tax matters
Managing tax matters can be very complicated and is quite specific to each type of organisation. In this section we will give you some basic tips on managing your tax responsibilities, but we strongly advise you to talk to an accountant for more detailed information or refer to the information available from Inland Revenue’s website (www.ird.govt.nz).
Checklist of tax responsibilities
Here are some of the basic tax responsibilities most groups will have:
- You’ll need to get an Inland Revenue (IRD) number if you don’t already have one.
- Unless you are exempt from income tax, you will need to:
- complete an income tax return (the actual type varies depending on your legal structure)
- pay income tax on your net income
- pay resident withholding tax on interest and dividends received
- complete fringe benefit tax returns and pay fringe benefit tax (if applicable)
- possibly pay provisional tax during the year.
- Register for GST if your income is over $40,000 (see GST section). If you are GST registered, you need to complete GST returns and pay GST to Inland Revenue.
- If you’re an employer, you will have to deduct PAYE, and may need to deduct student loan repayments and child support payments and pay all of these to Inland Revenue.
Tip
The New Zealand tax system relies on people meeting their tax responsibilities voluntarily but there are penalties if you don’t comply. Contact Inland Revenue for more information.
getting an Inland Revenue (IRD) number
Complete an IR 596 form and send it to Inland Revenue, together with your certificate of incorporation or trust deed (for charitable trusts).
Tip
Contact Inland Revenue on free phone 0800 377 774 if you need further help. Once you’ve been issued with an IRD number, remember to use it in all your dealings with Inland Revenue.
income tax obligations
The following community organisations are liable for income tax on their taxable income:
- those operating without written rules or a constitution
- those operating under a set of rules or a constitution that does not meet the requirements for a specific exemption
- those non-profit bodies entitled to the $1,000 deduction but whose income is more than $1,000.
Tip
The correct tax return form to use depends on your type of organisation. Refer to Inland Revenue for the correct forms for your organisation. Note: most community groups that need to complete an income tax return will use an IR9 return (for clubs and societies).
Exemptions from income tax
There are a number of income tax exemptions that an organisation may be entitled to. To qualify, the organisation must meet the specific requirements of the particular exemption it is claiming.
The following organisations are allowed tax exemptions under income tax law:
- charities
- amateur game or sports promoters
- district improvement promoters
- friendly societies
- herd improvement promoters
- racing clubs
- scientific or industrial research promoters
- veterinary services promoters
- community trusts.
Unless a group gains an exemption from Inland Revenue, it may be liable for income tax on its earnings (i.e. the profit it makes). A deduction of up to $1,000 per year from an organisation’s net income is available for some non-profit groups, which reduces the amount of tax they need to pay.
Tip
For more information on the various tax exemptions available to different types of organisations and for a copy of IR255 Charitable organisations: a tax guide for charities, donee organisations and other groups, see Inland Revenue’s website (www.ird.govt.nz) or call them on 0800 377774.
Resident withholding tax (RWT)
Money held in the bank or a financial institution is taxed on the interest it earns before payment. An organisation that is exempt from income tax is generally eligible for a certificate of exemption from RWT.
You need to complete an Application for exemption from resident withholding tax on interest and dividends (IR451) form and send it to Inland Revenue in order to obtain a certificate of exemption.
Tip
You can take a copy of your exemption certificate to the bank to make sure that they don’t deduct tax. If RWT has been incorrectly deducted, then you can apply for a refund on an IR 454 Resident Withholding Tax (Refund Request) form.
employment-related tax obligations
Registering as an employer
As soon as you start employing people you must register with Inland Revenue. If you know in advance that you will be having someone start work for you, you can register before they actually begin work.
Tip
To register as an employer, fill in the Employer registration (IR 334) form and send it to one of the addresses listed on that form. If you prefer, you can register online at www.ird.govt.nz.
Deductions
As an employer, you must make deductions from payments you make to people who work for you and pay these deductions to Inland Revenue. The types of deductions you may need to make are:
- PAYE (pay as you earn)
- student loan and child support
- FBT (fringe benefit tax).
PAYE
PAYE (pay as you earn) is the basic tax you take out of your employees’ wages whenever you pay them. PAYE includes ACC earners’ levy.
