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.
Income that did NOT have PAYE/RWT withheld.
33.33% rebate via IR526. Receipts over $5 only.
How Tax Refunds Work in New Zealand
Not sure if you need to file? Use our IR3 Filing Checker to find out.
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.
2025-26 income tax bands
Your refund or balance is the gap between PAYE withheld and your actual tax under these bands. Over-withholding (a refund) is common when you work part of the year, change jobs, or miss the IETC.
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $15,600 | 10.5% |
| $15,601 – $53,500 | 17.5% |
| $53,501 – $78,100 | 30.0% |
| $78,101 – $180,000 | 33.0% |
| $180,001+ | 39.0% |
Rates exclude the separate ACC earner's levy. The 2024-25 year uses blended thresholds (the 31 July 2024 mid-year change).
Common refund situations
Worked part of the year
PAYE assumes you earn your weekly rate all year. Start or stop work mid-year and too much is withheld at the higher bands → refund.
Missed IETC
On the wrong tax code (not M) between $24k–$70k and not on Working for Families? Up to $520 of unclaimed IETC comes back at wash-up.
Second job, wrong code
An SB/S/SH code that's too high over-withholds; too low leaves a balance due. The year-end assessment squares it up.
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.
How much tax refund will I get back in NZ?
The amount depends on the difference between PAYE withheld by your employer and your actual tax liability. Enter your total income and total PAYE withheld above to get an instant estimate.
How do I claim my NZ tax refund?
Most refunds are issued automatically by IRD after the end of the tax year (31 March). Log into myIR to check your assessment. If you have additional income to declare, you'll need to file an IR3 return first.
Sources
Tax rates and assessment rules from Inland Revenue (IRD). Automatic assessment info from IRD individual assessments.
Popular Salary Tax Guides
Last updated March 2026. Rates sourced from IRD.
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