I am moving back to New Zealand

Student loans Dates

MAR 31

Overseas-based student loan repayment due if you do not have a temporary repayment suspension.
APR 7

End-of-year student loan repayments are due if you have a tax agent with a valid extension of time.
MAY 8

Interim student loan repayments are due. They count towards your end-of-year repayment obligation.

All Student loans dates

If you're living, studying or working in New Zealand long-term, you're considered New Zealand-based. This means you're entitled to an interest-free student loan and your loan repayments are based on your income.

Working out when you become New Zealand-based

Working out exactly when you become New Zealand-based can get complex, especially if you're travelling a lot. You can use our 'Overseas travel calculator' to find out when your status will change based on your overseas travel. To get to the calculator in myIR, go to your student loan account and select 'More', then 'Travelling overseas'.

When you return to New Zealand, after 183 days, you'll:

become New Zealand-based if you're back in New Zealand for at least 152 of those 183 days
remain overseas-based if you're out of New Zealand for at least 32 of those 183 days.

If you're back for more than 152 days, but less than 183 days before leaving again, you may still be considered overseas-based. Contact us so we can discuss your situation.

If you become New Zealand-based, your student loan will be interest-free from the day you arrived back in New Zealand.

Travel details in myIR

The 'Travelling overseas' section in myIR makes it easier to keep track of how long you're away from New Zealand and calculate when interest is charged. You'll find this section under the 'I want to...' menu in your student loan account.

You can also check the dates you travel to or from New Zealand. This only shows the date you travelled into or out of the country and does not include information about where you travelled.

Your repayments will be based on how much you earn each year

Your student loan repayments are based on your yearly income (before tax) when you become New Zealand-based.

Living in New Zealand with a student loan

Example: Jane returns to New Zealand

Day 1: Arrives in New Zealand

23 July

Jane arrives back in New Zealand, having lived in London for the past few years. The day they return begins the day count.

Day 2 - day 151: Settles back into New Zealand

24 July to 20 December

Jane settles back into life in New Zealand and starts a new job. Because they have a student loan, Jane makes sure to use the M SL tax code.

Day 152: Departs New Zealand

21 December

Over the Christmas break, Jane spends 3 weeks catching up with friends in Fiji.

Day 173: Returns to New Zealand

11 January

Jane comes back to New Zealand after catching up with friends in Fiji.

Day 183: Jane is now considered New Zealand-based

21 January

It has now been 183 days since Jane arrived back in New Zealand. They have been out of New Zealand for 20 of those days.

Jane is considered New Zealand-based.

Any interest charged on their student loan from the day they first returned to New Zealand, 23 July, is written off.