Last checked: 22 October 2026

NZ Tax Rates 2026/27

Quick answer: for the 2026/27 tax year (1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027), New Zealand income tax runs from 10.5% to 39%, the ACC earners’ levy is 1.75%, the default KiwiSaver rate is 3.5%, student loan repayments are 12% above the threshold, and GST is 15%.

At a glance

10.5–39%Income taxFive bands, by income
1.75%ACC earners’ levyOn earnings up to $156,641
3.5%KiwiSaver defaultFrom you and from your employer
12%Student loan repaymentOf income above the threshold
15%GSTOn most goods and services

Income tax rates

Each rate applies only to the income inside its band. Type your yearly income to see where you land.

$0 – $15,60010.5%
$15,601 – $53,50017.5%
$53,501 – $78,10030%
$78,101 – $180,00033%
Over $180,00039%
What this means for you: only the part of your income inside each band is taxed at that band’s rate. See our NZ Tax Brackets guide for a full example.

ACC earners’ levy

The levy that funds ACC cover, taken from your pay. It stops once you reach the maximum earnings.

Tax yearRateMaximum earningsMost you can pay
2025/261.67%$152,790$2,551.59
2026/271.75%$156,641$2,741.22
2027/281.83%$160,244$2,932.47

Swipe sideways to see the whole table.

What this means for you: anything you earn above the maximum is not charged ACC levy.

KiwiSaver

The default rate went up on 1 April 2026, with another step coming in 2028.

3.5%Employee rateDefault, from 1 April 2026
3.5%Employer rateDefault, from 1 April 2026
25c per $1Government contributionUp to $260.72 a year
$180,000Contribution cut-offNot paid if your income is over this

Coming up The default rate rises to 4% for both you and your employer from 1 April 2028.

What this means for you: see our KiwiSaver guide to find out what each rate costs per week.

Student loan repayments

12%Repayment rateOf income above the threshold
$24,128Annual thresholdPlease confirm on ird.govt.nz
0%Interest in NZWhile you live in New Zealand
What this means for you: repayments come out of your pay automatically if you use an SL tax code.

Secondary tax codes

With a second job, the code depends on your total yearly income from all sources, not just that job.

CodeTotal yearly incomeRate on the secondary income
SB$0 – $15,60010.5%
S$15,601 – $53,50017.5%
SH$53,501 – $78,10030%
ST$78,101 – $180,00033%
SAOver $180,00039%

Swipe sideways to see the whole table.

Not sure which code you need? Start with our tax codes guide.

GST

15%Goods and services tax on most goods and services in New Zealand.

Key dates

1 April
New tax year starts. ACC and payroll rates update.
31 March
Tax year ends.
After 31 March
IRD checks your tax and tells you if you owe tax or are due a refund.

What is changing next

1 April 2027
ACC earners’ levy rises to 1.83% and the maximum earnings rise to $160,244.
1 April 2028
The default KiwiSaver rate rises to 4%.

Frequently asked questions

What is the NZ income tax rate in 2026/27?

Five rates from 10.5% to 39%, depending on your income band.

What is the ACC levy rate?

1.75% in 2026/27, charged on earnings up to $156,641.

What is the KiwiSaver rate in 2026?

3.5% for you and 3.5% for your employer, from 1 April 2026.

How often do tax rates change?

The ACC levy changes almost every April. Income tax bands change less often, usually after a Budget decision.

Where do these rates come from?

Inland Revenue (ird.govt.nz) and other New Zealand government sources. We check them each April.

This page is general information and is not tax advice. Rates can change. Always confirm current figures with Inland Revenue (ird.govt.nz).