Taxes · NZL
Taxes in New Zealand
New Zealand does not have a capital gains tax, but the IRD taxes crypto profits as ordinary income if acquired with a profit-making purpose, which is broadly interpreted. Mining, staking, and crypto received as payment are taxed as income at marginal rates up to 39%. GST does not apply to individual crypto transactions, and record-keeping in NZD is essential.
The tax figures
Tax wedge
20.81 %
Of every €100 an employer spends on an average single worker, about €21 goes to tax and social contributions before pay-out.
2 of 36 countries that publish it · 2025 · see the ranking →
What this measures, and what it does not
The OECD tax wedge: income tax plus employee AND employer social contributions as a share of total labour cost, for a single person at exactly the average wage. It is a comparable type case between countries — not your personal tax rate.
Tax on pay
20.81 %
Of every $100 of gross pay at the average wage in New Zealand, about $21 goes to income tax and employee social contributions.
7 of 37 countries that publish it · 2025 · see the ranking →
What this measures, and what it does not
The OECD net personal average tax rate: income tax plus the EMPLOYEE’s social contributions as a share of gross wage earnings, for a single person with no children at exactly the average wage. This is the rate you can apply to a salary. It is deliberately smaller than the tax wedge on the same page, which measures a wider bite (it adds the employer’s contributions) over a wider base (total labour cost) — two honest answers to two different questions.
Take-home pay
$48,221 PPP
The average job in New Zealand pays about $48,221 a year (PPP) after income tax and the employee's social contributions.
14 of 37 countries that publish it · 2025 · see the ranking →
What this measures, and what it does not
Our own calculation: the OECD average annual wage multiplied by (1 − the OECD net personal average tax rate). Both legs share the same denominator — gross wage earnings — which is what makes the multiplication valid; the tax wedge, which is measured against total labour cost including the employer’s contributions, cannot be used this way. It is a comparable type case for a single average earner: not your salary, and not a full net-income figure, since it excludes benefits, deductions and consumption taxes.
Top income tax
39.00 %
11 of 37 countries that publish it · 2025 · see the ranking →
What this measures, and what it does not
The top statutory rate on wage income — what the last euro of a very high salary is taxed at, combining central and typical sub-central rates (OECD). Almost nobody pays this on their whole income: it applies only above the top threshold.
Corporate tax
28.00 %
79 of 96 countries that publish it · 2026 · see the ranking →
What this measures, and what it does not
The statutory (headline) corporate income tax rate from OECD Corporate Tax Statistics. Effective rates after deductions and incentives are typically lower; this is the rate on paper that companies plan around.
The rules, in words
Income tax
Mining rewards and staking income are taxed as ordinary income at the time of receipt, based on market value in NZD. Marginal rates range from 10.5% to 39% depending on total income. Crypto received as payment for services is also taxable income.
VAT / GST
Exempt for individuals. Since 2009 IRD guidance and confirmed by subsequent rulings, buying and selling cryptocurrency is not subject to GST for individual investors. Crypto-to-crypto trades are also generally GST-exempt.
Capital gains
New Zealand has no general capital gains tax. However, crypto sold with a profit-making purpose or as part of a business is taxable as ordinary income at marginal rates (10.5%–39%). Casual investors who bought without intent to sell may not owe tax, but IRD applies a broad trading intention test.
Type case, not tax advice: figures describe a single average earner and standard rates; your situation depends on residency, deductions and local rules. Verify with the tax authority before acting. — Fiatmap