Free New Zealand calculator

Tax Refund Calculator NZ: Estimate a Refund or Tax Bill

Compare your estimated annual income tax with the income tax already withheld from NZ employment income. Your result is a planning estimate, not an IRD tax assessment.

Calculation sources checked 11 October 2026 · NZD · Estimates only

How does it work?

Your income-tax refund or amount owing depends on your full-year tax liability minus eligible income tax already paid. Do not treat combined PAYE/ACC figures as income tax alone.

Enter your details

Income tax year

Total annual taxable employment income (NZ$)

Income tax deducted, excluding ACC levy (NZ$)

Your estimate

Estimated tax difference—

Estimated annual income tax—

Income tax you reported as paid—

Possible overpayment—

Possible shortfall—

Enter valid figures for an indicative result.

Method and worked New Zealand example

This deliberately narrow estimator applies the progressive individual income tax brackets effective from 1 April 2025 to the entered annual taxable salary and wages. It compares that amount with the income tax portion of withholding you enter. Income-tax rates did not change between the supported 2025/26 and 2026/27 tax years. IRD also collects ACC earners’ levy with PAYE: do not copy combined PAYE/ACC deductions into the income tax field without separating them.

For example, taxable wages of $15,000 produce $1,575 income tax before credits; if $1,700 of income tax was deducted, the simplified difference is an estimated $125 overpayment. This does not automatically mean an IRD refund of $125.

Assumptions and important limitations

Excludes ACC levy, IETC, Working for Families, family/student entitlements, other income, tax credits, donations, PIE/RWT, provisional tax and previous assessments. Check your actual IRD assessment in myIR. Does not estimate an incomplete year accurately.

Official sources (checked 11 October 2026): IRD individual tax rates; IRD income tax assessments; IRD ACC earners levy.

Frequently asked questions

Does this guarantee a refund?

No. Only Inland Revenue can confirm an assessed refund or bill after accounting for all information.

Why not enter the PAYE total?

Some PAYE deductions include an ACC earners’ levy. This tool calculates income tax only; the inputs must also exclude ACC.

What if I had multiple jobs?

Include taxable salary/wages from all employers and the income-tax portion deducted at each. Other income and credits are outside this estimator.