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Goods and Services Tax Act 1985

Returns and payment of tax

15E: Meaning of end of taxable period

You could also call this:

"When does a taxable period end for paying tax?"

Illustration for Goods and Services Tax Act 1985

A taxable period usually ends on the last day of a month. You can think of a taxable period like a time frame when you have to pay tax. But the Commissioner can approve a different end date for you under section 15EB. If you get a different end date, you can later choose to go back to the usual last day of the month end date.

If you want to change back to the usual end date, you must tell the Commissioner. Sometimes, big changes can happen to a person or company, like dying, going bankrupt, or a company going into liquidation, as defined in section YA 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007.

When one of these big changes happens, the date it happens is considered the end of your taxable period, instead of the last day of the month.

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This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM83421.

Topics:
Money and consumer rights > Taxes
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15D: When changes in basis of taxable periods take effect, or

"When you can change how often you pay tax and when the change happens"

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15EB: Commissioner’s approval for changes in end dates of taxable periods, or

"Changing the end date of your tax period: when the Commissioner can approve it"

Part 3Returns and payment of tax

15EMeaning of end of taxable period

  1. A taxable period ends on the last day of a month.

  2. Despite subsection (1), a taxable period may have an end date that is not the last day of a month if the Commissioner approves a change in end date for a registered person under section 15EB. However, a registered person who has a change of end date approved under section 15EB(2) may subsequently choose to use the default end date under subsection (1).

  3. A person who chooses to use the default end date as described in subsection (2) must notify the Commissioner of the change.

  4. Repealed

  5. Subsection (4) applies if 1 or more of the following events occurs in relation to a registered person:

  6. the natural person dies or is made bankrupt:
    1. the company goes into liquidation or receivership, or ceases to exist on amalgamation (as defined in section YA 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007).

      1. Despite subsection (1), if an event referred to in subsection (3) occurs, the date of the event is treated as the end of the person's taxable period.

      Notes
      • Section 15E: inserted, on , by section 291(1) of the Taxation (Depreciation, Payment Dates Alignment, FBT, and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (2006 No 3).
      • Section 15E(2): replaced (with effect on 30 March 2022), on , by section 214 of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2024–25, Emergency Response, and Remedial Measures) Act 2025 (2025 No 9).
      • Section 15E(2B): replaced (with effect on 30 March 2022), on , by section 214 of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2024–25, Emergency Response, and Remedial Measures) Act 2025 (2025 No 9).
      • Section 15E(2C): repealed (with effect on 30 March 2022), on , by section 214 of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2024–25, Emergency Response, and Remedial Measures) Act 2025 (2025 No 9).
      • Section 15E(3)(b): amended, on (effective for 2008–09 income year and later income years, except when the context requires otherwise), by section ZA 2(1) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (2007 No 97).