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ACC earners' levy on income from personal effort

Income that you receive from personal effort is liable for ACC earners' levy. This levy is charged to cover the cost of rehabilitation and compensation following non-work related injuries.

Income liable for ACC earners' levy

Income liable for earners' levy includes:

  • salary and wages (overtime, backpay, holiday pay, long service leave, bonuses or gratuities and taxable allowances)
  • shareholder-employee salaries
  • salaries to partners in a partnership
  • salary or wages to owners in a look-through company (LTC)
  • active income from a look-through company
  • income from self-employment.

Income not liable for ACC earners' levy

Income not liable for earners' levy includes:

  • retirement payments
  • redundancy payments
  • non-taxable allowances
  • rents
  • interest and dividends
  • estate and trust income
  • royalties
  • income for a partnership earned by a non-active partner
  • income for a look-through company (LTC) by a non-active owner
  • jury fees
  • witness fees
  • taxable and non-taxable pensions
  • free or discounted shares received under an employee share scheme.
  • Student allowance
  • Income tested benefits
  • New Zealand Superannuation
  • Veteran's pensions
  • Living alone payments
  • Pensions from superannuation schemes not registered with the New Zealand Financial Markets Authority
  • Overseas income
  • Paid parental leave

How the premium is paid

Employees All employees must pay ACC earners' levy. This has been built into the PAYE tables and is deducted along with PAYE.
Self-employed Up to the year ended 31 March 2001 you calculated earners' levy in your tax return.
From 1 April 2001 onwards (the 2002 income year) ACC invoices you directly for earner's levy. We supply income information to ACC to enable them to do this.
Shareholder employees

If you receive a regular salary with PAYE deducted the company deducts earners' levy as part of your PAYE.

If you receive an irregular salary with no PAYE deducted:

  • up to 31 March 2001 the company deducted earners' levy from your salary and paid it in the company tax return
  • from 1 April 2001 onwards (the 2002 income year) ACC invoices the company directly for earners' levy. We supply income information to ACC to enable them to do this.

Rates of levy and maximum liable income

Earners' levy is charged at a flat rate, which can change each year. There is a maximum amount of income that earners' levy is charged on. Any amount of salary or wages earned over this maximum isn't liable for earners' levy.

The maximum rates for each year are:

Income year

Earners' levy rate

(GST-inclusive)

 Maximum income earners' levy charged on - see "Note" below Maximum levy anyone can pay
1 April 2020 to
31 March 2021
$1.39 per $100 (1.39%)
$130,911
$1,819.66
1 April 2019 to
31 March 2020
$1.39 per $100 (1.39%)
$128,470
$1,785.73
1 April 2018 to
31 March 2019
$1.39 per $100 (1.39%)
$126,286
$1,755.37
1 April 2017 to
31 March 2018
$1.39 per $100 (1.39%)
$124,053
$1,724.33
1 April 2016 to
31 March 2017
$1.39 per $100 (1.39%)
$122,063
$1,696.67
1 April 2015 to
31 March 2016
$1.45 per $100 (1.45%)
$120,070
$1,741.01
1 April 2014 to
31 March 2015
$1.45 per $100 (1.45%)
$118,191
$1,713.76
1 April 2013 to
31 March 2014
$1.70 per $100 (1.70%)
$116,089
$1,973.51

 

Note

For self-employed income:

  • For the 2020 tax year, the maximum that earner’s levy is charged on is $124,053 and the maximum levy payable is $1,724.33

See the previous years' ACC levy and maximum liable income rates

Contacts for more information

If you need more information about ACC earners' levy please contact ACC:

For ... call free on ... or email/fax ...
employer levies 0800 222 776 business@acc.co.nz
Freefax: 0800 222 003
self-employed levies 0508 4COVER
(0508 426 837)		 business@acc.co.nz
Freefax: 0800 222 003
agents and financial advisors' queries 0800 222 991 business@acc.co.nz
Freefax: 0800 222 003
claims 0800 101 996 claims@acc.co.nz