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Provisional tax
Te take taurangi
Provisional tax: Changes

Changes to provisional tax

Note  
From 1 October 2008 personal income tax rates change.

If you pay your provisional tax by the standard (safe harbour) or ratio method you should not adjust your provisional tax payments prior to 1 October 2008.

If you estimate your provisional tax, you can choose to apply the new composite rates for the 2008/09 income year and alter your payments at any time.

We'll provide more information about your options shortly. For more information see the News and Updates article.

Your provisional tax payment dates are going to change, and if you're eligible, you'll be able to calculate your provisional tax instalments based on a percentage of your previous year's GST taxable supplies (sales).

In addition, the tax rate is changing for businesses whose income is taxed at the company rate (see Taxing companies for the list). If you are one of these, you will also need to take account of the new tax rate. See Key messages about the change of company tax rate for more details.


When will these changes take effect?

From the start of your 2008-2009 income year. For most customers, this will be 1 April 2008.

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How will this affect me?

If you're registered for GST and liable to pay provisional tax, you'll be able to pay both taxes at the same time using a new GST and provisional tax return (GST103) in the months when your provisional tax is due. This means you'll only need to complete one form and make one payment during these months.

The new option for calculating provisional tax (called the ratio option) better reflects your cash flow, and uses this to work out how much provisional tax you need to pay. This may suit businesses that have fluctuating income during the year.

You can still use the current standard (uplift) or estimation options to calculate your provisional tax if you want to.

Note that, regardless of which option you use, if your business?s income is taxed at the company rate, you will also be affected by the 2009 reduction of this rate. See Key messages about the 2009 change of company tax rate for more details.

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What if I only pay provisional tax and not GST?

Provisional tax payment due dates are changing. See the due dates for your provisional tax payments below.

Due dates for your provisional tax
If you... then your provisional tax due dates will be...
have a standard 31 March balance date
  • 28 August
  • 15 January
  • 7 May.
don't have a standard 31 March balance date the 28th of the:
  • 5th
  • 9th
  • 13th month after your balance date.

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What will my new provisional tax due dates be if I also pay GST?

Your new provisional tax due dates will depend on your balance date, the option you use to calculate your provisional tax payments, and your GST filing frequency.

As a result of the changes, a small number of customers may need to change their GST filing frequency.

Standard payment due dates (for customers with a 31 March balance date)
Calculation option Your GST filing frequency Number of provisional tax instalments Payment due dates
Standard or estimation
(the current calculation options available)

One- or two-monthly

Three instalments (as currently)

28 August
15 January
7 May

 

Six-monthly

Two instalments

28 October
7 May

Ratio
(The new calculation option)

One- or two-monthly

Six instalments

28 June
28 August
28 October
15 January
28 February
7 May

 

Six-monthly

The ratio option is not available for six-monthly filers

Payment due dates (for customers with a non-standard balance date)
Calculation option Your GST filing frequency Number of provisional tax instalments Payment due dates
Standard or estimation
(the current calculation options available)

One- or two-monthly

Three instalments (as currently)

The 28th of the:

  • 5th
  • 9th
  • 13th month after your balance date.

 

Six-monthly

Two instalments

The 28th of the:

  • 7th
  • 13th month after your balance date.
Ratio
(The new calculation option)

One- or two-monthly

Six instalments

The 28th of the:

  • 3rd
  • 5th
  • 7th
  • 9th
  • 11th
  • 13th month after your balance date.

For one-monthly GST customers, your provisional tax payments will be due on every second GST return.

For two-monthly GST customers, your provisional tax payments will be due at the same time as your GST returns.

 

Six-monthly

The ratio option is not available for six-monthly filers

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Will the end-of-year tax due dates change?

No, your end-of year tax due date remains the same. If you have a standard balance date, your end-of-year due date remains at 7 February or 7 April if you have a tax agent with an extension of time.

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Will I still be able to make voluntary provisional tax payments?

Yes, you'll be able to make voluntary provisional tax payments at any time during the year. The GST and provisional tax return (GST103) will have a section for you to do this in.

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What is the new ratio option for calculating provisional tax?

If you qualify, there'll be a new option available for calculating your provisional tax instalments from the beginning of your 2008-2009 tax year. You'll still be able to use the standard (uplift) or estimation options if you'd prefer.

The ratio option is based on a percentage of your GST taxable supplies so it'll reflect your cash flow. It's designed to benefit small to medium-sized businesses:

  • because they can pay tax at the same time as they receive their income
  • if they have fluctuating income and turnover.

The new ratio option will not suit all businesses. We recommend that you consider how your business will be affected and satisfy yourself that it suits your specific business needs, or seek professional advice, before electing this option.

