PAYE & Income Tax
How NZ income tax brackets work, PAYE deductions by your employer, tax codes (M, ME, S, SH, etc.), bonus and extra-pay rules, ACC earner levy, and net take-home pay calculations.
ACC Earner's Levy 2026-27: New 1.75% Rate & $156,641 Cap
The ACC earner's levy rises to 1.75% from 1 April 2026, with the cap up to $156,641 and a max levy of $2,741.22. How it's deducted via PAYE and who pays.
5 June 2026
Secondary Tax Codes Explained: SB, S, SH, ST & SA (NZ)
Have a second job? Pick the right NZ secondary tax code — SB, S, SH, ST or SA — using your total income. Includes the bands and what each rate deducts.
5 June 2026
Why Budget 2026 Left NZ PAYE Thresholds Frozen — and What Fiscal Drag Will Cost You
Budget 2026 made no changes to NZ's PAYE brackets despite cost-of-living pressure. The $15,600 / $53,500 / $78,100 / $180,000 thresholds stay where Budget 2024 set them, with no inflation indexation announced. Here's how fiscal drag silently lifts your effective tax rate every year — and the IETC $5/week lift Treasury rejected.
28 May 2026
NZ Budget 2026: 12 Tax and Benefit Measures to Watch on 28 May
Pre-Budget preview of NZ Budget 2026 (28 May). A tight savings Budget with no broad tax cuts — what the public-sector cuts, frozen thresholds and cost-of-living squeeze mean for your money, plus the 12 PAYE / KiwiSaver / Working for Families / student loan / ACC / BrightLine settings to watch.
12 May 2026
Working While Receiving NZ Super: Tax Codes, IR3 Reconciliation, Worked Examples 2026-27
If you receive NZ Super and still have paid work, the M / S / SH / ST / SA tax-code combination matters. Wrong codes mean a tax bill at IR3 time. This guide walks through the right codes for your combined income, how IRD reconciles at year-end, and four worked examples.
26 April 2026
Starting a New Job in NZ — IR330 Tax Code, KiwiSaver Choice, Student Loan, and Square-Up Risk (2025-26)
Picking the wrong M / ME / SH / ST tax code on the IR330 form costs the average new starter $400-$1,200 at end-of-year square-up. KiwiSaver employer contribution at 3.5% from 1 April 2026 (Stage 2 to 4% deferred to 2028), student loan SL prefix, secondary tax for two jobs, and what to do if you spot the wrong code mid-year.
24 April 2026
Second Job / Side Hustle Tax Bill at IR3 Time 2025-26 & 2026-27 — Why You Owe Money (IRD)
Having two jobs or a side hustle is the #1 cause of unexpected NZ tax bills at year-end. How M + S/SH/ST secondary codes under-withhold, what IR3 reveals, and how to avoid a surprise in 2026-27. Includes worked examples at $70k, $95k, and $140k combined.
21 April 2026
Holiday Pay and Annual Leave: How They're Taxed in New Zealand
How annual leave, public holiday pay, and 8% holiday pay on final pay are taxed under PAYE in NZ, with 2025-26 worked examples.
14 April 2026
Paid Parental Leave in NZ: Tax, PAYE, and 2025-26 Payment Rates
How Paid Parental Leave is taxed in New Zealand, 2025-26 weekly maximums, tax codes for government-paid PPL, and impact on KiwiSaver and student loans.
14 April 2026
NZ Super 2025-26: Tax, Rates and Eligibility
Guide to NZ Super for 2025-26 — weekly rates, eligibility rules, how it's taxed, tax codes, overseas pension deductions and worked examples.
12 April 2026
Working Holiday in NZ: Tax Obligations for Temporary Workers (2025-26)
Tax guide for working holiday makers in New Zealand — IRD numbers, tax residency, PAYE, tax codes, KiwiSaver rules, and a worked example showing tax on typical WHM earnings for the 2025-26 year.
12 April 2026
Redundancy and Restructure Payments: How They're Taxed in NZ
How redundancy payments are taxed in New Zealand, including PAYE treatment, extra pay rules, and what to expect on your final payslip.
