​Opting out of KiwiSaver - What You Need to Know
If you're a new employee who's been automatically enrolled, you can choose to opt out of KiwiSaver. If you don't opt out, you'll remain a KiwiSaver member and deductions will continue to be made from your pay
Updated 13 September 2024
​Who can opt out of KiwiSaver?
- If you have been automatically enrolled in KiwiSaver, you can't opt out until you've been in your job for 2 weeks.
- After 2 weeks, you can opt out any time during this period
- Then, after 8 weeks, you can't opt out. You can apply for a late opt out, or for an early contributions holiday (savings suspension)
More details are outlined on Inland Revenue's website.
The table below explains other scenarios:
If You: |
Then you: |
Chose to join KiwiSaver |
Can't opt out - but you may be able to take a savings suspension |
Have been automatically enrolled |
Can opt out |
Are less than 19 years old |
May be able to opt out |
​How you opt out of KiwiSaver
Firstly, complete a 'New employee opt-out request form' (KS10) and give it to your employer or Inland Revenue.
If you're under 19
You may not be able to opt out if you've done something that shows you wanted to be a KiwiSaver member. This could be:
In these cases you may not be able to opt out even if you're not yet 19.
Send a completed New employee opt-out request form (KS10) to Inland Revenue with your reason for opting out. If you're under 16 you'll also need consent from a parent or other legal guardian to opt out.
If you're under 19
- If you were incorrectly enrolled before you turned 18, you may be able to opt out before you turn 19.
- If you're under 18 you may have been incorrectly enrolled in KiwiSaver if you joined through an employer and were enrolled automatically or you opted in. You may have also been incorrectly enrolled if you enrolled with a KiwiSaver scheme provider, but didn't have consent from your legal guardian(s).
You may not be able to opt out if you've done something that shows you wanted to be a KiwiSaver member. This could be:
- You've contacted your provider and chosen your own investment scheme
- Your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) have contacted your provider and given consent for you to be in KiwiSaver, or
- You opted in directly with a provider after you turned 18.
In these cases you may not be able to opt out even if you're not yet 19.
Send a completed New employee opt-out request form (KS10) to Inland Revenue with your reason for opting out. If you're under 16 you'll also need consent from a parent or other legal guardian to opt out.
What happens after you opt out of KiwiSaver?
First, the Inland Revenue will notify your employer. Then, your employer will stop:
The Inland Revenue will refund to you any contributions already deducted from your pay and your employer any employer contributions. Your employer may refund to you any contributions already deducted from your pay but not yet forwarded to Inland Revenue.
- Deducting KiwiSaver contributions from your pay, and
- Making employer contributions
The Inland Revenue will refund to you any contributions already deducted from your pay and your employer any employer contributions. Your employer may refund to you any contributions already deducted from your pay but not yet forwarded to Inland Revenue.
How long do contribution refunds from Inland Revenue take?
Refunding your contributions could take some time after they've been deducted from your pay. This is because even if you're paid weekly or fortnightly, employers file their payroll information with Inland Revenue monthly. It then takes time to process the information. Generally speaking, it takes 30 working days to process a refund.
Who can opt out of KiwiSaver late?
If events outside your control mean you can't complete the opt out request within 8 weeks (56 days) of starting your new job, you can apply for a late opt out. The Inland Revenue may accept late opt outs for up to 3 months after receiving your first contribution if:
- Your employer didn't supply you with a KiwiSaver employee information pack (KS3) within 7 days of you starting your job or
- The Inland Revenue didn't send you a product disclosure statement for the default KiwiSaver scheme that you were allocated to or
- Your employer didn't give you a product disclosure statement for their chosen KiwiSaver scheme or
- Events outside your control prevented you from delivering your opt-out notice on time or
- You were automatically enrolled when you shouldn't have been.
How to opt out late
You can do it online by sending a completed Opt-out request form (KS10) to Inland Revenue, including your reason for opting out late.
Getting your late opt-out refund
It can take up to 3 months to send your refund to you, as we may have to get your contributions back from your KiwiSaver provider.
You can do it online by sending a completed Opt-out request form (KS10) to Inland Revenue, including your reason for opting out late.
Getting your late opt-out refund
It can take up to 3 months to send your refund to you, as we may have to get your contributions back from your KiwiSaver provider.
Credit: This information originally appeared on kiwisaver.govt.nz before the website was closed down. MoneyHub's research team continues to keep it up to date.