Understanding Your KiwiSaver Contributions
How much you contribute depends on whether you are an employee or non-employee
Updated 19 July 2024
​How much you have to contribute to KiwiSaver?
How much you contribute depends on whether you are an employee or non-employee.
Employees
You can choose to contribute either 3%, 4%, 6%, 8% or 10% of your pay, or a specific amount above as a voluntary contribution. If you don't choose an amount, the default rate of 3% will apply.
For KiwiSaver contributions your pay is your salary or wages. This includes:
This doesn't include:
For KiwiSaver contributions your pay is your salary or wages. This includes:
- Allowances
- Bonuses
- Commission
- Extra salary
- Overtime
- Gratuities
- Any other remuneration of any kind before tax.
This doesn't include:
- Redundancy payments
- The value of providing board or lodging, or use of a house or part of a house, or the payment of an allowance instead of the provision of this benefit
- The cost of accommodation overseas
- Overseas living expenses and allowances
- Some types of grants, pensions and benefits
- Free or discounted shares received under an employee share scheme
- Payments under a Voluntary Bonding Scheme funded by the Ministry for Primary Industries, the Ministry of Health or the Ministry of Education.
- An overpayment of an amount of a superannuation cash contribution that an employee chooses to have treated as salary or wages
- Honoraria payments paid by Fire and Emergency New Zealand to a volunteer
​Non-employees
If you're not an employee - for example, you're:
If that's you, your contribution rate will be set out in the contract you have with your KiwiSaver provider. There may be:
You can contact your scheme provider for details about your contribution rate.
- Self-employed
- A contractor
- Not working
- Receiving a benefit
If that's you, your contribution rate will be set out in the contract you have with your KiwiSaver provider. There may be:
- A minimum annual sum, or
- Specific payment periods that apply, such as monthly or quarterly.
You can contact your scheme provider for details about your contribution rate.
​Change your contribution rate
Employees
You can contribute 3%, 4%, 6%, 8% or 10% of your pay. Changing your rate is easy. You can change your contribution rate once every 3 months, unless your employer agrees to a shorter timeframe. To do this you need to let your employer know in writing.
You can do this:
Non-employees
If you're not an employee - for example, you're self-employed, a contractor, not working or receiving a benefit, then the contribution you pay will be set out in the contract you have with your KiwiSaver provider. There may be:
You can contribute 3%, 4%, 6%, 8% or 10% of your pay. Changing your rate is easy. You can change your contribution rate once every 3 months, unless your employer agrees to a shorter timeframe. To do this you need to let your employer know in writing.
You can do this:
- By completing a KiwiSaver deduction form (KS2) and giving it to your employer, or
- By letter, indicating your new rate (3%, 4%, 6%, 8% or 10%).
- If you want to contribute more than the maximum rate, you can make a payment directly to your scheme provider.
Non-employees
If you're not an employee - for example, you're self-employed, a contractor, not working or receiving a benefit, then the contribution you pay will be set out in the contract you have with your KiwiSaver provider. There may be:
- A minimum annual sum
- Specific payment periods that apply, such as monthly or quarterly.
- If you want to reduce or increase the contributions you make, you'll need to talk to 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.
Related Guides
- KiwiSaver Hardship - if you're a KiwiSaver member and struggling with your finances, our guide explains everything you need to do to ask for an early redemption
- Contributions holiday - if you're wanting to take a break from contributing, our guide explains your options
- KiwiSaver First Home Withdrawal Guide - if you want to use your KiwiSaver balance for a house deposit, our guide explains everything you need to know
- Your employer's KiwiSaver contributions - If you're a KiwiSaver member making contributions from your pay, your employer will also contribute to your KiwiSaver savings
- Government KiwiSaver contributions - To help you save, the Government will make an annual contribution towards your KiwiSaver account as long as you meet certain conditions.
- Voluntary KiwiSaver contributions - make voluntary contributions (or lump sum payments) at any time, either directly to your KiwiSaver provider or through Inland Revenue
- KiwiSaver and tax - KiwiSaver contributions are deducted from your before-tax pay, and our guide explains everything you need to know.
- How to check your KiwiSaver contributions - Keeping track of your KiwiSaver contributions is easy with 'My KiwiSaver'
- KiwiSaver Withdrawal - If you joined KiwiSaver on or after 1 July 2019, you can withdraw your savings when you qualify for NZ Super (currently 65)
- KiwiSaver Providers - You can choose which scheme to join, even if you're provisionally allocated to an employer-chosen/default scheme
- Opting out of KiwiSaver - If you're a new employee who's been automatically enrolled, you can choose to opt out of KiwiSaver
- KiwiSaver Fund Selection Guide - 10 Must-Know Facts Revealing Everything You Need To Know About KiwiSaver
- KiwiSaver Calculator - our retirement calculator considers KiwiSaver contributions, how much you earn right now, how much you plan to spend during retirement, and how old you are, among other factors
