Depending on the type of mistake you've made in your return, you may be able to fix it yourself, we may have to do it or you may need to dispute a return.
How you can fix mistakes
If you realise you've made mistakes in your tax return after you've filed, you can fix them:
- in myIR
- in your next return
- by asking us to do it.
Do not send us a replacement return to fix your mistake.
Fixing mistakes in your next return
If you've made mistakes calculating your income tax, fringe benefit tax (FBT) or GST, you can fix it in the next return period if the tax difference caused by the mistakes in the return is $1,000 or less.
You can also fix mistakes in your next return if the tax difference caused by the mistakes in the return is the same as or less than the lower of the following:
- $10,000
- 2% of your yearly gross income if the mistakes are in an income tax or FBT return, or 2% of your GST output tax for the return period if the mistakes are in a GST return.
This only applies if you are not making a correction in your next return mainly to delay paying your tax.
Fixing mistakes in the same return
You may be able to fix mistakes in the original return in myIR. If you cannot, you'll need to ask us to change your return instead.
Find out below what kinds of information you'll need to provide.
If we agree, we'll change your original return and send you a notice of assessment.
Disputing a return
If you choose a tax position in a return and change your mind about it, you cannot correct it. You must use our disputes process and both:
- complete a Notice of proposed adjustment - IR770
- send it to us no later than 4 months after the return you want to correct is due.
Disputes process initiated by the taxpayer
GST returns
You can fix mistakes in GST returns in the same ways as returns for any other tax type. However, there are some other ways you may be able to fix mistakes in a GST return.
Unclaimed purchases or expenses in GST returns
You can claim purchases or expenses in your next return if you have not claimed them within 2 years of supply, or because:
- you were not able to get taxable supply information
- there was a dispute over the price of the taxable supply
- you mistakenly decided the expense was not a taxable supply
- of a clear mistake or simple oversight.
Supply correction information
If you provide or receive supply correction information changing the GST for a period, account for the change in the period this was provided or received.
Information you need to provide
To help us amend your return as fast as possible you need to provide:
- your IRD number
- the account period and years
- the amount of tax involved
- a description of the change including which parts of the return to update
- why the change is needed, how the mistake happened and how you found it
- if needed, details of any wrong advice we gave you
- any relevant documentation, records or information supporting the request.
You may also need to provide:
- details from your accounting packages
- GST audit trail before and after amendment
- bank statements
- customs invoices
- taxable supply information
- supply correction information.
Voluntary disclosures
A voluntary disclosure is when you tell us what's wrong with your tax returns before we find out in some other way. For example, you left out some income from your return or incorrectly claimed expenses.
Error messages when amending your return in myIR
Below are some error messages you may get when trying to amend a return in myIR.
145 - Return held for processing
This error message will display when the return is being processed and is not visible due to a non-amendable error. The return will be released once we’ve processed it.
67 - Return is reversed
This error message will display when trying to amend a return that has been manually reversed and cannot be amended. The submission key will no longer be usable, and a new submission is required for any changes.
168 - Return is transferred
This error message will display when the return has been transferred to another account or period. The submission key will no longer be usable, and a new submission is required to amend the return. If you think this is incorrect, you can contact us for assistance.