Tax rates and guides
The current New Zealand tax rates, and plain-English explanations of what comes out of your pay.
29 guides, checked against official sources
- Pay & benefits NZ tax codes explained: M, ME, SL and secondary codes Which New Zealand tax code to use, in plain English. What M, ME, SL and secondary codes like S and SH mean, and what happens if you pick the wrong one. Read the guide
- Retirement & saving KiwiSaver contributions in 2026–27: the new 3.5% rate How much goes into your KiwiSaver from 1 April 2026, in plain English. Your 3.5% default rate, what your employer and the government add, and a worked example. Read the guide
- Buying a home First home buyer guide: KiwiSaver, First Home Loan and costs Buying your first home in New Zealand: using KiwiSaver for the deposit, the First Home Loan with 5% down, how much you can borrow and costs to plan for. Read the guide
- Retirement & saving How much should I save in KiwiSaver? How much to save for retirement in New Zealand, why starting early matters most, a simple target, and how to get the most from KiwiSaver on top of NZ Super. Read the guide
- Loans & credit Student loan repayments in New Zealand How much you repay on your student loan from your pay in 2026–27: 12 cents for every dollar over $24,128, with examples, second jobs and moving overseas. Read the guide
- Buying a home Home loan deposit and debt-to-income rules How New Zealand's deposit (LVR) and debt-to-income (DTI) rules decide how much you can borrow for a home, what counts as debt, and help for first home buyers. Read the guide
- Income tax Independent earner tax credit (IETC) explained Who gets New Zealand's $520 independent earner tax credit, the $24,000 to $70,000 income range, who can't get it, and how to claim it with tax code ME. Read the guide
- Loans & credit How to build a credit history from scratch in New Zealand New to credit? What builds a credit history in New Zealand, how long things stay on your credit report and how to check it free. Read the guide
- Loans & credit Credit scores in NZ: what affects yours and how to raise it How credit scores work in New Zealand, the three credit bureaus, what lenders look at, how to check your report free and how to improve your score. Read the guide
- Money basics How to spot and report money scams in New Zealand The warning signs almost every scam shares, common scams in New Zealand, how to check an investment and protect your accounts, and where to report a scam. Read the guide
- Money myths Myth: checking your credit score lowers it (NZ) Checking your own credit report or score never affects it in New Zealand. What does count, how to compare loans safely and how to fix mistakes on your report. Read the guide
- Pay & benefits ACC earners' levy explained What the ACC earners' levy is and how much you pay in 2026–27, in plain English. 1.75% of your pay up to $156,641, taken with your PAYE. Read the guide
- Money basics Banking basics in New Zealand: everyday accounts and savings How everyday and savings accounts work in New Zealand, what to look for, how the Depositor Compensation Scheme protects your money, and tax on interest. Read the guide
- Pay & benefits NZ Super and benefit payment dates and Winter Energy Payment When NZ Super and main benefits are paid, how Christmas and New Year 2026–27 changes the dates, and the Winter Energy Payment rates and season. Read the guide
- Pay & benefits Working for Families and other help you might be missing The main New Zealand payments and tax credits for working people and families, including Working for Families and FamilyBoost, and how to check yours. Read the guide
- Loans & credit Buy now, pay later in NZ: costs, credit and the rules How buy now, pay later works in New Zealand, what it costs when you miss a payment, how it affects your credit and a home loan, and the rules that protect you. Read the guide
- Investing Capital gains in NZ: the bright-line test, shares and FIF When capital gains are taxed in New Zealand: the 2-year bright-line test for property, buying to sell, crypto, NZ and overseas shares, and the FIF rules. Read the guide
- Loans & credit Help with debt in NZ: free advice and formal options Where to get free, confidential help with debt in New Zealand, how to ask lenders for hardship help, which bills to pay first, and the formal debt options. Read the guide
- Money basics Emergency fund in NZ: how much you need and where to keep it Why an emergency fund comes before almost everything else, how to work out yours, where to keep it in New Zealand and how to build it from nothing. Read the guide
- Money basics How to make a budget in New Zealand (the 50/30/20 rule) A simple way to budget in New Zealand: start from your take-home pay, budget weekly if you’re paid weekly, and split it into needs, wants and savings. Read the guide
- Loans & credit How to pay off debt in New Zealand: avalanche or snowball? How to pay off several debts in New Zealand: the avalanche and snowball methods, which saves more, and how to pay less interest, with a worked example. Read the guide
- Investing Index funds vs picking stocks in New Zealand: why go passive Why most fund managers fail to beat an index fund, what fees cost you, how index funds are taxed in New Zealand, and how to start in or outside KiwiSaver. Read the guide
- Money basics Inflation and interest rates in New Zealand, explained What inflation is, why the Reserve Bank of New Zealand raises and cuts the OCR, and what both mean for your savings, debts and mortgage. Read the guide
- Money basics Insurance basics in NZ: what you need and what to skip Which insurance matters most in New Zealand: what ACC covers, income protection, health and life cover, home and car insurance, and what you can skip. Read the guide
- Investing Investing basics: KiwiSaver, funds and getting started What investing is, how shares, bonds and funds work, how to get the most from KiwiSaver, and how to start investing outside it in New Zealand. Read the guide
- Money myths Myth: a pay rise into a higher bracket cuts your pay (NZ) A higher tax bracket only taxes the extra income. Why a pay rise doesn’t cut your take-home pay in New Zealand, with an example and one limit to watch. Read the guide
- Money myths Myth: renting is dead money (NZ) Owners pay a lot they never get back too: interest, council rates, insurance and repairs. How to compare renting and buying fairly in New Zealand. Read the guide
- Income tax Side hustle tax in New Zealand: IR3, GST and provisional tax How side hustle income is taxed in New Zealand: the IR3, what to set aside, the $60,000 GST threshold, GST on app services, provisional tax and ACC levies. Read the guide
- Investing Where to invest: KiwiSaver, PIE funds or shares? Investing in New Zealand: KiwiSaver, PIE funds, term deposits, shares and property, how each is taxed, and the FIF rules for overseas shares over $50,000. Read the guide
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