Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Plain Language Law homepage
EZ 23BA: Aircraft acquired before 2017–18 income year: adjusted tax value, base value, reduced; total deductions increased
or “Aircraft purchased before 2017-2018: adjusting value and deductions for engine overhauls”

You could also call this:

“Delaying tax on earthquake insurance payouts for replacement property”

You can suspend recognising income from insurance or compensation for property damaged by Canterbury earthquakes until the 2023-24 tax year. This applies if:

  • You received insurance or compensation for depreciable property damaged by Canterbury earthquakes.
  • The amount you received is more than the depreciation loss you can claim.
  • You plan to buy replacement property.

To use this provision:

  • You must notify Inland Revenue about the affected property and any replacement property you buy.
  • The replacement property must be in the same category as the affected property.
  • If it’s a building or fit-out, it must be located in greater Christchurch.

You’ll have to include the suspended income in your tax return:

  • In the 2023-24 tax year
  • When you decide not to buy more replacement property
  • If you go into liquidation or bankruptcy

This rule overrides the usual depreciation rules in the Income Tax Act.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.


Next up: EZ 23BB: Interest in property acquired after depreciable property affected by Canterbury earthquakes

or “Delaying tax on insurance money for earthquake-damaged property”

Part E Timing and quantifying rules
Terminating provisions

EZ 23BProperty acquired after depreciable property affected by Canterbury earthquakes

  1. This section applies for a person and an income year (the current year) before the 2024–25 income year when the person,—

  2. in or before the current year, receives insurance or compensation (the earthquake compensation) for items of depreciable property (the affected property), each of which is—
    1. not depreciable intangible property; and
      1. included in 1 of the categories (an affected class) of the person's depreciable property referred to in subsection (10)(b); and
        1. included in an affected class that is not linked with a replacement interest under section EZ 23BB; and
        2. is entitled to the earthquake compensation because each item of the affected property, as a result of a Canterbury earthquake as that term is defined in section 4 of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act 2011, is affected by—
          1. damage meeting the requirements of section EE 47(4) (Events for purposes of section EE 44); or
            1. a disposal and reacquisition under section EZ 23C or EZ 70; and
            2. would have, in the absence of this section, from the earthquake compensation for the affected property in the affected class, depreciation recovery income under section EE 48 (Effect of disposal or event) in or before the current year; and
              1. has a total amount of depreciation loss under section EE 48 for the affected property in the affected class that, treated as a positive amount, is less than the total amount of depreciation recovery income referred to in paragraph (c) by an amount (the excess recovery); and
                1. plans in the current year to acquire depreciable property (the replacement property) meeting the requirements of subsection (7); and
                  1. notifies the Commissioner under subsection (9)—
                    1. specifying the affected property and affected class; and
                      1. linking, for the purposes of this section, each item of acquired replacement property with an affected class.
                      2. For an affected class, the amount that may be depreciation recovery income of the person in or after the current year (the suspended recovery income) is the excess recovery that remains at the beginning of the current year after—

                      3. adjustment under subsections (3) and (6) for an earlier income year; and
                        1. attribution to an earlier income year by subsection (8).
                          1. The person has an amount of depreciation recovery income for the current year equal to the amount of suspended recovery income that is attributed to the current year by subsection (8).

                          2. If the person acquires an item of replacement property (the replacement item) and links the replacement item with an affected class of affected property for which the person does not use the pool method, the amount given by subsection (4)—

                          3. is treated as not being included in the amount of the person's expenditure on the replacement item, for the purposes of determining—
                            1. under section EE 16(4) (Amount resulting from standard calculation) the item value or cost for the replacement item, if the person uses the diminishing value method or straight-line method for the replacement item; or
                              1. under section EE 22 (Cases affecting pool) the cost of the replacement item, if the person uses the pool method for the replacement item; and
                              2. is a reduction in the amount of the suspended recovery income for the affected class.
                                1. The amount of the reduction under subsection (3)(a) or (b) for a replacement item and an affected class of affected property for which the person does not use the pool method is—

                                2. zero, if the cost of the affected class equals or is less than the person's total expenditure in acquiring, before the replacement item, other replacement property linked with the affected class; or
                                  1. the amount calculated using the formula—
                                    1. In the formula,—

                                    2. limited replacement cost is the lesser of the following:
                                      1. the amount by which the cost of the affected class exceeds the total expenditure in acquiring, before the replacement item, other replacement property linked with the affected class:
                                        1. the amount of the expenditure on the replacement item:
                                        2. excess is the excess recovery for the affected class:
                                          1. affected cost is the total cost for the person of the affected class.
                                            1. If the person acquires an item of replacement property (the replacement item) and links the replacement item with an affected class of affected property for which the person uses the pool method,—

