About your situation - businesses
If you are in business or planning to start a business in New Zealand this information is for you. It outlines what you need to know to help you meet the challenges of having your own new or existing business
Business income tax
In running a business you need to account for income tax on your profits and the expenses/deductions you may claim against your income. During the tax year you must generally pay provisional tax, which is a series of instalments of income tax for this tax year. You pay income tax on your net profit for the year. To work out your net profit, deduct your business expenses from your income for the year.
Donee organisations
These lists show donee organisations that Inland Revenue has approved for the purposes of sections LD 1, DB 41 and DV 12 of the Income Tax Act 2007. When a person makes a donation to an organisation listed here, generally they can claim a tax credit (formerly rebate) for that donation, or a deduction for Maori authorities and certain companies.
Duties and levies
A range of duties and levies apply to activities such as the operation of gaming machines and casinos, the printing of cheques and the payment of gifts over a certain value.
E-commerce and tax
There are no separate provisions within the income tax laws that deal only with e-commerce. Where it is relevant, current tax laws and interpretations will be applied to e-commerce transactions. If business operations are carried out in New Zealand, income derived from those operations is usually said to be sourced in New Zealand and liable to tax here.
Employers
Employers are responsible for making various deductions from the payments they make to their staff and paying these deductions to us. This site gives information for employers about these responsibilities and includes resources such as online calculators, forms and guides.
Fringe benefit tax (FBT)
Fringe benefit tax (FBT) is a tax on benefits that employees receive as a result of their employment, including those benefits provided through someone other than an employer.
GST (Goods and Services Tax)
GST is a tax on most goods and services in New Zealand, most imported goods, and certain imported services. It is added to the price of taxable goods and services at a rate of 12.5%. We refer to taxable goods and services as 'taxable supplies'.
Industry guidelines
Information for specific industries including education centres, general insurers, organisations providing ACC attendant care services, portfolio investment entities, research providers, the screen production industry, and winemakers. You can also find out how we are working in partnership with different industries to help people meet their tax obligations.
KiwiSaver - easy, work-based saving
KiwiSaver is a voluntary, work-based savings initiative to help New Zealanders with their long-term saving for retirement.
Maori organisations
Information for Maori Authorities and Marae including an outline of the Maori Authority election process, the application of provisional tax and the process organisations must follow when making distributions to members.
Non-resident contractors' tax (NRCT)*
This information provides a general explanation of the non-resident contractors' tax (NRCT)* rules, and how they apply to contract payments made to non-resident contractors for work carried out in New Zealand. *Formerly non-resident contractors withholding tax (NRCWT).
Non-resident withholding tax (NRWT)
If you are a New Zealand resident and you are paying interest, dividends or royalties to a non-resident - this section explains the rules for Non-resident withholding tax (NRWT) and the approved issuer levy.
Provisional tax
Provisional tax is not a separate tax but a way of paying your income tax as the income is received through the year. You pay instalments of income tax during the year, based on what you expect your tax bill to be. The amount of provisional tax you pay is then deducted from your tax bill at the end of the year. If you had income tax of $2,500 or more to pay at the end of any tax year you may have to pay provisional tax for the following year.
Research and development (R&D) tax credit
A 15% (15 cents in each dollar) tax credit for businesses doing eligible research and development (R&D) takes effect from the start of the 2008-2009 income tax year.
Resident withholding tax (RWT)
Resident withholding tax (RWT) is deducted from investment income before the investor receives it. This means people who receive investment income don't have to pay all the tax in a lump sum at the end of the year, and people who don't declare their investment income still have tax deducted from it. (In these circumstances, Inland Revenue still follows up on undeclared investment income, and takes action against people who don't declare it).
Transfer pricing
Transfer pricing is the setting of prices for the transfer of goods, services and intangibles between associated parties. If these are manipulated, profits may be shifted out of New Zealand. Advance pricing agreements are a cooperative approach to addressing transfer pricing compliance.
Unclaimed money
A list of people and organisations that Inland Revenue is holding unclaimed money for.
Date published: 16 Sep 2004
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