The Beginner's Guide to Personal Income Tax in New Zealand

Our guide walks you through tax basics in New Zealand, such as IRD numbers, tax codes, and taxes for niche circumstances. We also help answer frequently asked questions regarding tax for beginners.

Updated 26 March 2022

Know This First:

The two things that are certain in life are death and taxes. Therefore, most of your working life will require that you pay taxes. Because it's such a regular and essential part of New Zealand life, it can be useful to understand and learn the basics of tax and how it applies to you.
Unfortunately, while the New Zealand government tries to make it simple and easy for New Zealanders to pay the correct tax each year, tax is a complicated area for many people and can cause stress around the tax year-end.

Please note, this guide does not cover tax on investments. Our dedicated guide to tax on investments and savings has this covered.

The General Process:

If you're starting a job with a new employer, the first step will be to provide your employer with your IRD number and fill out a form detailing your tax code. You'll then be taxed every payday and receive your net wages in your bank account.
If you're are self-employed, how you organise your taxes will be slightly different. Importantly, self-employment includes contracting and small business owners and those operating as a sole trader.
Every New Zealand tax payer will be issued with an income tax assessment for most people's most recent tax year (usually sometime between April and May). This assessment includes the relevant income and expense information the IRD has collected regarding your employment, investments, and benefits. It will show whether you are due a refund, whether you need to pay additional tax or whether you have paid the correct amount of tax during the year and do not need to do anything. You will need to check the assessment and confirm whether this is correct. If it's not, you will need to advise the IRD of any additional details they've missed.
For the majority of people that have a single income, the tax process will be relatively simple and won't require any paid software or additional help. Instead, you will likely confirm the IRD's assessment of your tax and either receive a refund or pay the small tax amount owing by February of the following year.
Despite the ease of tax assessment for employees, things are not as simple for anyone working for themselves. A growing portion of New Zealand's self-employed are outsourcing their tax accounting, as are those with complicated situations. For many self-employed people running their own business, time is valuable.
The more unique your situation, the more complicated your taxes will be (and the longer it will take to sort through them). Utilising a tax accountant or bespoke software is a great way to save time and money to focus on your business. Software solutions can provide the functionality and support you need to thoroughly go through the tax return process.

Why we've published this guide:
To explain what you need to know about tax, our guide walks you through tax basics in New Zealand, such as IRD numbers, tax codes, and taxes for niche circumstances. This guide will also address the most frequently asked questions regarding tax for beginners.

Our guide covers:

Fast Answers - What Do I Need to Know in My Situation?

I've just taken on a second PAYE job. What do I need to know?
I run a little side hustle as a sole trader. So what do I need to know?
I've just started my own business. What do I need to know?
I'm a student and don't currently work, but I've just received $100 of dividends from a stock I own. So what do I need to know?
I've just been asked to do overtime at work. I'm worried I will get double taxed. What do I need to know?

Basics of New Zealand Tax

Employee vs Side Hustles vs Self-Employed - How to 'do' Your Tax

Tax Forms and How to Organise Your Taxes

myIR and FAQs

Please note, this guide does not cover tax on investments. Our dedicated guide to tax on investments and savings has this covered.

MoneyHub Founder Christopher Walsh shares his view on tax in New Zealand and handling your tax obligations:

"If you're an employee on a salary or regular wages, your income tax is arguably going to be quite simple. However, many New Zealanders are self-employed, contracting, running side hustles and picking up extra work. If this is you, tax can become time-consuming and risky if you do it wrong.

As someone self-employed, I've struggled with tax management, despite having a law degree and being a chartered accountant. It's not that tax is complicated - the issue is there are many moving parts, and you need to align everything all while trying to work your full-time job and/or build a business.

In the interests of full disclosure, I use Hnry for my personal taxes, and I think it's fantastic. I also use Xero for my businesses interests which I believe is invaluable. So I can understand why both of these New Zealand-made apps have become global successes - they solve a problem that's otherwise a right nuisance to sort out yourself.

This guide is prepared for all New Zealand taxpayers. However, this guide will be of particular importance for anyone self-employed or trying to figure out how to deal with tax from a second (or third) income stream.

