Your annual salary is the headline number. Your take-home pay is the amount that actually lands in your bank account after PAYE, the ACC earners’ levy, KiwiSaver, student loan repayments and any other payroll deductions.

Use the calculator below to estimate your weekly, fortnightly, monthly and annual take-home pay. You can also compare your current income with a pay rise or new job offer to see what the difference could look like on payday.

Updated for the New Zealand tax year from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.

Before you calculate: Enter your gross salary or wages before tax and other deductions. The result is an estimate. Your actual payslip may differ because of your tax code, tax credits, pay frequency, bonuses, allowances, unpaid leave, payroll rounding or other deductions.

Calculate your take-home pay

Enter your pay details to estimate what should land in your account.

Free NZ money tool

NZ Take-Home Pay Calculator 2026/27

Estimate what should land in your bank account after PAYE, the ACC earners’ levy, KiwiSaver and student loan deductions.

Tax year: 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027

Enter your pay details

How is your pay stated?

Gross annual pay

Enter your gross pay before tax and deductions.

Main-income tax code This version covers the main-income codes most commonly used by employees.

Employee KiwiSaver rate

More options

Other regular deductions per year

Optional. Add annualised deductions such as insurance, union fees or another regular payroll deduction.

Compare a pay rise or job offer Use the same tax, KiwiSaver and deduction settings.

The calculation runs in your browser. This calculator’s JavaScript does not store or transmit the exact pay figures you enter.

Estimated take-home pay

$0.00

per fortnight

Annual take-home $0.00

Gross pay retained 0%

Income tax rate 0%

Estimated breakdown

Per fortnight

Gross pay: $0.00
PAYE income tax: −$0.00
ACC earners’ levy: −$0.00
Independent earner tax credit: +$0.00
Employee KiwiSaver: −$0.00
Student loan repayment: −$0.00
Other deductions entered: −$0.00
Estimated take-home pay: $0.00

Indicative employer KiwiSaver: $0.00 a year before ESCT

This is shown separately and is not included in take-home pay. Eligibility, employment terms and ESCT affect the actual amount.

This is an annualised estimate for regular salary or wage income. Actual payslips can differ because of payroll rounding, tax-code eligibility, variable pay, lump sums or other circumstances.

How this estimate is calculated

The calculator annualises the pay entered, applies the 2026/27 individual income-tax brackets, the 1.75% ACC earners’ levy up to the applicable earnings cap, and the independent earner tax credit where an ME code is selected.

KiwiSaver is calculated from gross pay at the rate selected.
Student loan repayments are estimated at 12% of annual income above $24,128 when an SL code is selected.
Secondary tax codes, Working for Families, child support, tailored tax codes, irregular bonuses and lump-sum rules are outside this version.
All displayed amounts are estimates and are rounded to the nearest cent for presentation.

This estimate uses the information you entered and the New Zealand payroll settings for the 2026/27 tax year. Check your payslip or Inland Revenue records when you need an exact figure for your circumstances.

What is take-home pay?

Take-home pay is the money you receive after deductions have been made from your gross salary or wages. It is sometimes also called net pay, after-tax pay or pay after deductions.

For example, an annual salary of $80,000 does not mean $6,666.67 will land in your bank account each month. Your employer generally needs to deduct income tax, the ACC earners’ levy and any applicable KiwiSaver or student loan amounts before paying you.

Your take-home pay may include:

Your normal salary or wages.
Overtime.
Bonuses or commission.
Taxable allowances.
Holiday pay.

It may be reduced by:

PAYE income tax.
The ACC earners’ levy.
KiwiSaver employee contributions.
Student loan repayments.
Child support.
Payroll giving.
Union fees or insurance.
Other agreed or legally required deductions.

The calculator focuses on the most common New Zealand payroll deductions. You can add other regular deductions separately once the full tool is available.

New Zealand pay deductions at a glance

The main settings for the 2026/27 tax year are:

Deduction	2026/27 setting
Income tax	Progressive rates from 10.5% to 39%
ACC earners’ levy	1.75% on liable earnings up to $156,641
Default employee KiwiSaver rate	3.5% of before-tax pay
Other standard KiwiSaver rates	4%, 6%, 8% and 10%
Temporary KiwiSaver rate	3% for an approved temporary reduction
Student loan repayment threshold	$24,128 a year
Student loan repayment rate	12% of relevant income above the threshold
Independent earner tax credit	Up to $520 for eligible earners

New Zealand uses progressive income tax rates, while the ACC earners’ levy is currently charged at $1.75 for every $100 of liable employee income up to the annual maximum.

