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The tax year is from 1 April to 31 March. After the end of the tax year, we work out if you’ve paid the right amount of tax, if you have tax to pay, or if you're due a refund.

Sometimes we need more information from you to work this out, particularly if you get payments from Working for Families. You can avoid delays by checking your details are up to date with us.

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Common end of year situations

Hear about common assessment and return filing situations that people may have at the end of the tax year.

End of the tax year | Know what to do
Video transcript and information

Tax is vital to New Zealand life, but can be complicated. Take a look at these examples with Ivy and Rikki to find out what you need to do at the end of the tax year. You'll find out what you'll receive and when, based on the situation that best fits you.

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Audio and visual transcript

Scene 1

Visual

Title: Aotearoa End of tax year. Know what to do

Ivy and Rikki from Te Tari Taake Inland Revenue are speaking.

Audio

Music

Narrator - Ivy

Tax is vital to New Zealand life but can be complicated.

Narrator - Rikki

So we're from Inland Revenue Te Tari Taake, to let you know what to do for the end of tax year.

Scene 2

Visual

Melissa is pushing her child in a pram at a playground.

A mobile phone with myIR on it appears next to the words 'End of July'.

Audio

Music

Narrator - Rikki

Melissa has two tamariki and receives Working for Families. Her income tax assessment will arrive by the end of July.

She'll need to check the details we have about her income and her family are correct.

Scene 3

Visual

Steve is sitting at a desk working at his computer.

There is an envelope with an income tax assessment and an icon showing Steve can use myIR on his computer.

Audio

Music

Narrator - Ivy

Steve's employed with a regular salary and no other income.

Narrator - Rikki

His employer files his salary and wages with us, so Steve can relax. We'll send his income tax assessment to his myIR account or in the post by the end of June.

Narrator - Ivy

It'll show if he's paid the right amount of tax, owes more, or is due a refund.

Slide 4

Visual

Alex is standing in front of an easel painting the Inland Revenue logo. Her laptop is on the table behind her.

An icon showing myIR appears over the laptop with the text 'End of June'.

Audio

Music

Narrator - Rikki

Alex is employed with a regular salary and does some contracting work with an art gallery. We'll be in touch by the end of June for more information before issuing her income tax assessment.

So Alex can crack on with that masterpiece.

Scene 5

Visual

Henry is digging up carrots from his farm.

There is a mobile phone with myIR on it and an envelope with a tax return.

There is a carrot with the words 'Untaxed income' and a spade with the word 'Expenses' next to it.

The envelope closes and '7 July' shows above it.

Audio

Music

Narrator - Ivy

Henry's a self-employed farmer.

Narrator - Rikki

He'll receive a tax return in his myIR account or in the post by early April. This will show any income information we do have, but Henry needs to add details of any untaxed income, and expenses to claim, and file his return with us by 7 July.

Scene 6

Visual

Title: Aotearoa End of tax year. Know what to do

Link: ird.govt.nz/end-of-tax-year 

Audio

Music

Narrator - Ivy

To find out more head to ird.govt.nz/end-of-tax-year

What you need to do based on your situation

Whether you need to provide more information to us or not, is based on your situation.

If you receive Working for Families payments

We send out most assessments by 7 June, however if we need more information it may take until 31 July. If the information is right, there’s nothing you need to do. You’ll need to contact us if the information is wrong.

You can do this in myIR.

End-of-year assessments

myIR

If you have untaxed income, you will need to file an IR3

You’ll need to let us know about any income you’ve earned that has not had tax deducted by filing an IR3.

Returns are available to file from 1 April. If you use myIR, we'll email or text when your return is in your myIR and ready for you to file. If you do not use myIR, we'll send you a paper return by early April.

Individual income tax return - IR3

If you have a tax agent, get in touch with them first as they may file on your behalf.

If your employer sorts your salary and wages

If you haven’t heard from us, this means we don’t need more information about your income from you and you should receive your income tax assessment by 7 June in myIR or later by post. 

If you’ve also received income that hasn’t been taxed yet, you will need to let us know and file an IR3 tax return.

What happens at the end of the tax year

Examples of common situations and what to expect

Look at these examples to find out what you need to do at the end of the tax year. 

Melissa holding her child

Melissa – gets Working for Families

After the end of the tax year, around June or July, we’ll send Melissa an income tax assessment. This will ask her to check the information we have about her income and family.

We don’t need to hear from Melissa if the information is right. She will need to contact us if it’s wrong.

For Melissa, if either her Working for Families or income tax assessment is a refund and the other is a bill, we will use the refund to pay the bill. She may still have a remaining bill to pay or refund after this.

End-of-year assessments
cartoon image of Steve, who earns a salary

Steve – employed with no other income

Steve's employed, with a regular salary and no other income.

His employer passes on his salary and wage information to us, so Steve can relax.

By the end of June, we'll let him know his income tax assessment is ready in myIR or send it to him in the post. It'll show if he's paid the right amount of tax, owes more, or is due a refund.

Income tax assessments
cartoon image of Alex

Alex – employed and a contractor

Alex is employed with a regular salary and does some contracting work with an art gallery.

We’ll be in touch by the end of June for more information so we can issue her income tax assessment. Alex can crack on with that masterpiece in the meantime.

Request for more information - income tax assessment
cartoon of Henry

Henry – self-employed

Henry's a self-employed farmer.

He'll get an IR3 tax return in myIR or in the post by early April. This will show any income information we do have. Henry needs to add details of any untaxed income, as well as expenses to claim. Henry must file his return with us by the 7th of July.

If Henry has a tax agent, he should contact them first to arrange filing.

Individual income tax return - IR3
Last updated: 04 Apr 2024
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