Whatever you decide to do with your tax affairs, I believe services such as Hnry make worrying about tax a thing of the past".

MoneyHub Founder
Christopher Walsh

Visit Hnry

Your beginner's guide to tax is sponsored by our friends at Hnry. Hnry automatically pays and files taxes for self-employed New Zealanders, which gives everyone more time to focus on growing their business.

Hnry has a wide appeal, with a strong customer base representing Self-employed Tradies, Freelancers & Creators, Independent Contractors and Medical Contractors, among others. If you're self-employed, Hnry makes things easy:

Whenever you get paid, Hnry automatically pays your Income Tax, GST, ACC, and Student Loan, which means you're always up-to-date on your tax obligations.
As part of the service, Hnry's accountants will also file your returns (Income Tax & GST) whenever they're due.
You can also use Hnry to send invoices, have them pay online (with a card) and remind them if they're late paying.

MoneyHub is a big fan of Hnry and understands why their service has become so popular in recent years throughout New Zealand. MoneyHub's founder Christopher Walsh has been a Hnry customer for some time and talks positively about his experience in this Hnry review.

Fast Answers - What Do I Need to Know in My Situation?

This section will detail a few common scenarios you may encounter in your own lives. We've incorporated a few short, simple answers to each of the different situations below and referenced where you can go to learn more.

1. I've just taken on a second PAYE job. What do I need to know?

If you've taken on a second job that uses the PAYE system, your employer will deduct tax on this income. The tax code they will estimate or ask you will fall under the secondary income category.
The purpose of a secondary tax isn't to tax you harshly for taking on another job. Instead, secondary tax is put in place to ensure you are being charged the correct tax rate and avoid getting a sizeable tax bill at the end of the year. While the rates will differ, secondary tax is designed to improve your cash flow throughout the year (by paying tax this year on your second income through PAYE, you won't have a huge tax bill next year).
The main point is that you are not paying double tax on a second income. Any income above and beyond the rate you are meant to pay will be refunded to you. Secondary tax is simply the terminology used to classify the tax paid on your second income.
The secondary tax rates differ because it's assumed you are earning at least minimum wage from your primary income, in either a part-time or full-time capacity. This means that your second income will likely increase the total amount of income you earn above the first few tax thresholds (such as the 10.5% and 17.5% threshold).
Therefore, if you were taxed at the initial 10.5% on your second income, you would likely be underpaying tax as the correct threshold for paying on the additional income is likely much higher.

Secondary Tax Code	Secondary Tax Rate
SB	10.50%
S	17.50%
SH	30%
ST	33%
SA	39%

Source: IRD

For example, if you earned $70,000 in your primary job but took on a second PAYE job earning $10,000 and set your secondary tax code to SB, you would be paying 10.5% on the secondary tax, when you should be paying 33%. This means you will likely owe a significant amount at the tax-year end.

2. I run a little side hustle as a sole trader. So what do I need to know?

Firstly, if you run a side hustle, remember to save and record all expenses associated with your business. This includes business leases, company meeting costs, phone bills or other business-related expenses.
These will be needed at the end of the tax year when you calculate the profit or loss associated with your business. All self-employed people (including those running a side hustle) can claim business expenses.
Secondly, ensure that you accurately record the amount of income you generate from your side hustle. In addition, side hustles are typically not set up for PAYE, meaning the IRD will likely not know if you are earning an income from it.
Finally, if this is a secondary source of income that pays PAYE, refer to the sections above on choosing tax codes and paying secondary tax. Ensure that you choose the right secondary tax bracket. If you are already earning more than $70,000 from your primary income, setting a low secondary tax code will result in you underpaying tax throughout the year, meaning your tax bill at year-end will be much larger than anticipated.

