How it Works

You will need a copy of your IRD number and NZ drivers licence in order to complete an on-line application. If you do not have a NZ drivers licence, you can still apply online, however you will be prompted to print out, complete and sign a copy of the PDF application form which you can either fax, FREEpost or scan & email it to us along with a photocopy of either your passport, 18+ Card, NZ firearms licence, international drivers permit or a NZ certificate of identity. See the Contact Us page for contact details.

1. Quick Sign Up
Complete our secure online form in 60 seconds. All we need is your IRD number and bank details.

2. The 5-Year Deep Dive (Bigger Refunds)
Our experts review your records for the last 5 years to find every dollar. We find what automatic systems miss.

3. Get Paid Directly
Once processed, your refund is deposited directly into your bank account. No refund found? No fee charged!

We do more than just find refunds. We provide professional Tax Advisory Services to ensure you are meeting your obligations while keeping as much of your hard-earned money as possible.

Specialist Tax Return Preparation
Our team specializes in the preparation of full tax returns for Self-Employed individuals, Contractors, and Rental Property Owners. We ensure all expenses are correctly claimed and your returns are filed accurately and on time.

Free Client Advisory
As a My Tax Back client, you have access to our free tax advisory service. We are here to answer your questions and help you understand your tax position without the jargon.

We review your expenses to ensure you are claiming every legitimate deduction—from home office costs to travel and tools—helping you keep more of your income."

Overdue Tax Returns?
Many people in these categories are behind on their filing and feel overwhelmed.

Behind on your filings? We specialise in bringing overdue tax returns up to date, taking the stress out of 'catching up' with the tax office."

NZ's lowest assessment fee, from as low as $20

Our experience, over the past 10 years, indicates that the IRD assessment of your refund eligibility is not always correct. We always aim to get you the biggest possible tax refund. 

For clients under 18 years of age (on the date any refund is issued) the maximim fee is $20.

For Wage & Salary earners over 18 years old, who are NOT required to file an IR3, our low standard fee for assessing your eligibility for a tax refund is just $26. 

If you are required to file an IR3 for any reason (usually because you have received other untaxed income) then our minimum IR3 filing fee is just $99.

If you are required to file an IR3 and this does not result in a refund, we will notify of your obligations and any fees before we take further action.

Business Tax Returns are priced based on work involved.

A success fee of 12% of the refund amount will apply to all refunds assessed by our agency.

Fees are incurred upon completion of an assessment of your tax position. Fees may be payable prior to filing of your IR3 tax return.

If you delink us as your tax agent after we have checked, assessed or received your tax refund you will still be liable to pay our fee for the service we have provided. Fees are incurred on the day that your application is submitted (or in the case of existing clients on the date that our assessment is undertaken).

Please refer to our fees section for more details and full list of applicable fees.
 

We estimate that the NZ Government collects approx $100 billion in taxes each year. Of course, tax is an essential part of any thriving democracy and it pays for essential services like health, education, roading and social welfare etc. Our aim with these NZ tax refund facts and tips is to ensure that you are not contributing more than you need to!

We’re pretty good at what we do!

FACT: Since we started our IRD registered tax agency in 2008, over 200,000 people have asked us to help them get a well earned tax refund. We aim to get you the biggest possible tax refund based on the information that you provide us with during the application process. The biggest single client refund we have recovered was over $52,000.

Tip: If you want the biggest possible refund, simply complete our application form and ensure you answer all the questions as accurately as possible.

What can you claim as a Business Expense?

General Rules:

If you are purchasing something solely for business purposes, then in most instances you can claim the whole cost of the item. 

If you have an expense that is for mixed use (i.e personal and business) then you can only claim the proportion that is used for business (e.g. if you use your mobile phone for both work and personal calls then you can only claim 50% of the phone bill). 

N.B. It's really important that you retain a copy  of a valid receipt or invoice. You will be required store/hold copies of all expenses that you claim for up to 7 years.

Different expenses have different rules on how much tax relief you are entitled, not every item will be 100% tax dedcutible. Read our FAQ section for more information on claiming work related expenses

Tax Codes

FACT: It is the taxpayer’s responsibility to ensure that their employer is using the correct tax code. When starting a new job, you need to indicate to your employer what your tax code should be by filling in an IR330 form. If your circumstances change during employment, you need to inform your employer and complete another IR330 form.

