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Income Tax Act 2007

Schedule 2: Basic tax rates for PAYE income payments

You could also call this:

“Tax rates for the money you earn from a job”

When you get paid, your employer takes out taxes. The amount of tax they take out depends on your tax code. You tell your employer your tax code, and they use it to calculate how much tax to take out. Your tax code is usually a letter or letters, like “M” or “ME”, and it’s used to figure out how much tax you owe.

If you have a tax code like “S”, “SH”, or “ST”, the tax rate is different. For example, if your tax code is “S”, the tax rate is 0.175 for each dollar you earn. If your tax code is “SH”, the tax rate is 0.300 for each dollar you earn. If your tax code is “ST”, the tax rate is 0.330 for each dollar you earn.

There are also special tax codes for certain types of jobs, like “CAE” or “EDW”. If you have one of these tax codes, the tax rate is 0.175 for each dollar you earn. You can find more information about tax codes and tax rates in the Tax Administration Act 1994.

Sometimes, you might get extra pay, like a bonus. When this happens, your employer uses a special table to figure out how much tax to take out. The table has different tax rates depending on the situation. For example, if section RD 10(2C) applies, the tax rate is 0.105. If section RD 17(2)(a) applies and you earn $15,600 or less, the tax rate is also 0.105. You can find the table and more information about extra pay in the tax laws.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM1523232.

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Schedule 1: Basic tax rates: income tax, ESCT, RSCT, RWT, and attributed fringe benefits, or

"Tax rates for the money you earn from jobs and investments"

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Schedule 3: Payment of provisional tax and terminal tax, or

"Paying tax on time: provisional and terminal tax dates"

2Basic tax rates for PAYE income payments Empowered by ss RD 9–RD 11, RD 13, RD 17, YA 1

Part ASalary or wages

1M and ME tax codes: payments for weekly pay periods

  1. The basic tax rate amount for a payment of salary or wages is set by applying the Commissioner’s weekly PAYE table to the amount, using the employee’s tax code, if—

  2. the payment is for a weekly pay period (including the case of section RD 3 applying); and
    1. the employee has notified their employer that the employee’s tax code is M or ME under section 24B(3) of the Tax Administration Act 1994.

      Notes
      • Schedule 2 part A clause 1 heading: amended, on , by section 8(1)(a) of the Taxation (Budget Measures) Act 2012 (2012 No 38).
      • Schedule 2 part A clause 1(b): amended, on , by section 8(1)(b) of the Taxation (Budget Measures) Act 2012 (2012 No 38).

      2M and ME tax codes: payments for pay periods longer than a week

      1. If an employee has notified their employer that the employee’s tax code is M or ME referred to in schedule 5, part A, clause 4, row 1 of the Tax Administration Act 1994, and the payment of salary or wages is for a pay period longer than a week, then the basic tax rate amount for the payment is calculated using the formula—

        (total payment ÷ weekly portion of payment) × weekly PAYE table amount.

        Where:

        • total payment means the payment of salary or wages to which this clause applies:
          1. weekly portion of the payment means the portion of the payment that is attributable to the part of the pay period that is for a week if it is assumed that the payment accrued at a uniform daily rate throughout the pay period:
            1. weekly PAYE table amount means the amount that results from applying the Commissioner’s weekly PAYE table to the weekly portion of the payment (described in paragraph (b)) using the employee’s tax code, as if the weekly portion is a payment for a weekly pay period.

              Notes
              • Schedule 2 part A clause 2 heading: amended, on , by section 8(2)(a) of the Taxation (Budget Measures) Act 2012 (2012 No 38).
              • Schedule 2 Part A clause 2: amended, on , by section 252(2) of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2017–18, Employment and Investment Income, and Remedial Matters) Act 2018 (2018 No 5).
              • Schedule 2 part A clause 2: amended, on , by section 8(2)(b) of the Taxation (Budget Measures) Act 2012 (2012 No 38).
              • Schedule 2 part A clause 2 formula: substituted (with effect on 1 April 2008), on , by section 123(1) of the Taxation (Consequential Rate Alignment and Remedial Matters) Act 2009 (2009 No 63).

              3Non-notified tax code

              1. If an employee’s tax code is a non-notified tax code under section 24E of the Tax Administration Act 1994, the basic tax rate amount for a payment of salary or wages is set by applying the rate of 0.45 for each dollar of the payment.

              Notes
              • Schedule 2 Part A clause 3: replaced, on , by section 252(4) of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2017–18, Employment and Investment Income, and Remedial Matters) Act 2018 (2018 No 5).

              4S tax code

              1. If an employee has notified their employer that the employee’s tax code is S under section 24C of the Tax Administration Act 1994, the basic tax rate amount for a payment of secondary employment earnings is set by applying the rate of 0.175 for each dollar of the payment.

              Notes
              • Schedule 2 Part A clause 4: amended, on , by section 252(5) of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2017–18, Employment and Investment Income, and Remedial Matters) Act 2018 (2018 No 5).
              • Schedule 2 part A clause 4: amended, on , by section 36(a) of the Taxation (Budget Measures) Act 2010 (2010 No 27).