3. I've just started my own business. What do I need to know?

It's important to ensure you've completed all the formal documentation to start your own company. This includes setting up a company structure, getting a New Zealand business number, securing your name and registering your company with the company's office and Inland Revenue (for Goods and Services Tax – or GST).
Whether you're operating as a sole trader or a company will also make a difference. If you're a sole trader, you will be using your own personal IRD number to pay taxes. More important information on starting a business can be found here.
The IRD has also set up an incentive scheme to encourage business owners to pay tax early when starting a new business. If done so, a 6.7% discount can be provided on eligible tax paid. Factors that determine the eligibility of early payment discount include whether you're self-employed, where you derive most of your income, whether you make a voluntary income tax payment before the end of the income year, and whether you've had an early payment discount previously. For more specifics on the early payment discount, you can find information here and here.

4. I'm a student and don't currently work, but I've just received $100 of dividends from a stock I own. So what do I need to know?

You need to pay tax on all income you receive for most situations. For example, dividends are considered a form of income, so they must be declared.
However, if you have received $200 or less New Zealand dollars of dividends and don't have any other income, you are likely exempt from filing a tax return.
This is because the IRD have an automatic write-off threshold for people with incomes of $200 or less. So in this example, your sole income is from dividends totalling $100, meaning you are below the threshold and won't need to file a tax return. More information on this can be found here.

5. I've just been asked to do overtime at work. I'm worried I will get double taxed. What do I need to know?

It's important to note that you won't get overly penalised for any additional work. You will only ever pay the proportional amount of tax you owe in any tax year. If you decide to do overtime at work, you will still earn that income, and the tax rate you pay will always align with the applicable rates.
You will not get double taxed in New Zealand for any additional work you take through overtime or side hustles you pursue. The only way you will pay more percentage of tax is if you cross over one of the thresholds set out by IRD (at $14,000, $48,000, $70,000 and $180,000 for primary tax rates).
So in the above example, If you are already earning $70,000 a year, and your boss asks you to work overtime, your income may go above $70,000, meaning every additional dollar you earn in overtime will lead to a 33% tax on that income. This does NOT mean you are taxed twice, but just that due to the larger income amount, the percentage you pay on the overtime work has increased naturally.

Basics of New Zealand Tax

1. Getting an IRD Number

An IRD number is the main way that the New Zealand government's tax department (The Inland Revenue – know as the "IRD") identifies, monitors and tracks how much you make as income. It also identifies how much you need to pay or what you're owed. If you were born in New Zealand, you probably already have an IRD number.

An IRD number is relevant in many common situations, such as earning income, joining KiwiSaver, opening a banking account or buying and selling property. However, an IRD number is unique to each person or entity, and you will not automatically be assigned an IRD number. As a result, if you don't have an IRD number, you will need to apply for one.

To get an IRD number

More information on the application process can be found here for those living in New Zealand that aren't considered new arrivals.
If you're considered a new arrival to New Zealand, more information on the application process can be found here.
More information on the application process can be found here for those living overseas who are likely to come to New Zealand.

2. What are Tax Codes and What do they Mean?

Tax Codes are the main method that IRD uses to identify and process how they tax you. Employers use tax codes to ensure they tax you at the right time and for the right amount. Tax codes apply to individuals only, not businesses. Tax Codes identify elements of your income, such as whether it is your main source or secondary source, whether you have a student loan and other specific categories. Common categories include being a casual agricultural worker, seasonal worker or election day worker.

The IRD has a comprehensive process that you can input to understand which tax code you fit under. It can be found on the IRD website here. Please don't worry if you think you've input the wrong tax code. If the IRD notices that you are potentially using the wrong code, they will inform you or your employer of this. Any tax you owe (or tax you're owed) will be processed in the next tax return.

3. The New Zealand Tax System

New Zealand runs a Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) structure that takes out the estimated taxes you owe on your income before it gets paid to you. This is in contrast to some other tax systems around the world, whereby you would get paid your gross salary (without any taxes taken out) then calculate what tax you owe at the end of the year. However, this can complicate taxes and lead some people to file their tax returns incorrectly.

Additionally, other countries have different taxes depending on where you live. For example, the USA has taxes at the state level (e.g. California or New York region) and at the federal level (USA). On the other hand, New Zealand has one singular tax system.

