How your take-home pay is calculated
Your take-home pay is your salary minus:
- Income tax at the 2026–27 rates, less the independent earner tax credit if you use tax code ME.
- The ACC earners’ levy of 1.75%, which is part of PAYE.
- Student loan repayments, if you have a loan.
- KiwiSaver contributions, if you’re a member. They come out after tax.
If you’re in KiwiSaver, your employer also pays at least 3.5% into your account. That money isn’t part of your take-home pay, but it’s yours for retirement or a first home.
About these estimates
The calculator works out PAYE for the full year and spreads it evenly across your pays. IRD’s PAYE tables round each pay, so a single payslip can differ by a few cents. It assumes this is your main job; second jobs use secondary tax codes. See our methodology and sources for every assumption and the IRD sources we use.