From 1 April 2026, the default employee KiwiSaver contribution rate is 3.5%. Employees can also choose 4%, 6%, 8% or 10%, while an approved temporary rate reduction can allow contributions at 3% for between three and 12 months.

For the tax year ending 31 March 2027, the annual student loan repayment threshold is $24,128. New Zealand-based borrowers generally repay 12% of relevant earnings above the applicable threshold.

How to use the take-home pay calculator

Step 1: Choose how you are paid

Select hourly, weekly, fortnightly, four-weekly, monthly or annual pay.

Choose the option that matches how your income is stated. For example, select “Annually” when your employment agreement says your salary is $80,000 a year.

Step 2: Enter your gross pay

Gross pay is the amount you earn before PAYE, KiwiSaver, student loan repayments and other deductions.

For hourly work, enter your hourly rate and the number of paid hours you normally work each week.

Step 3: Add KiwiSaver and student loan details

Select your KiwiSaver contribution rate and tell the calculator whether you have a student loan.

These deductions can make a noticeable difference to the amount that lands in your account, particularly when you are comparing two salaries.

Step 4: Select your tax code

Your tax code helps your employer work out the amount of PAYE to deduct.

For many employees, the main-income code is M. Eligible independent earners may use ME, while employees with a student loan may use M SL or ME SL.

Select “Not sure” when you do not know your tax code. The calculator can then provide a basic estimate and direct you to Inland Revenue’s tax-code guidance.

Step 5: Compare another salary

Turn on the salary-comparison option when you are:

Considering a new job.
Negotiating a pay rise.
Comparing two employment offers.
Moving from hourly pay to a salary.
Changing your KiwiSaver rate.
Checking how a student loan affects a new salary.

The result should show both the headline annual increase and the estimated difference in each pay.

How PAYE works in New Zealand

PAYE stands for pay as you earn. Your employer deducts PAYE from your salary or wages before paying you and sends the deduction to Inland Revenue.

New Zealand has progressive income tax rates. This means your income is divided into bands, with a different tax rate applying to each band.

New Zealand income tax rates for 2026/27

Taxable income	Tax rate applying to that band
$0 to $15,600	10.5%
$15,601 to $53,500	17.5%
$53,501 to $78,100	30%
$78,101 to $180,000	33%
$180,001 and over	39%

These are the individual income tax rates applying from 1 April 2025 and continuing through the 2026/27 tax year.

Moving into a higher tax bracket does not tax all your income at the higher rate

This is one of the most common misunderstandings about New Zealand income tax.

Suppose you earn $80,000. Only the portion above $78,100 falls into the 33% income tax band. The rest of your salary is taxed through the lower bands.

You do not pay 33% income tax on the entire $80,000.

The same principle applies when you receive a pay rise. A higher marginal rate may apply to some of the increase, but it does not replace the lower rates already applying to the earlier parts of your income.

What is the ACC earners’ levy?

The ACC earners’ levy helps fund cover for non-work injuries. For employees, it is collected through payroll alongside PAYE.

For the tax year from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027:

The levy rate is 1.75%.
The maximum amount of liable earnings is $156,641.
The maximum levy is $2,741.22.

Once your liable earnings reach the annual maximum, additional earnings are not charged the earners’ levy.

The calculator should show income tax and the ACC earners’ levy as separate amounts, even though they may appear together as PAYE on your payslip.

How KiwiSaver affects your take-home pay

If you contribute to KiwiSaver through your employment, your contribution is calculated as a percentage of your before-tax salary or wages.

The standard employee contribution choices for 2026/27 are:

3.5%.
4%.
6%.
8%.
10%.

The default rate is 3.5% when you do not select another rate. An approved temporary rate reduction can allow you to contribute 3% for a period of three to 12 months.

KiwiSaver is based on more than your base salary

For KiwiSaver purposes, before-tax pay can include payments such as:

Salary or wages.
Overtime.
Bonuses.
Commission.
Extra salary.
Taxable allowances.
Gratuities.

This means a bonus or overtime payment may also have a KiwiSaver deduction attached to it.

Does KiwiSaver reduce your taxable income?

Your employee KiwiSaver contribution is calculated from your before-tax pay, but it does not normally reduce the salary or wages on which PAYE is calculated.

It reduces the cash amount that lands in your bank account because part of your pay is sent to your KiwiSaver account.

What about employer KiwiSaver contributions?