Our View: The New Zealand tax system makes it easier for New Zealanders to file their taxes accurately. This reduces any "tax risk" and allows every tax payer to pay-as-they-earn. At the tax-year end, the IRD will typically issue a draft return for you based on their estimates of income and tax paid (largely from PAYE and other reference sources). This makes it simple for most people to confirm that the assessment is true and that you have no other income or expenses that would change this tax amount owing.

Employee vs Side Hustles vs Self-Employed - How to 'do' Your Tax

1. The Basics of Tax for Employees

If you're starting a job with a new employer, the first step will be to provide your employer with your IRD number and fill out a form detailing your tax code. This form covers whether this job is your main income and whether you have a student loan, among other things. You will also need to provide a bank account to transfer your wages and potentially the prescribed tax rate that they will tax you at. How much you're paid after-tax will depend on how much income you make, and in some cases, the employer may set a higher rate out of prudence.

For example, if you earn $75,000 a year – the $5,000 above $70,000 will be taxed at 33%. Your employer may, in some situations, wish to set the tax rate they pay to IRD each month at 33%. However, this would mean that the first $70,000 of income you earn is taxed at 33%. In essence, you will initially be paying more tax than you need to be. At the tax-year end, IRD will automatically calculate the tax you should have paid and compare it to the tax you did pay. As a result, you will likely receive a tax refund, given your employer has set your tax rate higher than what you actually needed to pay.

2. Tax for Side Hustles or Contracting

It is more common than not to consider or actively pursue side hustles or contracting as a secondary form of income in the digital age. In addition, the gig economy and desire for short-term employees is on the rise. Therefore, it's increasingly important to understand the tax implications of taking on this second job. You must pay tax on all sources of income, including second incomes such as a side hustle or contracting.

The secondary tax rates are detailed below:

Secondary Tax Code	Secondary Tax Rate
SB	10.50%
S	17.50%
SH	30%
ST	33%
SA	39%

Source: IRD

Important: Your employer may not use PAYE to deduct taxes for you as a contractor. In this instance, it is important that you accurately include the relevant income you earned from side hustles or contracting at the end of the tax year-end. This will mean you'll need to set aside income you generate to pay the taxable share.

3. Tax for the Self-Employed

Taxes will operate slightly differently if you are self-employed and run your own business as a sole trader. Important: self-employment includes contracting and small business owners and operating as a sole trader.

People who are self-employed use their individual personal IRD number to pay tax. You are taxed on your net profit generated from business activities through filing an individual income tax return each year. For those who are self-employed operating as sole traders, PAYE is the most popular (and arguably easiest) way to account for tax.

Know This: One unique trait of being self-employed is that you can claim expenses back on activities you've carried out for your business. Whether that's buying a car to get to your client or office space, or space you use working from home, these expenses are tax-deductible and will reduce the tax you likely need to pay. More information on this, as well as any self-employed benefits and details, can be found here.

Visit Hnry

Whenever you get paid, Hnry automatically pays your Income Tax, GST, ACC, and Student Loan, which means you're always up-to-date on your tax obligations.
As part of the service, Hnry's accountants will also file your returns (Income Tax & GST) whenever they're due.
You can also use Hnry to send invoices, have them pay online (with a card) and remind them if they're late paying.

Tax Forms and How to Organise Your Taxes

1. Understand 'IR3' - The Most Common Form You Will Need to Submit to the IRD

The IRD will automatically issue you an income tax assessment for most people's most recent tax year. Typically, they send these out from late May to July. This assessment includes the relevant income and expense information the IRD has collected regarding your employment, investments, and benefits. It will show whether you are due a refund, whether you need to pay additional tax or whether you have paid the correct amount of tax during the year and do not need to do anything.

What do I need to do?

You will need to check the assessment and confirm whether this is correct. If not, you will need to provide more information.
In some circumstances, you'll need to file an additional form. The most common you will need to submit to the IRD is what is known as an IR3.
An IR3 is an individual tax return that spans the 1st of April to the 31st of March. In the form, you will need to detail any income you earned and any associated expenses you had during the tax year.
An IR3 is similar to the IRD tax assessment they automatically generate, but with many more line items that detail specific situations such as rental property, overseas income, research and development tax incentives and "under the table" cash jobs. (Note – "under the table" cash jobs are a form of income, and tax must be paid on this).
If the IRD assessment is correct and there are no changes you are making, refunds will automatically be paid into the bank account from mid-May to July. The IRD's processing times for these assessments will vary from year to year.
If the IRD assessment is correct and you have outstanding tax you need to pay, this will typically be due in early February of the following year. For example, your assessment will come out in the middle of the year, providing 6+ months for you to pay it.

