From 1 April 2006, people arriving to live in New Zealand may qualify for a temporary tax exemption on most types of their foreign income.
Who is eligible for this temporary exemption?
This temporary tax exemption is available to people who arrive in New Zealand on or after 1 April 2006 and are new migrants or returning New Zealanders who have not been resident for tax purposes in New Zealand for at least 10 years prior to their arrival in New Zealand.
The exemption can only be granted once in a life-time.
The exemption
The temporary tax exemption for foreign income is for four calendar years (up to 49 months). The exemption starts on the first calendar day of the month you arrive in New Zealand and is valid until the last calendar day of that month four years later.
For example:
You arrive in New Zealand on 22 April 2006 and have one or more types of foreign income that are temporarily exempt for taxes in New Zealand (see list below).
You are eligible for the exemption counting from 1 April 2006 until 30 April 2010, which effectively is 49 months.
The tax exemption is automatically granted if you qualify.
Types of foreign income that are temporarily exempt from tax in New Zealand
Types of foreign income temporarily exempt from tax in New Zealand:
- Dividends
- Interest
- Bonuses from a previous job overseas even if received after arriving in New Zealand
- Controlled foreign company (CFC) income - under New Zealand's CFC rules
- Foreign Investment Fund (FIF) income, including foreign superannuation - under New Zealand's FIF rules
- Non-resident withholding tax on foreign mortgages
- Approved issuer levy on foreign mortgages
- Taxation arising from employee share options
- Accrual income from foreign financial arrangements
- Certain trust income
- Rental income derived offshore
- Royalties derived offshore
- Gains on sale of property derived offshore
- Offshore business income that is not related to the performance of services.
When your tax exemption ends after four years (up to 49 months), you must declare all foreign income on your annual income tax return (IR3 for individuals).
Types of foreign income that are not tax exempt in New Zealand
These types of foreign income are not tax exempt in New Zealand:
- Income derived from overseas employment performed while receiving the exemption
- Business income relating to services performed offshore.
If you have any of these types of income, you must declare them on your annual income tax return (IR3 for individuals) from the date of your arrival in New Zealand.
Confirm your eligibility for the temporary tax exemption
The tax exemption is automatically granted if you qualify.
You don't have to contact the New Zealand Inland Revenue Department (IRD) with your information, but if you would them to, the IRD will confirm your eligibility for the temporary tax exemption based on the following information that you provide:
- Your individual IRD number.
- If you don't have an individual IRD number, you must get one before contacting the IRD regarding your overseas income.
- Your arrival date in New Zealand (date you arrive/d to New Zealand to live)
- Your address in New Zealand.
How you can contact the IRD
You can contact the IRD in four ways:
- You can use the online general enquiry form on the IRD web site.
- You can register for an online IRD services account. It will allow you to send and receive secure mail etc. It takes approximately 10 days to receive your password by traditional mail once you have registered on the IRD web site.
- Call the IRD free within New Zealand on 0800 227 774 or, if you're outside New Zealand call the IRD on +64 4 801 9973.
- Send a letter to the Processing centre nearest to you.
More information
Money, finances and legal advice