Eligible employees generally receive a compulsory employer contribution of at least 3.5% of gross salary or wages. Employer contributions are subject to employer superannuation contribution tax, known as ESCT, so the net amount reaching your KiwiSaver account may be less than the headline contribution.

Employer contributions should be displayed separately from take-home pay. They are not part of the amount deposited into your everyday bank account.

How a student loan affects your take-home pay

New Zealand-based student loan borrowers generally start making repayments when their income exceeds the applicable repayment threshold.

For the tax year from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027:

The annual repayment threshold is $24,128.
The standard repayment rate is 12%.
The 12% applies to relevant income above the threshold.

The threshold is also divided into pay-period amounts for weekly, fortnightly, four-weekly and monthly pay. This is why student loan deductions can vary between pay periods, particularly when your hours or income change.

Your student loan repayment is separate from your income tax. Moving above the student loan threshold does not mean 12% is taken from your entire salary. The repayment generally applies to relevant earnings above the threshold.

Bonuses, overtime and other extra pay may result in an additional student loan deduction.

What is the independent earner tax credit?

Some New Zealand tax residents earning between $24,000 and $70,000 may qualify for the independent earner tax credit, commonly called the IETC.

For eligible earners:

Income between $24,000 and $66,000 may qualify for $10 a week.
The entitlement reduces between $66,001 and $70,000.
The maximum credit is $520 a year.

Eligibility depends on more than income. You generally cannot receive the IETC for a month in which you or your partner receive Working for Families, or when you receive certain benefits, New Zealand Superannuation, a Veteran’s Pension or an overseas equivalent.

Eligible employees can usually receive the credit during the year by using the ME tax code, or ME SL when they have a student loan. Other eligible people may receive it through their end-of-year income tax assessment.

The calculator should include an IETC option rather than automatically applying the credit based only on salary.

NZ salary after-tax examples

The following examples provide a general indication of take-home pay for common New Zealand salaries.

The estimates assume:

One main source of employment income.
M tax code.
No KiwiSaver deductions.
No student loan.
No IETC.
No other deductions.
A full year of consistent income.
Annual income tax and ACC rates for 2026/27.

Gross annual salary	Estimated annual take-home pay	Average monthly amount	Estimated fortnightly amount	Estimated weekly amount
$50,000	$41,467	$3,456	$1,595	$797
$60,000	$48,730	$4,061	$1,874	$937
$70,000	$55,555	$4,630	$2,137	$1,068
$80,000	$62,323	$5,194	$2,397	$1,199
$100,000	$75,373	$6,281	$2,899	$1,449
$120,000	$88,423	$7,369	$3,401	$1,700

These estimates are calculated from the current individual income tax bands and the 1.75% ACC earners’ levy.

The monthly figures are annual averages. Receiving fortnightly pay is not the same as receiving two payments every calendar month because there are normally 26 fortnights in a year.

Eligible earners between $24,000 and $70,000 may receive a higher amount after the IETC is applied. KiwiSaver, student loan repayments and other deductions will reduce the amount deposited into your bank account.

How much of a pay rise will you actually keep?

A $10,000 pay rise does not mean another $10,000 will land in your account.

The gross increase may be affected by:

Your marginal income tax rate.
The ACC earners’ levy.
KiwiSaver.
Student loan repayments.
Changes to IETC eligibility.
Bonuses or other remuneration arrangements.

The useful number is the increase per payday.

Example: Moving from $75,000 to $85,000

The following comparison assumes one main job, no IETC and no other deductions.

Scenario	Estimated additional annual take-home pay	Estimated additional take-home pay per fortnight
No KiwiSaver or student loan	$6,618	$255
3.5% KiwiSaver, no student loan	$6,268	$241
3.5% KiwiSaver and a student loan	$5,068	$195

The exact amount can differ because payroll deductions are calculated by pay period and may be affected by your tax code or other income.

A good salary-comparison result should therefore say:

On the settings entered, moving from $75,000 to $85,000 may add approximately $195 to $255 to each fortnightly pay, depending on your KiwiSaver and student loan settings.

Compare the complete employment offer

When assessing a pay rise or new role, also look at:

Whether employer KiwiSaver is on top of the salary.
Bonuses and commission.
Overtime expectations.
Paid leave.
Insurance or other benefits.
Travel and commuting costs.
Flexible-working arrangements.
Expected weekly hours.

The highest headline salary will not always provide the highest effective hourly rate or the best overall package.