What if I owe tax?

If you owe a significant amount of tax (the amount varies, but it is currently set at $5,000), you may be eligible to pay provisional tax (pay off your tax in instalments).
This is designed to make it easier and less financially burdensome to pay off your tax. Provisional tax is common for people who earn rental income, as contractors or are self-employed.
Typically, these situations will not use PAYE, meaning their tax bills are significant. Provisional tax is typically segmented into 2, 3, 6, or 12 instalments throughout the following year. You can find more information on provisional tax and if it applies to you here.

2. DIY Tax Calculation Versus Outsourcing to Tax Accountants

For the majority of people that have a single income, the tax process will be relatively simple and won't require any paid software or additional help. Instead, you will likely just confirm the IRD's assessment of your tax and either receive a refund or pay the small tax amount owing by February of the following year.

However, a growing portion of New Zealand's self-employed are outsourcing their tax accounting, as are those with complicated situations. For many self-employed people running their own business, time is valuable. The more unique your situation, the more complicated your taxes will be (and the longer it will take to sort through them). Utilising a tax accountant or bespoke software is a great way to save time and money to focus on your business. Software solutions such as Xero, Hnry or Beany are alternatives to relying on DIY calculation of taxes. They can provide the functionality and support you need to thoroughly go through the tax return process.

Do I need to use a paid service, or can I handle tax affairs myself?
Ultimately, it will depend on the type of income you earn, your unique situation, and whether the cost of software or tax accounts outweighs the cost and time of DIY calculation on your taxes or not working on your business.

3. Snapshot Profile of HNRY (Our Pick for the Easiest Way for Anyone 'nonsalaried' to Manage Their Tax

If you're earning income from a range of sources, run a business (or more than one), are a contractor or generally 'non-salaried', you'll need to organise your tax filings and make sure you do everything properly to avoid penalties and underpaying (or overpaying) your tax. You can either hire an accountant that charges per hour, do it all yourself or use an app like Hnry.

Our research team believes that Hnry offers the best solution, and it's a service fast becoming popular (per this Stuff.co.nz article) among tens of thousands of New Zealanders. To help explain what Hnry is, we've summarised the important points from our Hnry review:

Hnry in a Nutshell:

Hnry is an online accountant and invoicing app that pays tax, ACC and all other gross deductions on your behalf. The app also organises your income into reports, lets you send invoices and quotes, and lodge/claim back expenses against your income.
Unlike many accountants who charge on an hourly or report basis, Hnry is a pay-as-you-go service with a variable fee based on how much you earn in self-employed income. You'll pay 1% + GST on every $100 you earn, up to $1,500+GST per year. Those who earn more than $150,000 in a year will not get charged more than $1,500 in Hnry fees.
Hnry is a registered tax agent of IRD and ACC and highly regulated. The app delivers speed, frictionless processes, regular new features and transparency.
Hnry is interactive and customer-focused - support is offered via online chat, email and phone.
Hnry users can utilise the app to send invoices to clients, log expenses, access payslips and send quotes to current and potential clients. Everything is done online, thus avoiding the need for Excel, Word and any other offline tools.

Who uses Hnry?

Hnry is designed exclusively for independent contractors, freelancers, and sole traders who want an easy-to-use and low-cost accounting service that eliminates the risk of underpaying taxes and other obligations. Hnry is the only service (that we know of) that automatically pays taxes for sole traders.

Must Know Facts:

Hnry costs nothing to sign up to, and you'll only pay its (transparent) 1% + GST fee when you receive income. This makes it a no-fee/no-risk service which is unique in the accounting/personal taxes industry.
Hnry's features continue to expand - being able to invoice clients directly, manage quotes, set income/savings allocations and have everything accessible in an online portal and app are unrivalled features that make Hnry a very strong offering.
For more details about the service, read our Hnry Review or Visit the Hnry website.

