ACC Premiums
The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) has responsibility for insuring and collecting ACC premiums for employers, the self-employed and private domestic workers.
ACC premiums are calculated at a rate based upon the risk of accident for an industry category.
Depreciation Allowances
Economic rates apply to the purchase of assets. An additional 20% loading applies to new assets (excluding buildings). There is an option to use either straight line or diminishing value for all assets. The following assets are examples only.
| Asset | Economic Rate (DV) | + 20% Loading |
| Building (acquired before 19/05/05) | 4% | N/A |
| Building (acquired after 19/05/05) | 3% | N/A |
| Computer (acquired before 01/04/05) | 40% | 48% |
| Computer (acquired after 01/04/05) | 50% | 60% |
| Office Furniture | 12% | 14.4% |
| Vehicle | 26% | 31.2% |
Low value assets ($500 or less excluding GST) can be written off. ($200 or less excluding GST before 19/05/05)
Donations
If you made financial donations to a charity, or paid for childcare or a housekeeper (in certain situations) during the last tax year, you can claim part of it back as a rebate.
Donation rebates for individuals (minimum $5) are made on form IR526. The limits on donations claimable for individuals, companies and Maori Authorities have been removed as of the 2008/2009 tax year.
Entertainment
Entertainment expenditure is limited to a 50% deduction if it falls within the following:
- Corporate Boxes
- Holiday Accommodation
- Pleasure Craft
- Food & Beverages consumed at any of the above or in other specific circumstances eg. Business Lunches.
There are a number of exemptions from these rules, please talk to us if you are unsure.
Working for Families Tax Credits
For 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008: The calculations shown below are based on the eldest child being under 16 and all other children being under 13 years of age. For more information on Working for Families Tax Credits (previously called family assistance) please visit the IRD website.
Families Tax Credits and In-Work Payment Family Tax Credits are paid regardless of your source of income. In-work tax credits are for families who normally work a minimum number of hours each week.
| Family Income (before Tax) | Number of Children | FTC (Family Tax Credits) | IWTC (In-Work Tax Credits) |
| 35,000 | 1 | 4264 | 3120 |
| 2 | 7228 | 3120 | |
| 3 | 10,192 | 3120 | |
| 4 | 13,156 | 3900 | |
| 5 | 16,120 | 4680 | |
| 6 | 19,084 | 5460 | |
| 45,501 | 1 | 1872 | 3120 |
| 2 | 4836 | 3120 | |
| 3 | 7800 | 3120 | |
| 4 | 10,764 | 3900 | |
| 5 | 13,728 | 4680 | |
| 6 | 16,692 | 5460 | |
| 56,001 | 1 | 0 | 2886 |
| 2 | 2730 | 3120 | |
| 3 | 5694 | 3120 | |
| 4 | 8658 | 3900 | |
| 5 | 11,622 | 4680 | |
| 6 | 14,586 | 5460 | |
| 66,501 | 1 | 0 | 780 |
| 2 | 0624 | 3120 | |
| 3 | 3588 | 3120 | |
| 4 | 6552 | 3900 | |
| 5 | 9516 | 4680 | |
| 6 | 12,480 | 5460 | |
| 75,501 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 0 | 1950 | |
| 3 | 1794 | 3120 | |
| 4 | 4758 | 3900 | |
| 5 | 7722 | 4680 | |
| 6 | 10,686 | 5460 | |
| 86,001 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | 0 | 2808 | |
| 4 | 2652 | 3900 | |
| 5 | 5616 | 4680 | |
| 6 | 8580 | 5460 | |
| 95,501 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | 0 | 702 | |
| 4 | 546 | 3900 | |
| 5 | 3510 | 4680 | |
| 6 | 6474 | 5460 | |
| 105,501 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | 0 | 2652 | |
| 5 | 1716 | 4680 | |
| 6 | 4680 | 5460 | |
| 119,001 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | 0 | 3692 | |
| 6 | 1976 | 5460 |
Minimum Family Tax Credit If your family income (before tax) is below $22,119 a year before tax you may also be entitled to a family tax credit.