Hourly rate to annual salary

To estimate an annual salary from an hourly rate, multiply:

Hourly rate × paid hours each week × weeks worked each year

For someone working 40 paid hours a week for 52 weeks:

Hourly rate	Gross weekly pay	Gross annual equivalent
$25 an hour	$1,000	$52,000
$30 an hour	$1,200	$62,400
$35 an hour	$1,400	$72,800
$40 an hour	$1,600	$83,200
$45 an hour	$1,800	$93,600
$50 an hour	$2,000	$104,000

These are gross figures before PAYE and other deductions.

Your actual annual income will be lower when you have unpaid weeks, variable hours or unpaid breaks. Overtime, holiday pay and allowances can increase it.

Contractors should not treat an hourly contract rate as directly equivalent to employee wages. Contractors may need to allow for their own tax, ACC, GST, expenses, insurance, holidays and periods without paid work.

Gross salary versus total remuneration

When you receive a job offer, check whether the stated figure is:

Base salary.
Base salary plus employer KiwiSaver.
A total-remuneration package.
A package including a bonus or commission.
A package including insurance or other benefits.

Employees can negotiate whether compulsory employer contributions are treated as part of total pay. Employment New Zealand recommends checking whether employer KiwiSaver contributions are included in the salary offered or paid in addition to it.

Example

Two job offers may both be advertised as being worth $90,000, but they may be structured differently.

Offer A

Base salary: $90,000
Employer KiwiSaver: on top

Offer B

Total remuneration: $90,000
Employer KiwiSaver: accounted for within the package

The amount available as cash salary may differ, even though both offers use the same headline figure.

Read the remuneration section of the employment agreement and ask the employer to confirm the breakdown in writing.

Why might your payslip differ from the calculator?

A take-home pay calculator provides an estimate based on standard assumptions. Your actual pay may differ for several reasons.

Your tax code

Using a secondary, tailored or incorrect tax code can change the amount deducted.

If you do not give your employer a completed tax-code declaration, a higher non-declaration rate may apply.

The independent earner tax credit

An eligible employee using ME or ME SL may receive some or all of the IETC during the year.

Someone using M may instead receive an adjustment after Inland Revenue completes the end-of-year assessment.

Your pay changes between periods

Overtime, unpaid leave, bonuses, commission and variable hours can change the deductions in an individual pay.

Bonuses and lump-sum payments

Extra pay can be taxed using lump-sum payroll rules rather than simply being added to an ordinary pay-period calculation.

Payroll rounding

Employers use Inland Revenue payroll tables and software rules. Small rounding differences can occur between an annual estimate and each individual payday calculation.

You have other deductions

Child support, payroll giving, union fees, insurance and other deductions are not automatically included unless you enter them.

You have more than one income source

A second job or another source of taxable income can affect your tax code and end-of-year tax position.

Use the calculator as a planning estimate, then compare it with your payslip and myIR records.

What can your take-home pay help you plan?

Knowing what actually lands in your account makes it easier to build a realistic plan around payday.

You can use the result to review:

Regular household costs

Start with housing, power, transport, food, insurance and other bills that need to be paid consistently.

Debt repayments

Include minimum required payments and any additional amount you have chosen to put towards debt.

Emergency savings

A separate emergency fund can help cover unexpected expenses without relying immediately on credit.

KiwiSaver and long-term saving

Your selected KiwiSaver rate affects both your current take-home pay and the amount going towards longer-term retirement savings.

Other financial goals

These could include a first-home deposit, travel, education, a major purchase or building general savings.

Your take-home pay is one part of your wider financial picture. The calculator does not decide what you should do with the money. Its purpose is to make the starting number clearer.

Your pay is connected to the wider economy

The amount on your payslip is personal, but many of the forces affecting it are part of the wider economy.

Inflation can change what your income can buy. Interest-rate decisions can affect mortgages, savings rates, businesses and employment. Changes in the New Zealand dollar can affect the cost of imported goods, overseas travel and international purchases.

Economic announcements can also affect currencies, commodities and global financial markets.

Interested in learning how global markets work?

Understanding your take-home pay means looking beyond the headline salary and examining the numbers underneath it.

The same principle applies when learning about financial markets. It is important to understand the platform, products, order types and market movements before considering live trading.

Ace Markets provides access to forex, metals, indices and energy CFDs through MetaTrader 5. A demo account lets you explore the platform and practise placing orders with virtual funds before deciding whether to begin a live-account application.

Frequently asked questions

How is take-home pay calculated in New Zealand?

