NZ PAYE & Take-home pay calculator
Enter what you earn. See exactly what you take home after PAYE income tax, ACC earner levy, KiwiSaver and student loan — down to the hour.
Your chosen employee rate. Employer adds 3% minimum on top.
That's 74.2% of your $85,000 gross.
NZ uses a progressive tax system — each slice of your income is taxed at a different rate.
| Bracket | Rate | Taxed in band | Tax owed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10.5% up to $15,600 | 10.5% | $15,600 | $1,638 |
| 17.5% on $15,601 – $53,500 | 17.5% | $37,900 | $6,633 |
| 30% on $53,501 – $78,100 | 30.0% | $24,600 | $7,380 |
| 33% on $78,101 – $180,000 | 33.0% | $6,900 | $2,277 |
| 39% over $180,000 | 39.0% | $0 | $0 |
Estimates only. For personalised advice, consult a registered tax agent or visit ird.govt.nz. Calculator excludes secondary-tax codes, WFF credits and IETC.
How we work out your NZ take-home pay.
Every paycheck in New Zealand has a few things pulled off before it hits your bank account. First there's PAYE, the pay-as-you-earn income tax that Inland Revenue collects in tiers — 10.5% on the first $15,600, then 17.5%, 30%, 33%, and 39% on the top slice over $180,000. The key thing to understand is that moving into a higher bracket only taxes the extra amount at the higher rate, not your whole salary.
Next is the ACC earner levy — a small percentage (1.67% for 2025/26) that funds accident cover. It only applies up to the liable-earnings cap of $152,790.
If you're in KiwiSaver, your employee contribution (3%, 4%, 6%, 8% or 10%) comes out of your gross pay, and your employer adds at least 3% on top — it's a real boost to your retirement savings, even though it feels like a deduction now. We show both sides so you can see the full picture.
If you have a student loan, 12% of everything you earn above $24,128 is repaid automatically. Tick the box if that applies.
This calculator doesn't factor in secondary tax codes, Working for Families tax credits, or the Independent Earner Tax Credit (IETC). If any of those apply to you, the true take-home number may be slightly different — visit ird.govt.nz for specifics.