduct income tax from employees' wages and salaries.
Provisional Tax
Provisional tax is how self-employed individuals, companies, and others with significant non-PAYE income pay their expected income tax during the year, rather than as a lump sum after year end.