                                            2. the amount of the person's expenditure on the replacement item is treated as being reduced, by the amount equal to the lesser of the amount of expenditure on the replacement item and the amount of suspended recovery income for the affected property after the acquisition of other replacement property before the replacement item, for the purposes of determining—
                                              1. the adjusted tax value of the replacement item, if subparagraphs (ii) or (iii) do not apply; or
                                                1. the cost of the replacement item for the straight-line method, if that method is used to determine depreciation loss for the replacement item; or
                                                  1. the adjusted tax value of the pool of the replacement item, if the person uses the pool method for the replacement item; and
                                                  2. the amount of the suspended recovery income for the affected class is reduced by the amount of the treated reduction under paragraph (a).
                                                    1. An item of replacement property for a person must—

                                                        1. be included in the same category under subsection (10)(b) as the affected class with which the person links the item, if the affected class is described in subsection (10)(b)(i) or (ii); and
                                                          1. be located in greater Christchurch as that term is defined in section 4 of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act 2011, if the item is a building or commercial fit-out.
                                                            1. The person has, in the current year, an amount of depreciation recovery income for an affected class equal to the amount of suspended recovery income for the affected class—

                                                            2. at the end of the current year, if that year is the 2023–24 income year and neither of paragraphs (b) and (c) apply earlier; or
                                                              1. when in the current year the person decides not to acquire more replacement property, if neither of paragraphs (a) and (c) apply earlier; or
                                                                1. when in the current year the person goes into liquidation or becomes bankrupt, if neither of paragraphs (a) and (b) apply earlier.
                                                                  1. A person choosing to rely on this section to suspend in a current year the recognition of suspended recovery income from the insurance or compensation for affected property must notify the Commissioner—

                                                                  2. for the earliest income year (the estimate year) in which the amount of the insurance or compensation for the affected property can be reasonably estimated, by the later of 31 January 2012 and the date on which the return of income is filed for the estimate year; and
                                                                    1. if the current year is after the estimate year,—
                                                                      1. for each income year between the estimate year and the current year, by the date on which the return of income is filed for that income year; and
                                                                        1. for the current year, by the date on which the return of income is filed for the current year.
                                                                        2. A notice under subsection (9) must—

                                                                        3. describe the items of affected property; and
                                                                          1. indicate in which of the following categories each item of affected property is included:
                                                                            1. a building not referred to in subparagraph (iii):
                                                                              1. commercial fit-out not referred to in subparagraph (iii):
                                                                                1. depreciable property for which the person uses the pool method:
                                                                                  1. depreciable property not referred to in subparagraphs (i) to (iii); and
                                                                                  2. give details of each item of replacement property acquired in the current year and the affected class to which the person is linking the item; and
                                                                                    1. give the amount of the expenditure on the replacement item and the reduction under subsection (3) or (6) of that expenditure for the purposes of determining adjusted tax value or depreciation loss; and
                                                                                      1. give the amount, for the affected class, of the suspended recovery income at the end of the current year.
                                                                                        1. For the purposes of section EE 48, the amount by which a person's expenditure on a replacement item is treated as being reduced under subsection (3) or (6) is an amount of depreciation loss for the item for which the person has been allowed a deduction.

                                                                                        2. If a person in the current year has an amount of suspended recovery income for an affected class of buildings and has made an election under this section to link replacement property (the linked property) to the affected class and has not incurred expenditure in acquiring the linked property,—

                                                                                        3. the person may choose to make an election under section EZ 23BB linking the affected class with replacement property, which may include linked property:
                                                                                          1. a consequence of an election referred to in paragraph (a) is that the affected class and the linked property are treated as not being linked under this section for the current year.
                                                                                            1. If items of replacement property are acquired at the same time and the effect of this section depends on the order in which the items are acquired, the items are treated as being acquired in the order chosen by the person in the first return of income for which the order of acquisition is taken into account.