10 April 2026
NZ Tax Rate Changes for 2025-26: What You Need to Know
A full breakdown of New Zealand income tax brackets and rates for the 2025-26 tax year, including the confirmed 39% top rate and a comparison with 2024-25.
22 March 2026
ACC Earner's Levy 2025-26: Rates, Cap & How It Works
NZ ACC earner's levy explained — 2025-26 rate (1.67%), liable earnings cap ($152,790), how it's calculated, how it shows on your payslip.
22 March 2026
How NZ Income Tax Brackets Work
A plain-English guide to New Zealand's five income tax brackets, how marginal rates apply, and a worked example for a $65,000 salary.
22 March 2026
Independent Earner Tax Credit (IETC) Explained
How the NZ Independent Earner Tax Credit works — the $10/week credit, the $24,000–$70,000 income range, abatement above $66,000, and how to claim it.
22 March 2026
Minimum Wage Tax Impact in 2025-26: Your Full Breakdown
How much tax a minimum wage worker pays in 2025-26 New Zealand, including income tax, ACC levy, KiwiSaver, and take-home pay calculations.
22 March 2026
NZ Trust Tax Rate 39%: Planning Strategies for 2025-26
How the 39% trust tax rate affects NZ trusts in 2025-26, distribution strategies to consider, PIE fund alternatives, and compliance requirements under the Trusts Act 2019.
22 March 2026
PIE Fund vs Direct Investment: Which Is More Tax-Efficient in NZ?
Compare the tax treatment of PIE funds versus direct share investments in New Zealand. See when PIR at 28% beats your marginal rate and how to structure your portfolio.
22 March 2026
PAYE: How Your Employer Deducts Tax
How New Zealand's Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system works, the different tax codes explained, secondary tax rules, and what happens if too much or too little tax is withheld.
22 March 2026
Sole Trader vs Company in NZ: Which Structure Pays Less Tax?
Compare sole trader and company tax structures in New Zealand. See how personal income tax rates, the 28% company rate, shareholder salaries, and retained earnings affect your tax bill.
22 March 2026
Trust Tax Rate at 39%: What the New Rate Means for Trustees and Settlors
New Zealand's trustee tax rate increased from 33% to 39% from the 2024-25 income year. Here's why it changed, how it affects trust distributions, and what trustees should consider.
22 March 2026
Trust vs Personal Ownership at 39%: Is a Family Trust Still Worth It?
Explore how the 39% trustee tax rate changed the calculus for family trusts in NZ. Learn when to distribute vs retain income, PIE alternatives, and whether to wind up your trust.
22 March 2026
How Bonus Tax Works in New Zealand
Understand how IRD taxes bonuses and extra pay in NZ — PAYE rates, ACC levy, KiwiSaver contributions, and strategies to keep more of your bonus.
18 March 2026
Self-Employment & Provisional Tax in NZ
A guide to provisional tax for self-employed New Zealanders — how it works, the three instalment dates, ACC levies, and voluntary KiwiSaver.
18 March 2026
NZ Take-Home Pay: What to Expect on Common Salaries
How much take-home pay will you actually receive on common New Zealand salaries? See after-tax pay for $50k, $60k, $70k, $80k, $100k and more.
10 March 2026
NZ Tax Codes Explained 2025-26 & 2026-27
Complete NZ tax codes list for 2025-26 & 2026-27 — what M, ME, M SL, SB, S, SH, ST, SA and WT mean, and how to update your code with payroll.
2 March 2026
How PAYE Works in New Zealand
A complete guide to the PAYE (Pay As You Earn) system in New Zealand — tax codes, how deductions are calculated, and what to do if you pay too much or too little tax.
22 February 2026
NZ Student Loan Repayment Guide: How Much Do You Repay?
A complete guide to New Zealand student loan repayments — threshold, rate, automatic deductions, and how to pay off your loan faster.
8 February 2026
Understanding NZ Income Tax Rates: A Complete Guide
A clear explanation of New Zealand's progressive income tax brackets for 2025-26 and 2024-25, including how to calculate your tax and effective rate.
15 January 2026