Tip: If your circumstances change, ie you start a new job or forsee any changes to your income, your tax code may need to be changed. If you begin receiving another source of income, have a significant change in your earnings or your family begins receiving working for family tax credits, check again that your tax code is still correct!

Tip: If you start a 2nd job, it is likely that you will need to use a secondary tax code. If you don’t, you could end up with a big tax bill at the end of the year.

Working For Family Tax Credits

FACT: If you have children, depending on your circumstances, Inland Revenue will provide additional financial support in the form of Working For Family Tax Credits. How much money you will get is dependent on a number of factors including the number and age of your children, your total family income and whether or not you are employed. You can choose to receive these additional payments either weekly/fortnightly or as a lump sum at the end of the NZ tax year.

Tip: At the end of the financial year the IRD will assess the payments you have received. If you have received more than your entitlement they may issue you with a tax bill. To avoid this from happening, always overestimate your family’s income for the year. That way you’ll end up with a bigger refund at the end of the year.

Tip: If you have chosen to receive your WFFTC as a lump sum, you need to let IR know if the care arrangements for your children have changed during the year and they will ensure you get the maximum possible refund. Also, let IR know if you’ve had any more children during the past year as you may be eligible for a Parental Tax Credit. You’ll receive a much bigger refund at the end of the year if you choose the lump sum option.

Schedular Payments

FACT: Schedular payments are typically paid to you when you are working as a contractor rather than an employee. You might receive schedular payments if you have done any promotional work, acting or modelling, temp work of any commission based sales work. Schedular payments are usually taxed at a flat rate for example it’s 20% for commission based sales work. If you have received schedular payments you may be able to claim work related tax deductible expenses.

Tip: If you are receiving schedular payments you may be able to claim for work related expenses that were incurred during the period you were receiving schedular payments. In order to claim, make sure you keep all of your receipts and records. 

Tip: If you have been asked by your employer to use a WT tax code, this will be a good indication that you are receiving schedular payments.

Tip: If you plan on claiming any vehicle related expenses you will need to keep a log book to record your mileage when your vehicle has been used for work related and purposes and personal travel.

Donations

FACT: If you have made a donation of over $5 to a registered New Zealand Charitable Organisation you may be able to claim a third of this back as a donations rebate. You can only claim donations rebates for the past 4 tax years.

Tip: Keep all of your donations receipts and statements and send them into us at the end of the financial year.

Deductible Expenses

FACT: As an employee there are very few tax deductible expenses that you can claim. However, if you have paid any premiums for loss of income insurance or if you have someone to prepare, assess or check your tax return, we will be able to claim a tax credit for these expenses.

Tip: You can check with the insurance provider as to whether a premium is able to be claimed as a tax deductible expense. Remember to keep the statements so that we can include these in your tax return at the end of the financial year.

Tip: Our processing fees are a tax deductible expense and by including these in your assessment it will increase your NZ tax refund.

Other Income

FACT: If you have received any other form of income over $200 other than wages or salary then you must declare this income and we have to include it in your return.

Tip: The good news is that you may be able to claim any expenses incurred in the generation of this income but will need to provide receipts or statements.

Changes to Property Rules

New Zealand citizens and residents

FACT: When buying, selling or transferring New Zealand property, excluding your main home, you now need to provide your:

• IRD number
• taxpayer identification number (TIN) from any overseas countries where you have to pay tax on your worldwide income, if you have one.

Tip: Give this information to  your property lawyer or conveyancer this information. You can also do this by filling in a Land Transfer Tax Statement, which is available on the Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) website. If you’re transferring property that’s in trust, you need to supply the IRD number for the trust. Trustees’ IRD numbers can’t be accepted.

Everyone else

FACT: When buying, selling or transferring property in New Zealand, you now have to provide your:

New Zealand IRD number and
taxpayer identification number (TIN) from any countries where you have to pay tax on your worldwide income.

Tip: Give this information to your property lawyer or conveyancer this information. You can also do this by filling in a Land Transfer Tax Statement, which is available on the Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) website.