How to use this calculator: Work through each section from top to bottom. The sections for student loan, ACC, KiwiSaver, Working for Families, GST, rental income, and losses can each be switched on or off — only turn on the ones that apply to your situation. Your total obligations summary updates live as you go.
Tax bracket rates — 2024/25
Official IRD rates. Edit if rates change or to run scenarios.
Depreciation rates — IR265 August 2024
Official IRD rates from the IR265 document. Code shows the IRD category. Only change if IRD has issued a provisional determination for your specific asset.
Artist Resale Royalty Scheme
Standard rate 5%, minimum resale value $2,000 (excl. GST), agency fee 20%.
ACC rates — 2025/26
The Earners' levy and Working Safer levy are flat rates. The Work levy varies by industry — for most artists and photographers the rate is low. Check your Classification Unit at acc.co.nz.
Self-employment income
Everything you earn from your own art business — original sales, commissions, book illustrations, restorations, licensing digital prints. Enter the total before deducting any expenses. Resale royalties go in their own section below.
Artist Resale Royalties From Dec 2024
NZ launched the Artist Resale Royalty Scheme in December 2024. Every time one of your artworks is resold through a gallery, auction, or dealer for $2,000 or more, you receive a 5% royalty. Resale Royalties Aotearoa keeps 20% — you receive 80%. This royalty is taxable income if you were in business when you created the work. Register at resaleroyalties.co.nz.
Artwork descriptionResale price ($)
Employment or benefit income (PAYE)
If you have a job where your employer deducts tax before you receive your pay, or you receive a Winz benefit, that income goes here. Tax deducted gets credited against your final bill — you won't pay twice. Find your figures on payslips or in myIR.
If you rent out a property, the rental income is taxable. However, rental losses (where expenses exceed income) are generally ring-fenced — meaning you can only use them to offset future rental income, not your art income. Enter your net rental income (after rental expenses) here. If it's a loss, enter zero and use the losses carried forward section instead.
General business expenses
Everyday costs of running your art business, deductible in full in the year you spend them. Keep receipts. Examples: travel to exhibitions, phone/internet portion, website, subscriptions, postage, the 20% Resale Royalties Aotearoa fee, accounting fees.
Art materials and consumables go here, not in the assets section. Pastels, watercolours, oils, paper, canvas, brushes, framing materials, printing inks, varnishes — fully deductible expenses regardless of cost.
If your business made a loss in a previous year (expenses exceeded income), IRD allows you to carry that loss forward and offset it against future income. This reduces your taxable income in the current year. Enter the total losses you're carrying forward from previous years here. Check your previous tax returns or myIR for this figure.
Depreciable assets (over $1,000)
Capital items you keep and use over multiple years. You claim a portion of their value each year rather than all at once — this is depreciation. Rates are from your IR265 document.
DV (Diminishing Value) — claim a percentage of what the asset is currently worth each year. Bigger deductions early on. Most people use this.
SL (Straight Line) — claim the same fixed dollar amount every year until the asset reaches zero. Once you pick a method, you stick with it.
DV (Diminishing Value) — claim a percentage of what the asset is currently worth each year. Bigger deductions early on. Most people use this.
SL (Straight Line) — claim the same fixed dollar amount every year until the asset reaches zero. Once you pick a method, you stick with it.
Bringing personal items into the business? Use the current market value on the date you started using it for business — not the original purchase price. Set "Year owned" to Year 1.
Asset typeValue ($)Year ownedMethod
Low-value purchases (under $1,000)
Anything under $1,000 fully deductible in the year you buy it. Enter the combined total here.
combined total
Introduced consumables stock
Art materials and supplies on hand when you started the business — claimable as expenses in your first year. Enter each type with its current estimated value. Be conservative and realistic.
Material or supply typeValue ($)
If you have a student loan, you repay 12% of every dollar you earn over $24,128 per year (the threshold is frozen at this level). This is calculated on your total income — not just your self-employment income. It's not a tax but it comes out of the same pocket, so it's worth including in your planning. The repayment is calculated on your total taxable income after deductions.
Note on your tax code: If you have a student loan, make sure you're using the correct tax code — add "SL" to your code (e.g. M SL instead of M) so the right amount is deducted automatically from any PAYE income.