What is myIR?

myIR is the IRD's online services platform. Any New Zealand taxpayer can use myIR to check:

Whether they're due a tax refund (or have tax to pay)
Student loan balance
Working for Families Tax Credits
KiwiSaver payments
Child support payments

myIR can also be used to:

File a tax return;
Update personal details

How do I access myIR?

You can register for myIR here - the IRD's website explains everything you'll need. If you need more information, we suggest contacting the IRD.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do we need to request a tax refund? Is it automatic?

In most situations, if you are paying under PAYE (e.g. you're a salaried employee or on regular hours/wages), the IRD will automatically calculate your taxes due. However, you will need to let IRD know whether any changes are made. If you have nothing to change and IRD has calculated that you are owed a refund, this amount will automatically get transferred to your account.

However, there are instances where income is undisclosed that doesn't go through PAYE. As such, you may be asked for more information or have to manually file your tax return (IR3). Regardless, at the end of the tax year, you will need to visit the IRD website to either confirm your income and tax paid or include income that has not been tracked at the end of the tax year.

Can you get a tax refund from a paper run or other part-time work?

Yes - if, for example, the paper run income is paid through an employer that operates PAYE, and the tax rate you're paying each week is higher than the amount you should be paid (e.g. 28% each week, but you only earned $14,000 throughout the year), then you are likely entitled to a tax refund. Paper round income, just like any paid income, is subject to tax given it is a source of income.

Why is it that my weekly pay doesn't change when the first $14,000 is taxed less?

Your employer will set a tax rate that you will pay each time you get paid (largely influenced by the tax code you set). While the tax rate you pay at each threshold is different (for instance, you pay 10.5% on the first $14,000 and $39% above $180,000), your employer will estimate the normalised tax rate you are likely to pay at the end of the year (for most people, this will sit at around 33%).

One of the main reasons so many people get a tax refund is the situation outlined above. For the first $14,000, you should only be taxed 10.5%. But given how IRD has structured the tax system, your employer will (most likely) draw a tax rate higher than this out of your salary (to streamline the tax process and allow one tax rate to be charged the entire year). So you don't actually end up paying too much tax, as IRD calculates the correct amount of tax you should pay (e.g. the IRD will only charge you 10.5% on the first $14,000).

For example, if your employer set your tax rate at 33% and you earn $70,000, assuming no other income or other factors, you would likely be paying a higher tax rate than your "normalised" tax rate. However, you would get a refund at the end of the year. Overall, employers take the same percentage tax each week regardless, but at the end of the tax year-end, the IRD calculates the normalised tax rate and will refund you the excess tax you paid.

How are tax refunds calculated?

Tax refunds are calculated by identifying the difference between the tax you paid throughout the year and the tax you should have been paying based on the respective tax rates for each income bracket below.

Tax rate	Taxable income bracket	Tax owed
10.5%	$0 to $14,000	10.50% of taxable income,
17.50%	$14,001 to $48,000	$1,470 plus 17.50% of the amount over $14,000
30.00%	$48,001 to $70,000	$7,420 plus 30.00% of the amount over $48,000
33.00%	$70,001 to $180,000	$14,020 plus 33.00% of the amount over $70,000
39.00%	$180,000+	$50,320 plus 39.00% of the amount over $180,000

The IRD has a calculator for income tax here, as does our PAYE Income Tax calculator.

Why do people owe money to the IRD?

There are two main reasons. Firstly, you can owe money to the IRD after the tax-year end if you have been paying less than you should have through PAYE (Pay as You Earn) during the year or if you have or earned additional income that has not had tax deducted. This is common for people who earn money from contracting or side hustles.

What is secondary tax?

Secondary tax is the tax you pay on a second source of income. The tax rates for this type of income differ from the main tax rates. More information on this can be found in the section above titled Tax for Side Hustles or Contracting.

Where does our tax go to?