              5SH tax code

              1. If an employee has notified their employer that the employee’s tax code is SH under section 24C of the Tax Administration Act 1994, the basic tax rate amount for a payment of secondary employment earnings is set by applying the rate of 0.300 for each dollar of the payment.

              Notes
              • Schedule 2 Part A clause 5: amended, on , by section 252(5) of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2017–18, Employment and Investment Income, and Remedial Matters) Act 2018 (2018 No 5).
              • Schedule 2 part A clause 5: amended, on , by section 36(b) of the Taxation (Budget Measures) Act 2010 (2010 No 27).

              6ST tax code

              1. If an employee has notified their employer that the employee’s tax code is ST under section 24C of the Tax Administration Act 1994, the basic tax rate amount for a payment of secondary employment earnings is set by applying the rate of 0.330 for each dollar of the payment.

              Notes
              • Schedule 2 Part A clause 6: amended, on , by section 252(5) of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2017–18, Employment and Investment Income, and Remedial Matters) Act 2018 (2018 No 5).
              • Schedule 2 part A clause 6: amended, on , by section 36(c) of the Taxation (Budget Measures) Act 2010 (2010 No 27).

              6B“SA” tax code

              1. If an employee has notified their employer that the employee’s tax code is “SA” under section 24C of the Tax Administration Act 1994, the basic tax rate amount for a payment of secondary employment earnings is set by applying the rate of 0.390 for each dollar of the payment.

              Notes
              • Schedule 2 part A clause 6B: inserted, on , by section 23 (and see section 3 for application) of the Taxation (Income Tax Rate and Other Amendments) Act 2020 (2020 No 65).

              7CAE or EDW tax code

              1. If an employee has notified their employer that the employee’s tax code is CAE or EDW under section 24C of the Tax Administration Act 1994, the basic tax rate amount for a payment for employment as a casual agricultural employee or an election day worker (as applicable) is set by applying the rate of 0.175 for each dollar of the payment.

              Notes
              • Schedule 2 Part A clause 7: amended, on , by section 252(5) of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2017–18, Employment and Investment Income, and Remedial Matters) Act 2018 (2018 No 5).
              • Schedule 2 part A clause 7: amended, on (with effect on 1 April 2008), by section 252(6) of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2017–18, Employment and Investment Income, and Remedial Matters) Act 2018 (2018 No 5).
              • Schedule 2 part A clause 7: amended, on , by section 36(d) of the Taxation (Budget Measures) Act 2010 (2010 No 27).

              8NSW tax code

              1. If an employee has notified their employer that the employee's tax code is NSW under section 24C of the Tax Administration Act 1994, the basic tax rate amount for a payment for employment as a non-resident seasonal worker is set by applying the rate of 0.105 for each dollar of the payment.

              Notes
              • Schedule 2 Part A clause 8: amended, on , by section 252(5) of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2017–18, Employment and Investment Income, and Remedial Matters) Act 2018 (2018 No 5).
              • Schedule 2 part A clause 8: amended, on (applying for the 2011–12 and later income years), by section 137(1) of the Taxation (GST and Remedial Matters) Act 2010 (2010 No 130).
              • Schedule 2 part A clause 8: added, on , by section 578 of the Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance, and Remedial Matters) Act 2009 (2009 No 34).

              9“SB” tax code

              1. If an employee has notified their employer that the employee's tax code is SB under section 24C of the Tax Administration Act 1994, the basic tax rate amount for a payment of secondary employment earnings is set by applying the rate of 0.105 for each dollar of the payment.

              Notes
              • Schedule 2 Part A clause 9: amended, on , by section 252(7) of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2017–18, Employment and Investment Income, and Remedial Matters) Act 2018 (2018 No 5).
              • Schedule 2 part A clause 9: amended, on , by section 36(e) of the Taxation (Budget Measures) Act 2010 (2010 No 27).
              • Schedule 2 part A clause 9: added, on (applying for the 2010–11 and later income years), by section 123(2) of the Taxation (Consequential Rate Alignment and Remedial Matters) Act 2009 (2009 No 63).

              Part BExtra pays

              Table 1

              The following table is small in size and has 3 columns. Column 1 is headed Row. Column 2 is headed Condition. Column 3 is headed Tax rate.
              Row Condition Tax rate
              1

              Section RD 10(2C) applies.

              		0.105
              2

              Section RD 17(2)(a) applies and the sum is $15,600 or less.

              		0.105
              3

              Section RD 10(2)(a) or RD 17(2)(b) applies.

              		0.175
              4

              Section RD 10(2)(b) or RD 17(2)(c) applies.

              		0.300
              5

              Section RD 10(2)(c) or RD 17(2)(d) applies.

              		0.330
              6

              Section RD 10(2)(d) or RD 17(2)(e) applies.

              		0.390
              7

              Section RD 10(2D) applies.

              		0.450

               

              How to use this table:

              Find the applicable condition in the second column, in order to find the relevant rate to apply, in the third column.

              Notes
              • Schedule 2 part B table 1: replaced, on , by section 24 (and see section 3 for application) of the Taxation (Income Tax Rate and Other Amendments) Act 2020 (2020 No 65).
              • Schedule 2 part B table 1 row 2: amended, on , by section 38(1) (and see section 38(2) for application) of the Taxation (Budget Measures) Act 2024 (2024 No 19).