About the NZ Pay Calculator 2026–27
Your take-home pay in New Zealand is your gross pay minus PAYE income tax, the ACC earners' levy, your KiwiSaver contribution and any student loan repayment. For the 2026–27 tax year (1 April 2026 – 31 March 2027) the income tax brackets introduced on 31 July 2024 still apply: 10.5% up to $15,600, 17.5% to $53,500, 30% to $78,100, 33% to $180,000 and 39% above.
Two things changed on 1 April 2026: the ACC earners' levy rose to 1.75% on earnings up to $156,641, and the default KiwiSaver rate for employees and employers rose from 3% to 3.5%. This calculator uses those rates and can also add the $520 independent earner tax credit.
How to use
- Enter your gross pay before tax and choose whether it is per year, month, fortnight, week or hour. For an hourly wage, enter your usual hours per week.
- Choose your KiwiSaver rate — 3.5% is the new default; pick 3% if you applied for a temporary rate reduction, or "Not in KiwiSaver".
- Tick Student loan if you have one, and IETC if you use tax code ME (income $24,000–$70,000 and no Working for Families, NZ Super or benefit).
- Read your take-home pay per year, month, fortnight and week, the breakdown, and the table comparing other salaries.
NZ tax rates and deductions 2026–27
| Annual income | Tax rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $15,600 | 10.5% |
| $15,601 – $53,500 | 17.5% |
| $53,501 – $78,100 | 30% |
| $78,101 – $180,000 | 33% |
| $180,001 and over | 39% |
- ACC earners' levy: $1.75 per $100 (1.75%) of earnings up to $156,641 — at most $2,741.22 a year (2025–26: 1.67% up to $152,790).
- KiwiSaver: employees choose 3.5% (default from 1 April 2026), 4%, 6%, 8% or 10%. You can apply for a temporary rate reduction to stay at 3% for 3–12 months. The default rises to 4% on 1 April 2028.
- Student loan: 12% of income over $24,128 a year ($464 a week).
- Independent earner tax credit: $520 a year ($10 a week) on income $24,000–$66,000, reducing by 13c per $1 above $66,000 and ending at $70,000.
Take-home pay examples (no KiwiSaver or student loan)
| Salary | PAYE | ACC | Take-home / year | Per week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $7,658.00 | $875.00 | $41,467.00 | $797.44 |
| $65,000 | $11,720.50 | $1,137.50 | $52,142.00 | $1,002.73 |
| $80,000 | $16,277.50 | $1,400.00 | $62,322.50 | $1,198.51 |
| $100,000 | $22,877.50 | $1,750.00 | $75,372.50 | $1,449.47 |
| $150,000 | $39,377.50 | $2,625.00 | $107,997.50 | $2,076.88 |
| $200,000 | $57,077.50 | $2,741.22 | $140,181.28 | $2,695.79 |
With KiwiSaver at 3.5%, a $70,000 salary pays $13,220.50 PAYE, $1,225 ACC and $2,450 KiwiSaver, leaving $53,104.50 a year ($1,021.24 a week). Your employer adds at least another 3.5% ($2,450 before ESCT) to your KiwiSaver account.
On $50,000 with a student loan, KiwiSaver 3.5% and IETC: PAYE $7,658, ACC $875, IETC +$520, student loan $3,104.64 and KiwiSaver $1,750 — take-home $37,132.36.
Sources
- Inland Revenue — Payroll calculations and business rules specification, 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 (ird.govt.nz)
- Inland Revenue — Tax rates for individuals
- Inland Revenue — Changes to KiwiSaver (ird.govt.nz/kiwisaver-changes)
- Inland Revenue — Independent earner tax credit (IETC)
- Inland Revenue — Repaying my student loan when I earn salary or wages
This calculator gives an estimate for a main job (tax code M or ME). It does not cover secondary tax codes, Working for Families, child support, voluntary deductions or self-employment. It is not tax advice; check your payslip or myIR for exact figures.
FAQ
What is the take-home pay on $70,000 in NZ?
In 2026–27, with KiwiSaver at the 3.5% default and no student loan, you pay $13,220.50 PAYE and $1,225 ACC levy and contribute $2,450 to KiwiSaver, leaving $53,104.50 a year — about $4,425 a month or $1,021 a week. Without KiwiSaver it is $55,554.50.
Did NZ tax rates change for 2026–27?
The income tax brackets did not — they have applied since 31 July 2024. The ACC earners' levy rose from 1.67% to 1.75% (cap $156,641), and the default KiwiSaver contribution rose from 3% to 3.5% on 1 April 2026. The student loan threshold stays at $24,128.
Who can claim the independent earner tax credit?
NZ tax residents with annual income between $24,000 and $70,000 who don't receive Working for Families, an income-tested benefit, NZ Super or a veteran's pension. It is worth up to $520 a year, paid through your pay if you use tax code ME, and reduces by 13c for each dollar over $66,000.
Is KiwiSaver deducted before or after tax?
Your employee KiwiSaver contribution is a percentage of gross pay but comes out of your after-tax pay, so it does not reduce PAYE. Your employer's contribution is paid on top of your salary, with employer superannuation contribution tax (ESCT) deducted.
Why does my payslip differ slightly?
Payroll systems annualise each pay, then truncate the weekly PAYE to whole cents before converting it to your pay frequency, and student loan deductions are worked out per pay period. Over a full year the total is usually within a few dollars of these figures.