Read below for more information about the ratio option. You can also download a copy of our A new way to work out your provisional tax (IR851) brochure which is available under Forms and guides. It includes information to help you to decide if you're able to use the ratio option, and shows you how it will work and how to apply to use it.

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Who can use the new ratio option for calculating provisional tax?

You can use the ratio option, if you meet all of the following criteria:

  • you've been in business and GST-registered, and providing GST returns for all of the previous income year (this must not have been your first year in business)
  • your residual income tax (RIT) for the previous year is greater than $2500 and up to $150,000
  • you file your GST returns monthly or two-monthly
  • the business you're operating is not a partnership
  • your ratio percentage is between 0% and 100% (we'll let you know if it's not).

We'll look at the information we already hold for you to see if you're likely to be eligible to use the ratio option. If so, then we'll send you information about it before the start of your 2008-2009 income year, and let you know how to apply.

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Who will calculate the ratio?

If your application is accepted, we?ll calculate your ratio, and write to you with your ratio percentage.

Your ratio percentage may change from time to time as a result of assessments or reassessments of your GST or income tax for the previous year, so we'll write to you with your new ratio percentage.

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How is my ratio calculated?

We?ll apply one of the following rules, depending on the rate at which you are taxed and the income year:

If your business's income is taxed at the company tax rate (see Taxing companies for the list), and you?re calculating a payment for the 2008/09 income year, we'll calculate your ratio percentage by applying the following rule:

Ratio percentage = RIT from the previous income year x 90
GST taxable supplies from the previous year 1

(This special situation is different because the company tax rate has reduced to 30% for the 2008/09 year onward. The percentage is lower to ensure you do not over-pay. See CTR key messages for more details.)

Otherwise, we'll apply the following rule:

Ratio percentage = RIT from the previous income year x 100
GST taxable supplies from the previous year 1

Example (non-company)
RIT from the previous year: $95,000
GST taxable supplies from the previous year: $1,600,000
Ratio percentage = $95,000 divided by $1,600,000 = 0.059375
x 100 = 5.9%

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How will I calculate my provisional tax instalments?

Each time a provisional tax instalment is due, your GST and provisional tax return (GST103) will instruct you to calculate your instalment amount by multiplying your ratio percentage by your GST sales figure for the latest two-monthly period.

Example
Your current two-monthly GST taxable supplies are: $220,000
Your ratio percentage is: 5.9%
Calculation: $220,000 x 5.9% = $12,980 (this is the provisional tax due)

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How many instalments do I need to make?

You'll make six provisional tax instalments using the ratio option instead of the three that you make currently. Because you'll be paying your provisional tax and GST on the same return, you'll need to have a monthly or two-monthly GST filing frequency.

If you use the... and your GST filing frequency is... then you'll need to make...
ratio option monthly or two-monthly1 six provisional tax instalments.2
standard or estimation option monthly or two-monthly three provisional tax instalments.
six-monthly two provisional tax instalments.
1 Because you'll be paying your provisional tax and GST on the same return, you?ll need to have a monthly or two-monthly GST filing frequency.
2 This is instead of the three that you make currently.

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Can I stop using the ratio option?

You will be able to stop using the ratio option at any time during the year. If the due date for the first instalment has passed you'll only be able to use the estimation option (not the standard option) to calculate your provisional tax instalments for the rest of the year.

You won't be able to continue using the ratio option if:

  • you cease your GST registration
  • any of your GST returns are overdue by 60 days
  • your ratio percentage changes and is no longer between 0% and 100% or
  • a new income tax assessment results in residual income tax below $2,500 or above $150,000.

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Do I have to use the new ratio calculation option?

No, the current standard and estimation options will still be available.

If you don't choose the ratio option, you'll still be able to use the estimation or standard options to calculate your provisional tax instead.

If you've applied to use the ratio option, and you decide you no longer want to use it, you'll just need to let us know before your first provisional tax instalment date.

Remember that, regardless of which option you use, if your business?s income is taxed at the company rate, the 2009 reduction in that rate will also affect you. See Key messages about the change of company tax rate for more details.

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Will I be affected by use-of-money interest (UOMI) if I use the ratio option?

If you make the correct provisional tax payments by the due dates each year and use the ratio option to calculate these, you won't be charged any UOMI if you have a provisional tax shortfall.

If you stop using the ratio option after the due date for your first instalment, you'll need to use the estimation method to calculate your provisional tax instalments for the remainder of the year. The usual UOMI rules will apply from this time.

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Are the due dates for student loan interim repayments also changing?

Yes, your student loan interim repayment due dates will change.

Due dates for your provisional tax
If you... then your student loan interim repayments will be due on...
have a standard 31 March balance date
  • 28 August
  • 15 January and
  • 7 May.
don't have a standard 31 March balance date the 28th of the:
  • 5th
  • 9th and
  • 13th month after your balance date.


 


Date published: 18 Jun 2008

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