Working for Families Calculator
Estimate your Working for Families tax credits — Family Tax Credit, In-Work Tax Credit, and Best Start.
About Working for Families
Working for Families (WfF) provides tax credits to New Zealand families with dependent children. The amount depends on your family income, number of children, and whether you meet work-hour requirements.
The Family Tax Credit (FTC) is the main component — $113/week for a first child under 16, or $127/week if aged 16+. Subsequent children receive $91/week (under 16) or $101/week (16+).
The In-Work Tax Credit (IWTC) adds $72/week for working families (30 hours/week for couples, 20 for single parents) with up to 3 children, plus $15/week per additional child.
Payments reduce by 27 cents per dollar for family income above $42,700.
Frequently asked questions
Who can get Working for Families?
You must be the principal caregiver of a dependent child aged 18 or under, be a NZ tax resident, and have family income below the level where entitlements are fully abated.
What is the abatement threshold?
Working for Families payments reduce by 27 cents for every dollar of family income above $42,700. A family with higher income and fewer children may receive reduced or zero payments.
Can I get both Working for Families and the IETC?
No. The Independent Earner Tax Credit (IETC) and Working for Families are mutually exclusive. Families with children generally receive more from WfF.
How do I apply?
Register through myIR (my.ird.govt.nz). You can choose to receive payments weekly, fortnightly, or as a lump sum at the end of the tax year.
What is Best Start?
Best Start provides $73/week for children born on or after 1 July 2018, paid for the first three years. The first year is not income-tested; years two and three are.
Related Calculators
Sources
Rates sourced from IRD — Working for Families and IRD — WfF rates.
Last updated March 2026. Rates sourced from IRD.