Parental Tax Credit You can receive up to $1200 (in total) for each newborn child, depending on your family income. The amount will depend on:
- Family Income (before tax)
- The number of days your baby was in your care (as the principal child carer) during the first eight weeks. If your baby is in a neonatal unit, it is still in your care.
Fringe Benefit Tax
- FBT Rate 64% (or 49% for certain employees) of FBT value (income tax deductible)
- Return Period Quarterly or Annually
FBT Value of Motor Vehicles: When calculating the taxable value for motor vehicles, you will need to use either the actual cost price, or the tax book value.
From 1 April 2006 the FBT value of the benefit when using cost price reduced from 24% to 20% (or from 6% to 5% if FBT is paid quarterly).
Low or Interest Free Loans:
- Benchmark Interest Rate (from 1 July 2007)
- 10.57% p.a (reviewable quarterly)
- For the most recent rates, check the IRD website
Gift Duty
| Value of Gift | Duty Payable |
| 0 to $27,000 | NIL |
| $27,001 to $36,000 | 5% of value over $27,000 |
| $36,001 to $54,000 | $450 plus 10% of value over $36,000 |
| $54,001 to $72,000 | $2,250 plus 20% of value over $54,000 |
| Over $72,000 | $5,850 plus 25% of value over $72,000 |
Goods & Services Tax
GST Rates
1. On supplies in NZ 12.5%
2. Zero rated supplies (eg exports) 0%
Exemptions:
1. Financial Services
2. Domestic Rentals
3. Wages/Salaries and most Directors Fees
Registration threshold – $40,000 turnover pa
Filing frequency threshold – Turnover exceeding $250,000 pa: 1 or 2 monthly
Filing basis threshold – Turnover exceeding $1,300,000 pa. must use invoice basis
PAYE on Salaries & Wages
If PAYE deductions exceed $100,000 pa, deductions from 1st to 15th month- due 20th of the same month and balance of monthly deductions are due the 5th of the following month. For deductions of less than $100,000 pa, PAYE is due 20th of the month following deduction.
Employee ACC Earner Premiums, Student Loan repayments and Child Support deductions payable follow the same rules.
Provisional Tax
Provisional Tax is payable in 3 installments unless a taxpayer qualifies as a new provisional taxpayer. Provisional tax is calculated at 105% of the previous years residual income tax (RIT). Provisional tax for companies is calculated at 95% of the 2008 RIT.
For non-individuals, use of money interest is payable on shortfall of terminal tax from the 1st installment date until the terminal tax is paid.
For individuals, use of money interest is payable from the 1st installment date where their RIT exceeds $35,000 or the taxpayer has estimated their provisional tax.
Return Due Dates and Extensions of Time
Standard balance date taxpayers ‘linked’ to a tax agent have until the 31 March the following year to furnish their income tax returns under the extension of time arrangements.
Taxpayers with balance dates from 1 April to 30 September must file their return by the due date for the preceding 31 March year.
Taxpayers with balance dates from 1 October to 31 March must file their returns by the due date for the following 31 March year.
Taxpayers failing to file returns by the due date may lose their extension of time resulting in earlier return and terminal tax payment dates for subsequent income years.
Taxpayer Penalties
Reassessed tax may incur the following penalties:
| Lack of Reasonable Care | 20% |
| Unacceptable Tax Position | 20% |
| Gross Carelessness | 40% |
| Abusive Tax Position | 100% |
| Evasion | 150% |
The above penalties may be reduced for disclosure before an audit by 75% or during an audit by 40%. Above penalties may be increased by 25% for obstruction.
Late Payment If you don’t pay your taxes or duties on time, you will face standard penalties for late payment.
- All initial late payment penalties imposed on and after 1 April 2002 are staggered in two phases.
- An initial 1% late payment penalty will be charged on the day after the due date.
- A further 4% penalty will be charged if there is still an amount of unpaid tax (including penalties) at the end of the 7th day from the due date.
- Every month the amount owing remains unpaid a further 1% incremental penalty will be added.
Late payment penalties may be remitted in limited circumstances. These penalties apply to all taxes and duties, but not to student loan or child support payments.