Note on your tax code: If you have a student loan, make sure you're using the correct tax code — add "SL" to your code (e.g. M SL instead of M) so the right amount is deducted automatically from any PAYE income.
As a self-employed person, ACC invoices you directly after you file your tax return. There are three levies:
Earners' levy — $1.75 per $100 of income. Covers you for injuries that happen in everyday life (not just at work).
Working Safer levy — $0.08 per $100. Funds WorkSafe New Zealand.
Work levy — varies by industry. For most artists and photographers this is very low (around $0.15 per $100). Check your Classification Unit at acc.co.nz for your exact rate. You can edit the rates in the settings panel above.
ACC levies are calculated on your liable income (your taxable self-employment income, capped at around $152,790 for 2025/26). If your PAYE income already had ACC deducted, only the self-employment portion is invoiced separately.
Earners' levy — $1.75 per $100 of income. Covers you for injuries that happen in everyday life (not just at work).
Working Safer levy — $0.08 per $100. Funds WorkSafe New Zealand.
Work levy — varies by industry. For most artists and photographers this is very low (around $0.15 per $100). Check your Classification Unit at acc.co.nz for your exact rate. You can edit the rates in the settings panel above.
ACC levies are calculated on your liable income (your taxable self-employment income, capped at around $152,790 for 2025/26). If your PAYE income already had ACC deducted, only the self-employment portion is invoiced separately.
As a self-employed person, KiwiSaver contributions are voluntary — your employer doesn't contribute on your behalf. However, if you make voluntary contributions, you can still receive the government member tax credit of up to $521 per year (you need to contribute at least $1,042 per year to get the full credit). Your contributions come directly out of your take-home pay — they're not a deductible expense, but they do affect your cash flow. Choose your contribution rate and the calculator will show how much you'd be setting aside.
Working for Families (WFF) tax credits help families with dependent children. The main credit is the Family Tax Credit — how much you get depends on your total family income, the number of children, and their ages. The calculator gives a basic estimate — your actual entitlement may differ. Check exactly what you're owed at ird.govt.nz/working-for-families or in myIR.
Important: WFF is based on your total family income — add your income and your partner's income together. Enter the combined total below.
Important: WFF is based on your total family income — add your income and your partner's income together. Enter the combined total below.
GST (Goods and Services Tax) is a 15% tax on most goods and services in NZ. If your annual turnover from art sales and other taxable activities exceeds $60,000, you are required to register for GST. You can register voluntarily before reaching this threshold.
Once registered, you charge 15% GST on top of your prices, collect it from buyers, and pay it to IRD (minus any GST you've paid on your business expenses). GST is a separate obligation from income tax — it's not included in this calculator because it's filed separately (usually every two months) and the amounts are not added to your income tax bill.
Artist resale royalties and GST: If you're GST registered, the treatment of resale royalties depends on how the collection agency charged GST — Resale Royalties Aotearoa will advise you on this.
Once registered, you charge 15% GST on top of your prices, collect it from buyers, and pay it to IRD (minus any GST you've paid on your business expenses). GST is a separate obligation from income tax — it's not included in this calculator because it's filed separately (usually every two months) and the amounts are not added to your income tax bill.
Artist resale royalties and GST: If you're GST registered, the treatment of resale royalties depends on how the collection agency charged GST — Resale Royalties Aotearoa will advise you on this.
Your full obligations summary
Total income
$70,000
Resale royalties
$0
Total deductions
$0
Taxable income
$70,000
Gross tax
$14,020
Tax already paid
$0
Effective rate
20.0%
Deductions breakdown
Everything that reduces the income IRD taxes you on.
Tax bracket breakdown
NZ uses a progressive tax system — different parts of your income are taxed at different rates. The first $14,000 is taxed at 10.5%, the next chunk at a slightly higher rate, and so on. Even if your top rate is 33%, most of your income is taxed at lower rates. The bars below show how your taxable income is spread.
Your effective rate is 20.0% — your actual average tax rate, always lower than your top bracket rate.
Provisional tax
Provisional tax is not extra tax — it's paying your expected income tax bill in instalments across the year rather than one lump sum at the end. Required if your RIT (the tax you still owe after PAYE credits) is over $5,000. Payment dates: usually August, January, and May. Tip: set aside a portion of every payment you receive throughout the year so the money is always there.