Take-home pay starts with your gross salary or wages. PAYE income tax, the ACC earners’ levy, KiwiSaver, student loan repayments and any other payroll deductions are then subtracted.

The amount left is your estimated take-home or net pay.

What is the difference between gross pay and take-home pay?

Gross pay is the amount earned before deductions.

Take-home pay is the amount paid into your bank account after deductions such as PAYE, ACC, KiwiSaver and student loan repayments.

How much tax do I pay on my salary?

The amount depends on how much you earn and which parts of your income fall into each New Zealand tax bracket.

For 2026/27, individual income tax rates range from 10.5% to 39%. The ACC earners’ levy may also be deducted through payroll.

Does moving into a higher tax bracket reduce my overall take-home pay?

Earning more does not normally cause your total take-home pay to fall simply because you enter a higher tax bracket.

Only the portion of income within the higher bracket is taxed at the higher rate. The lower parts remain taxed at their applicable lower rates.

Other deductions, such as student loan repayments or changes to tax-credit eligibility, can affect how much of an increase you retain.

What is the default KiwiSaver rate in 2026?

The default employee KiwiSaver contribution rate is 3.5% from 1 April 2026.

Employees can select 4%, 6%, 8% or 10%. An approved temporary rate reduction can allow contributions at 3% for three to 12 months.

Does KiwiSaver come out before or after tax?

Your employee KiwiSaver contribution is calculated as a percentage of your before-tax salary or wages.

The contribution is deducted through payroll and reduces the cash amount paid into your bank account. It does not normally reduce the salary or wages on which your PAYE income tax is calculated.

Is employer KiwiSaver included in my salary?

It depends on the wording of your employment agreement and remuneration package.

Check whether the stated salary is base salary with employer KiwiSaver paid on top, or whether the offer has been presented as a total-remuneration package. Employment New Zealand recommends confirming this when reviewing a salary offer.

How does a student loan affect take-home pay?

For a New Zealand-based borrower, the standard repayment rate is generally 12% of relevant earnings above the repayment threshold.

The annual threshold for the 2026/27 tax year is $24,128.

What is the ME tax code?

ME is a main-income tax code used by some employees who qualify for the independent earner tax credit.

ME SL is the corresponding code for an eligible person who also has a student loan.

Eligibility depends on income and personal circumstances, so do not select ME based only on salary.

How much is $30 an hour annually?

At 40 paid hours a week for 52 weeks, $30 an hour is equivalent to gross annual income of $62,400.

The actual amount may be lower when you have unpaid weeks or variable hours.

How many fortnightly pays are there in a year?

There are normally 26 fortnightly pay periods in a 52-week year.

This means two fortnightly payments each month is not a reliable monthly estimate. Two months of the year will usually contain three fortnightly paydays.

Is monthly pay the same as four-weekly pay?

No.

Monthly pay normally produces 12 payments a year. Four-weekly pay normally produces 13 payments a year.

Select the correct option when using the calculator.

Can I use this calculator for a second job?

A basic estimate is possible, but a second source of income may require a secondary tax code.

The correct secondary code depends on your estimated total annual income from all sources. Selecting the wrong code can result in too much or too little tax being deducted during the year.

Does the calculator include Working for Families?

Working for Families should not be included as a simple automatic payroll amount. Eligibility and entitlement can depend on household income, family circumstances and the number and age of children.

Use Inland Revenue’s Working for Families information and estimator for a personalised assessment.

Can self-employed people use this calculator?

The calculator is designed primarily for employees whose employer deducts PAYE.

Self-employed people, contractors and sole traders may need to account for income tax, provisional tax, ACC, expenses, GST and other obligations separately.

Why is my actual payslip different?

Differences can result from your tax code, IETC eligibility, payroll rounding, variable hours, bonuses, allowances, unpaid leave, secondary income or other deductions.

Check the income and deduction lines on your payslip and compare them with the settings entered into the calculator.

Sources and calculation methodology

This page uses current information from Inland Revenue and Employment New Zealand, including:

Individual income tax rates.
ACC earners’ levy rates and annual maximum.
KiwiSaver employee and employer contribution rates.
Temporary KiwiSaver contribution reductions.
Student loan repayment settings.
Independent earner tax-credit settings.
Employer contribution and total-remuneration guidance.

Calculator results should be rounded in line with the relevant payroll calculation rules. Before launch, test the calculation engine against Inland Revenue’s current PAYE tables using weekly, fortnightly, four-weekly and monthly examples.

