For four years in a row, the World Bank ranked New Zealand as the #1 country in the world (out of 190 countries globally) in its Ease of Doing Business Index. And for the 15 years the report was published, New Zealand never dropped below third place, consistently outperforming major economies like A...

Last updated: 13 September 2025 If you’re self-employed or a business owner, you may be able to claim meal expenses – but be careful. The IRD doesn’t treat all meal costs equally. And meal expenses are one of the most misunderstood deductions in business. Some meals can be claimed 100%...

Risk reviews are IRD’s way of checking if your tax position holds up. They’re not audits—yet. But they can quickly turn into one if you’re not prepared. If you’re selected for a Risk Review, you’ll need to provide documentation for specific tax periods—usually covering multiple yea...

Last updated: 30 August 2025 If you’ve invested in overseas shares (like Hatch, Sharesies or similar platforms) and the total cost of your investments went over $50,000, you may be taxed in a way that’s completely different from what most people expect. This isn’t about actual profits ...

Here are seven key tax mistakes to avoid when handling cash payments in New Zealand. Mistake 1: Misunderstanding the legality of cash payments Are cash transactions legal in New Zealand? The short answer is yes—cash is legal tender, and businesses can make or accept cash payments. You’re ent...

Understanding New Zealand’s Tax System First, lets do a brief overview: As wages have grown over time, people have paid more of their incomes in tax at higher rates. And some would argue that this is unfair… Because for 14 years, taxpayers have gradually paid more in tax due to inflation alo...

Earlier this week, Pak’nSave made headlines, after a shopper was asked for personal details following a $1,000 grocery purchase. Pak’nSave Whanganui also issued an official statement on their Facebook page, clarifying the situation and acknowledging the frustration caused. Understanding the ...

If you’re managing all your business income, expenses, and tax obligations from one bank account, you’re making a critical mistake—and you’re not alone. How a $2M Business Nearly Collapsed from a Simple Tax Mistake I recently spoke with my team a about a client facing this exact issue. The c...

Using Your Home For Business? You Can Claim a Portion of Household Expenses Claiming home office expenses can cut your tax bill – but only if you do it right. Get it wrong, and you risk over-claiming (which could trigger IRD scrutiny) or missing out on deductions you’re entitled to. Here...

How do you work out GST in a price? Earlier this month, I was in court assisting a family court judge in Auckland with a relationship property dispute. During cross-examination, the opposing lawyer presented their own five-page financial calculation from bank statements — one that I was seeing for...