Free New Zealand calculator

Contractor Tax Calculator NZ

Estimate how much a New Zealand freelancer or contractor should set aside for income tax, GST and ACC.

2026–27 rates · For NZ resident sole traders

Build your tax budget

Use annual, GST-exclusive amounts. Add other income so the progressive tax estimate uses your total income.

Tax year2026–27 · 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027

Contracting revenue

$NZD

Total invoices before expenses, excluding GST.Deductible business expenses

$NZD

Income-tax deductible expenses, excluding GST.Other taxable income

$NZD

For example salary, wages or rental profit. Enter 0 if none.Contractor tax already withheld

$NZD

Schedular tax or voluntary withholding already deducted by payers.

GST registration

Self-employed work status

Full-timeMore than 30 hours a week on average across all work.

GST-claimable expenses

$NZD

The portion of the expenses above that is eligible for a GST credit.Estimated ACC invoice rate

Default 2.63% includes GST and combines the 2026–27 Earners’, average Work and Working Safer levies. Replace it with your ACC/BIC rate when known.

NZ TAX BASICS

What taxes do NZ contractors pay?

A sole trader usually needs to plan for these three separate obligations. Schedular deductions and provisional tax are ways of paying income tax, not extra taxes.

Income tax

10.5%–39%
You pay individual tax rates on net profit after deductible business expenses. Other income can push contracting profit into a higher marginal band.

GST

15%
Registration is compulsory when taxable turnover reaches or is expected to reach $60,000 in any 12 months, or when you add GST to your prices. Registered businesses generally pay GST collected less eligible input credits.

ACC levies

Industry-based
Self-employed people receive an ACC invoice covering the Earners’ levy, a BIC-based Work levy, the Working Safer levy and GST. Full-time minimum and annual maximum liable income rules can apply.

INCOME TAX

2026–27 individual income-tax bands

New Zealand tax is progressive: each rate applies only to the income inside that band.

10.5%

$0 – $15,600

First income band

17.5%

$15,601 – $53,500

Second income band

30%

$53,501 – $78,100

Third income band

33%

$78,101 – $180,000

Fourth income band

39%

$180,001+

Top income band

CASH FLOW

Practical payment notes

Schedular payments

Some contracting work has tax withheld at source. Your IR330C rate affects cash flow, but the final tax is reconciled against your annual return.

Provisional tax

If residual income tax from your last return is over $5,000, Inland Revenue generally requires instalments during the following year.

Business structure

This calculator is for an individual sole trader. Companies, partnerships, trusts and look-through companies can have different tax treatment.

PLEASE NOTE

Before relying on the estimate

IRD individual tax rates IRD GST registration ACC levy calculator

Enter revenue and expenses excluding GST so income tax and GST are not mixed together.
Not every expense is deductible for income tax or eligible for a GST credit. Keep invoices and records supporting each claim.
The default ACC rate uses the average Work levy. Your actual rate depends on your BIC/CU, claims history, cover option and employment status.
ACC levy deductibility is not reflected in the income-tax estimate, so the result is intentionally conservative.
This calculator does not file returns or replace advice from Inland Revenue, ACC or a qualified accountant.