The tax you pay is typically held in custodian accounts on behalf of the New Zealand Government before being pooled and allocated. This is because a large portion of the New Zealand Government's budget is derived from tax revenues.

The tax revenue generated by the IRD goes towards funding services that benefit and support all New Zealanders. This can include funding critical infrastructure spending, social welfare benefits or state services such as police and public education. The IRD works closely with the Treasury and Parliament to plan how to allocate funds. The latest parliamentary budget (where your taxes will go) can be found here.

I am a Non-Resident. How can I get an IRD number?

If you're currently living overseas and are not a New Zealand citizen/permanent resident but are likely to come to New Zealand and earn an income, you can apply for an IRD number when you arrive. You will need relevant certified documents such as proof of identity or valid travel documentation. The IRD has set up a streamlined process for new arrivals to New Zealand that can be accessed here.

What happens if I make money but don't have an IRD number?

For the majority of income-generating activities, you will need an IRD number. If you start to earn income without a corresponding IRD number, the IRD will tax this income at a significantly higher rate of 45%. It is recommended that you apply for an IRD number as soon as possible if you are in this situation. You can find more information here.

I've lost my IRD number. How do I get it back? Do I need to get a new one?

An IRD number is required for all tax-related events in your life. It's advised to keep it somewhere safe and in a place that you'll be less likely to forget about. That said, it's not uncommon to lose track of all the different numbers and passwords in our lives. IRD has an online web form to assist in tracking down your IRD number. You can access this webform here.

Do I have to apply for an IRD number for my child?

Your child will not automatically get an IRD number when they are born, but they are eligible to be registered for one when they're born. An IRD number is mainly used to identify and record tax-related obligations or entitlements. This could include earning income from a job, joining KiwiSaver, applying for a student loan, transferring property in New Zealand or opening a bank account.

Your child will likely need an IRD number if they earn income in any capacity or are included in applications for child support or Working for Families.

Unless your child falls into the specific criteria above, they are unlikely to need an IRD number until they are much older. However, there are situations where you may want to apply for an IRD number on your child's behalf to get ahead. To get an IRD number for your child, you can find more information and register here.

What is the difference between regressive, proportional and progressive tax systems? What tax system does New Zealand have?

There are three main types of tax systems: regressive, proportional and progressive. A short description of all three tax systems is provided below:

1. Regressive Tax System

In the regressive tax system, the people who earn the least income pay the most tax on a percentage basis. For example, someone earning $10,000 may pay 30% of their income, whereas someone earning $100,000 may only pay 10%. Regressive tax systems are not a common tax system as it penalises those that earn the least.

2. Proportional Tax System

In a proportional tax system (commonly known as the flat tax), each individual pays the same tax percentage, regardless of how much income they make.
For example, a country could charge a flat 30% tax for all income. This would mean someone earning $10,000 would pay 30% ($3,000), and someone who earns $100,000 would pay 30% ($30,000).
The percentage of their total income would be the same regardless of how much they made. Proportional tax systems are typically used because they are simple to calculate and implement. Countries like Ukraine, Hungary, Bulgaria and Jersey use proportional tax systems.

3. Progressive Tax System

New Zealand operates a Progressive tax system.
Under a progressive tax system, individuals pay a larger percentage of their income after a certain threshold. For example, In New Zealand, if you only earned $14,000, you would only pay 10.5% as tax. If you earned $48,000, you would pay $10.5% on the $14,000, and 17.5% on the next $34,000 ($48,000 – $14,000).
Overall, your total income would be $48,000, and you would pay $1,470 for the first $14,000 and $5,950 for the next $34,000. Your total tax paid would be $7,420 on $48,000 of income, for an average tax rate of ~15.5%. The progressive tax system is set up to ensure that the people who earn more income pay a higher percentage of their income as tax than those who earn less income.

Visit Hnry

Whenever you get paid, Hnry automatically pays your Income Tax, GST, ACC, and Student Loan, which means you're always up-to-date on your tax obligations.
As part of the service, Hnry's accountants will also file your returns (Income Tax & GST) whenever they're due.
You can also use Hnry to send invoices, have them pay online (with a card) and remind them if they're late paying.

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