Your employees must complete a Tax code declaration (IR 330) form as soon as they start work for you. This IR 330 explains how to work out the correct tax code. The amount of PAYE you deduct depends on this tax code. Inland Revenue will send you a copy of the tax tables so you can work out the amount of PAYE to deduct for each tax code.
If the net pay is to be the same every pay period, you can obtain an automatic payment authority from your organisation’s bank and make a direct credit into the employee’s account.
Monthly PAYE Reconciliation
Each month, Inland Revenue requires you to fill out an employer monthly schedule (IR 348), which they will automatically forward to you, together with the pay-in slip (IR 345), once you register as an employer. On the schedule, you need to enter monthly gross earnings, PAYE deductions and student loan and child support deductions for all your employees. This information, along with a cheque covering the monthly PAYE deductions, must reach Inland Revenue before the 20th of each month.
Alternatively, employers can file their employer monthly schedule (IR 348) electronically, which is a fast and efficient way of doing things. For more information on this method, see Inland Revenue’s quick reference 2-page summary sheet Ir-File – electronic filing for employers (IR 317). This is available electronically from Inland Revenue’s website (www.ird.govt.nz) or in hard copy by calling their INFOexpress line on free phone 0800 2570 773.
If your PAYE deductions are more than $100,000 a year, you are considered to be a 'large employer' and must pay your PAYE deductions twice a month. If this applies to you, talk to Inland Revenue for more information.
Tip
Remember there is a $250 (plus interest) fee for late filing of PAYE returns. Even if you have a nil monthly schedule, you still need to file it on time (i.e. by the 20th of the month following wage payment).
Student loan and child support deductions
As well as deducting PAYE, you may need to make deductions for student loans and/or child support. Whether you need to depends on your employees’ circumstances.
Some of your employees may need to make repayments to Inland Revenue for a student loan. They will use a student loan tax code on their Tax code declaration (IR 330) form. The PAYE deduction tables also show the amount of student loan repayment to deduct as well as the amount of PAYE, based on your employees’ tax code.
Tip
If you are required to make child support deductions for an employee, Inland Revenue Child Support will send you a child support deduction notice telling you how much to deduct.
Fringe benefit tax (FBT)
Fringe benefit tax is payable on any fringe (i.e. non-cash) benefits provided by the employer to the employee e.g. motor vehicles, low-interest loans etc.
Charitable organisations that are exempt from paying income tax, may also be exempt from paying FBT on any benefits provided to employees while they are carrying out the organisation’s charitable activities. For example, if an employee has the use of a car while carrying out charitable work for the organisation, any private benefit arising is not subject to FBT. However, if the organisation provides a car as part of a salary package or for use with its business activities, FBT must be charged on any private benefit.
Tip
You may also be eligible for other exemptions from paying FBT. Refer to the publication IR255 Charitable organisations: a tax guide for charities, donee organisations and other groups which can be obtained from Inland Revenue’s website (www.ird.govt.nz).
goods and services tax (GST)
GST is a tax on consumption of most goods and services in New Zealand. GST is currently charged at 12.5% of the value of the goods or services provided. It is a separate tax from income tax (i.e. PAYE).
Taxable activities
A taxable activity is any activity carried on continuously or regularly by a business, trade, manufacturer, professional person, association or club. It includes any activity that supplies, or intends to supply, goods and services to someone else for a consideration (e.g. money, compensation, reward), but not necessarily for profit.
Taxable activities do not include:
- working for salary or wages
- being a company director
- making exempt supplies (e.g. renting out property as a private dwelling, interest you receive, the sale of donated goods and services by a non-profit body, financial services).
Who must register?
If an organisation’s annual income for taxable activities was over $40,000 for the past 12 months or expects to be in the next 12 months, it must register for GST.
If your income is less than $40,000, you can voluntarily register. There can be advantages in doing so for some voluntary organisations because you will be able to claim back the GST you have paid on goods and services the organisation has used. However, you should remember that if you decide to cancel your registration, you will have to pay GST on the assessed value of your assets at the time of cancellation.