                                                                                            2. This section overrides subpart EE (Depreciation).

                                                                                            Notes
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B: inserted (with effect on 4 September 2010), on , by section 43 of the Taxation (Tax Administration and Remedial Matters) Act 2011 (2011 No 63).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(1) heading: replaced (with effect on 4 September 2010), on , by section 64(1) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Foreign Superannuation, and Remedial Matters) Act 2014 (2014 No 4).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(1): replaced (with effect on 4 September 2010), on , by section 64(1) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Foreign Superannuation, and Remedial Matters) Act 2014 (2014 No 4).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(1): amended (with effect on 4 September 2010), on , by section 184(1) of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2018–19, Modernising Tax Administration, and Remedial Matters) Act 2019 (2019 No 5).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(1)(f): amended, on , by section 41(1) of the Taxation (Transformation: First Phase Simplification and Other Measures) Act 2016 (2016 No 27).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(2) heading: replaced (with effect on 4 September 2010), on , by section 64(1) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Foreign Superannuation, and Remedial Matters) Act 2014 (2014 No 4).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(2): replaced (with effect on 4 September 2010), on , by section 64(1) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Foreign Superannuation, and Remedial Matters) Act 2014 (2014 No 4).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(2B) heading: inserted (with effect on 4 September 2010), on , by section 64(1) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Foreign Superannuation, and Remedial Matters) Act 2014 (2014 No 4).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(2B): inserted (with effect on 4 September 2010), on , by section 64(1) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Foreign Superannuation, and Remedial Matters) Act 2014 (2014 No 4).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(3): amended (with effect on 4 September 2010), on , by section 64(2)(a) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Foreign Superannuation, and Remedial Matters) Act 2014 (2014 No 4).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(3)(b): amended (with effect on 4 September 2010), on , by section 64(2)(b) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Foreign Superannuation, and Remedial Matters) Act 2014 (2014 No 4).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(4): amended (with effect on 4 September 2010), on , by section 64(3)(a) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Foreign Superannuation, and Remedial Matters) Act 2014 (2014 No 4).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(4)(a): amended (with effect on 4 September 2010), on , by section 64(3)(b) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Foreign Superannuation, and Remedial Matters) Act 2014 (2014 No 4).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(5)(a)(i): amended (with effect on 4 September 2010), on , by section 64(4) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Foreign Superannuation, and Remedial Matters) Act 2014 (2014 No 4).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(5)(b): amended (with effect on 4 September 2010), on , by section 98(1) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Employee Allowances, and Remedial Matters) Act 2014 (2014 No 39).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(5)(c): amended (with effect on 4 September 2010), on , by section 98(2) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Employee Allowances, and Remedial Matters) Act 2014 (2014 No 39).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(6): amended (with effect on 4 September 2010), on , by section 64(5)(a) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Foreign Superannuation, and Remedial Matters) Act 2014 (2014 No 4).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(6)(a): amended (with effect on 4 September 2010), on , by section 64(5)(b) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Foreign Superannuation, and Remedial Matters) Act 2014 (2014 No 4).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(6)(a)(ii): amended (with effect on 4 September 2010), on , by section 64(5)(c) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Foreign Superannuation, and Remedial Matters) Act 2014 (2014 No 4).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(6)(b): amended (with effect on 4 September 2010), on , by section 64(5)(d) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Foreign Superannuation, and Remedial Matters) Act 2014 (2014 No 4).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(7)(a): repealed (with effect on 4 September 2010), on , by section 64(6) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Foreign Superannuation, and Remedial Matters) Act 2014 (2014 No 4).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(7)(b): repealed (with effect on 4 September 2010), on , by section 64(6) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Foreign Superannuation, and Remedial Matters) Act 2014 (2014 No 4).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(7)(d): amended (with effect on 1 April 2020), on , by section 98(1) (and see section 98(5) for application) of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2021–22, GST, and Remedial Matters) Act 2022 (2022 No 10).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(8) heading: replaced (with effect on 4 September 2010), on , by section 64(7) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Foreign Superannuation, and Remedial Matters) Act 2014 (2014 No 4).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(8): replaced (with effect on 4 September 2010), on , by section 64(7) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Foreign Superannuation, and Remedial Matters) Act 2014 (2014 No 4).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(8)(a): amended (with effect on 4 September 2010), on , by section 184(2) of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2018–19, Modernising Tax Administration, and Remedial Matters) Act 2019 (2019 No 5).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(9): amended, on , by section 41(2) of the Taxation (Transformation: First Phase Simplification and Other Measures) Act 2016 (2016 No 27).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(10)(b)(i): amended (with effect on 1 April 2020), on , by section 98(2) (and see section 98(5) for application) of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2021–22, GST, and Remedial Matters) Act 2022 (2022 No 10).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(11B) heading: inserted (with effect on 4 September 2010), on , by section 64(8) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Foreign Superannuation, and Remedial Matters) Act 2014 (2014 No 4).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(11B): inserted (with effect on 4 September 2010), on , by section 64(8) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Foreign Superannuation, and Remedial Matters) Act 2014 (2014 No 4).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(11B): amended (with effect on 1 April 2020), on , by section 98(3) (and see section 98(5) for application) of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2021–22, GST, and Remedial Matters) Act 2022 (2022 No 10).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(11C) heading: inserted (with effect on 4 September 2010), on , by section 64(8) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Foreign Superannuation, and Remedial Matters) Act 2014 (2014 No 4).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B(11C): inserted (with effect on 4 September 2010), on , by section 64(8) of the Taxation (Annual Rates, Foreign Superannuation, and Remedial Matters) Act 2014 (2014 No 4).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B list of defined terms grandparented structure: repealed (with effect on 1 April 2020), on , by section 98(4) (and see section 98(5) for application) of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2021–22, GST, and Remedial Matters) Act 2022 (2022 No 10).
                                                                                            • Section EZ 23B list of defined terms notify: inserted, on , by section 41(3) of the Taxation (Transformation: First Phase Simplification and Other Measures) Act 2016 (2016 No 27).