2024 October - Challenging spring weather and rainfall in Southland and Clutha

The Government classified this weather, which included significant rainfall, as a medium-scale adverse event on 4 October 2024.  

We may be able to help if you are in one of these regions or districts and your business or personal income is affected. 

• Southland region  
• Clutha district  

Contacting us

You can contact us on our emergency helpline 0800 473 566.

For other ways to contact us, see our contact page.

Natural disasters, adverse and emergency events - contact us

See our website for more information on how we can help.

Natural disasters, adverse or emergency events

Help for you or your family

We may be able to help with your personal tax, KiwiSaver, or student loan payments. For child support or Working for Families payments, you’ll need to let us know if your situation has changed.

Help for you or your family in an adverse or emergency event

Help for your business

If you have a business or are self-employed, we can help if you are affected by an adverse or emergency event.

Help with your business tax in an adverse or emergency event

Help for farmers and growers

You may be able to get help through the income equalisation scheme if your income is affected by this event. 

We have made ‘class of case’ decisions to cover farmers and growers in the affected regions.  Details are as follows. 

Income equalisation scheme – late deposits 

You can make late deposits for the 2024 income year up to 01 May 2025. 

Income equalisation scheme – early refunds

You can apply for the early refund of a deposit if you are an affected farmer or grower who has made their deposit prior to the ministerial declaration on 04 October 2024. 

Normally, income equalisation deposits aren’t available for refund until 12 months after they have been made. 

Your application for an early refund must be in writing. It may take approximately 5 days to process. 

The refund will be income in the year you make the application, unless you apply it to the previous income year. 

Income equalisation scheme 

Customers outside of the affected regions

For customers affected by flooding in other regions or districts you can apply on a case-by-case basis to Inland Revenue for the same relief. 

Tax Technical information

For more information on income equalisation and deposits see our standard practice statement.

Standard Practice Statement 19/03 Income equalisation deposits and refunds