Registering for GST
You can register for GST by completing a GST Registration (IR 360) form (available online from Inland Revenue’s website or in hard copy on request) and returning it to Inland Revenue.
Inland Revenue will then send you notification of your registration which will show your:
- registration number (which is usually the same as your IRD number)
- date of registration
- taxable period (one, two or six months), your accounting basis and the date your first GST return is due (see 'Checklist of GST obligations').
Tip
If you prefer, GST registration can be done online through Inland Revenue’s website (www.ird.govt.nz). Also make sure that your GST periods are in line with your balance date e.g. if you have a June balance date, ensure that one of your GST periods end in June.
GST Obligations
It is very important that you are aware of what you need to do as a GST-registered organisation – there are hefty penalties if you don’t comply with the regulations.
In general, all organisations registered for GST must:
- charge and collect GST on behalf of the Government
- file GST returns.
Checklist of GST obligations
Organisations registered for GST should note that:
- Goods and services supplied must have GST added to them and on a proper GST invoice.
- Assets sold must have GST added.
- To claim back the GST you have paid on goods and services, a proper GST invoice must be obtained for all amounts over $50. However there are some payments that you do not generally pay GST on e.g. wages and PAYE; bank charges and interest; koha and donations (where the donor receives no service or otherwise gets no benefit); money received from the sale of donated goods etc.
- A proper GST invoice (which is a legal document) must meet certain requirements
- GST returns must be filed every one, two or six months (known as your taxable period). You can choose the taxable period that best suits your organisation. When making your selection look at how much time it takes to prepare and also the timing of when you receive GST income and when you pay GST payments.
- You must select which basis you will be using to account for GST. You have the choice of the:
- invoice (or accruals) basis – where you account for GST at the earlier of giving or receiving an invoice or paying or receiving money
- payments (or cash) basis – where you account for GST when you pay or receive money
- hybrid basis – a combination of the invoice and payments methods.
- All GST records and documents must be kept for seven years.
- Every GST-registered organisation is open to being audited by Inland Revenue.
Completing your GST return
During the final week of the taxable period (one, two or six monthly) you selected earlier, Inland Revenue will automatically send you a GST Return (GST 101) form for you to complete and send back to them by the due date stated on that form.
Tip
To find out details on how to calculate your GST (in order to complete your GST return) and how to pay GST or receive a GST refund, refer to the Completing your GST return section of Inland Revenue’s booklet GST Guide (IR 375). Alternatively you can contact Inland Revenue’s business tax information service on free phone 0800 377 774.
In the meantime, some useful basic tips on calculating GST are:
- to calculate the GST on a GST exclusive amount – multiply by 12.5%
- if you have the GST inclusive amount and want the GST amount – divide by 9
- if you have the GST amount and want the GST inclusive amount – multiply by 9
- If you have the GST inclusive amount and you want the GST exclusive amount – multiply by 8 then divide by 9.
Tip
Also remember that you must still send your GST return to Inland Revenue even if it’s a nil one (i.e. there is no refund owing or tax to pay) otherwise Inland Revenue will produce a default assessment based on previous returns and charge you accordingly.
Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC)
ACC employers’ levy
Employers are required to pay ACC to cover work-related accidents on behalf of their employees. The levy is based on the organisation’s gross wages paid multiplied by the industry rate. If you are an employer and have not received an invoice from the ACC, you will need to contact ACC directly.
Tip
Ensure you check the gross wages used by the ACC in their calculations and remember there is GST charged on all ACC employers’ levies.
ACC earners’ levy
In addition to ACC employers’ levies, all employees must pay an ACC earners’ levy to cover the cost of non-work-related injuries. Inland Revenue collects this on behalf of the Accident Compensation Corporation.
For employees, this levy has been built into the PAYE tables and is deducted along with their PAYE. This means that no extra calculations are needed for it in each pay period. PAYE is paid, which includes the levy.
Tip
For further information on ACC earners’ levy you can contact the ACC on free phone 0800 222 776 or refer to their website (www.acc.co.nz). You can also contact Inland Revenue’s Employer Enquiries on free phone 0800 377 772 or refer to their website (www.ird.govt.nz).
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