NZ Tax Refund Estimator
Check if you've overpaid or underpaid income tax. Enter your income and total PAYE withheld to estimate your refund or balance due.
How Tax Refunds Work in New Zealand
Each year, your employer deducts PAYE (Pay As You Earn) from your wages based on your tax code. At the end of the tax year (31 March), IRD performs an income tax assessment to compare what was withheld against your actual tax liability.
If too much tax was withheld, you receive a refund. If too little was withheld, you have a balance due. Common reasons for over-payment include working part-year, having multiple jobs with incorrect tax codes, or receiving one-off payments.
IRD now does automatic income tax assessments for most individuals. You'll receive notification in your myIR account after the end of the tax year. If you have other income (rental, business, investments), you may need to file an IR3 individual tax return.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I get my tax refund?
IRD issues automatic assessments from May onwards for the tax year ending 31 March. If you're due a refund, it's typically deposited into your bank account within 2-4 weeks of assessment. You can check your status in myIR.
Why might I owe tax (balance due)?
Common reasons include: using the wrong tax code (e.g., M instead of ME for a second job), receiving untaxed income (interest, dividends), having a student loan with incorrect deductions, or receiving extra pay that wasn't taxed correctly.
Does this calculator include ACC levy?
No, this calculator estimates income tax (PAYE) only. The ACC earner's levy is a separate deduction and is not part of the tax refund/balance calculation performed by IRD.
What if I have income from multiple sources?
Enter your total combined income from all sources and the total PAYE withheld across all employers. If you have untaxed income (e.g., rental income, self-employment), add that to your total income but don't include it in tax withheld.
Sources
Tax rates and assessment rules from Inland Revenue (IRD). Automatic assessment info from IRD individual assessments.