Last reviewed: July 2026.

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "FAQPage",
  "@id": "https://acemarkets.co.nz/money-tools/take-home-pay-calculator-nz/#faq",
  "url": "https://acemarkets.co.nz/money-tools/take-home-pay-calculator-nz/",
  "name": "NZ Take-Home Pay Calculator Frequently Asked Questions",
  "inLanguage": "en-NZ",
  "mainEntity": [
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "How is take-home pay calculated in New Zealand?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Take-home pay starts with your gross salary or wages. PAYE income tax, the ACC earners’ levy, KiwiSaver, student loan repayments and any other payroll deductions are then subtracted. The amount left is your estimated take-home or net pay."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "What is the difference between gross pay and take-home pay?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Gross pay is the amount you earn before deductions. Take-home pay is the amount paid into your bank account after deductions such as PAYE, the ACC earners’ levy, KiwiSaver and student loan repayments."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "How much tax do I pay on my salary in New Zealand?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "The amount of income tax you pay depends on how much you earn and which portions of your income fall into each New Zealand tax bracket. For the 2026/27 tax year, individual income tax rates range from 10.5% to 39%. The ACC earners’ levy may also be deducted through payroll."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "Does moving into a higher tax bracket reduce my overall take-home pay?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Earning more does not normally cause your total take-home pay to fall simply because you enter a higher tax bracket. Only the portion of income within the higher bracket is taxed at the higher rate. The earlier portions of your income continue to be taxed at their applicable lower rates."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "What is the default KiwiSaver contribution rate in 2026?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "The default employee KiwiSaver contribution rate is 3.5% from 1 April 2026. Employees can select contribution rates of 4%, 6%, 8% or 10%. An approved temporary rate reduction can allow contributions at 3% for a limited period."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "Does KiwiSaver come out before or after tax?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Your employee KiwiSaver contribution is calculated as a percentage of your before-tax salary or wages. It is deducted through payroll and reduces the cash amount paid into your bank account. It does not normally reduce the salary or wages on which PAYE income tax is calculated."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "Is employer KiwiSaver included in my salary?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "It depends on the wording of your employment agreement and remuneration package. Check whether the stated amount is base salary with employer KiwiSaver paid on top, or a total-remuneration package that accounts for the employer contribution within the advertised amount."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "How does a student loan affect my take-home pay?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "For a New Zealand-based borrower, the standard student loan repayment is generally 12% of relevant earnings above the repayment threshold. The annual threshold for the 2026/27 tax year is $24,128. The threshold is divided into weekly, fortnightly, four-weekly or monthly amounts for payroll calculations."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "What is the ME tax code?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "ME is a main-income tax code used by some employees who qualify for the independent earner tax credit. ME SL is the corresponding code for an eligible person who also has a student loan. Eligibility depends on both income and personal circumstances."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "How much is $30 an hour as an annual salary in New Zealand?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "At 40 paid hours a week for 52 weeks, $30 an hour is equivalent to gross annual income of $62,400. The actual annual amount may be lower if you have unpaid weeks or variable hours."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "How many fortnightly pays are there in a year?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "There are normally 26 fortnightly pay periods in a 52-week year. This means two fortnightly payments each month is not an accurate monthly average because two months of the year will usually contain three fortnightly paydays."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "Is monthly pay the same as four-weekly pay?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "No. Monthly pay normally produces 12 payments a year, while four-weekly pay normally produces 13 payments a year. Select the pay frequency that matches your actual payroll arrangement."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "Can I use the calculator for a second job?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "The calculator can provide a general estimate, but a second source of employment income may require a secondary tax code. The correct code depends on your expected total annual income from all sources."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "Does the take-home pay calculator include Working for Families?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Working for Families is not included as a simple automatic payroll amount. Eligibility and entitlement can depend on household income, family circumstances and the number and ages of children. Use Inland Revenue’s Working for Families information and estimator for a personalised assessment."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "Can self-employed people use this calculator?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "The calculator is designed primarily for employees whose employer deducts PAYE. Self-employed people, contractors and sole traders may need to account separately for income tax, provisional tax, ACC, business expenses, GST and other obligations."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "Why is my actual payslip different from the calculator result?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Differences can result from your tax code, tax-credit eligibility, payroll rounding, variable hours, bonuses, allowances, unpaid leave, secondary income or other deductions. Check the income and deduction lines on your payslip against the settings entered into the calculator."
      }
    }
  ]
}
</script>