A Tax Agent is an individual, company, or partnership registered with the IRD to file tax returns on behalf of New Zealand taxpayers.
You can apply now for your 2024/2025 tax refund.
2025 tax year: 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025.
Income confirmation are expected to be sent to clients emails in May, following the end of the tax year. Once the client has confirmed their income, My Refund will be able to continue processing their tax return.
It’s easy to check if you're eligible for a tax refund! All you need is your IRD number, a valid form of identification, your payment details, and answers to a few simple questions about your tax situation.
The fastest way to apply is by completing our one-page online application using your NZ driver’s licence for ID.
Using a different form of identification? No problem—just complete the online application and provide a copy of your ID.
Once you’ve applied, My Refund takes care of the rest. We’ll assess your tax situation to make sure you receive the maximum refund you’re entitled to.
Additional documentation may be requested, this information is needed to ensure we have assessed your tax situation accurately.
Your IRD number is a unique eight or nine-digit number issued to you by Inland Revenue.
You can find your IRD number in any of the following places:
- Your payslip
- From your employer
- Bank statements or documents
- KiwiSaver correspondence
- End-of-year investment summaries
- Working for Families
- Student loan statements
- Child support statements
- Contact Inland Revenue
- The IRD Website
- A previously client of My Refund, contact us.
Once My Refund Limited receives your refund from Inland Revenue, our goal is to pay it to your preferred payment method within 5 working days. You’ll receive an email notification once your payment has been made.
Payment timeframes depend on your chosen method:
Direct Credit (NZ bank account):
Funds usually appear in your account within 1 to 2 working days.International Money Transfer (IMT):
Funds may take up to 10 working days to reach your overseas account.
Please note: A $35 IMT fee applies.
Click here to provide your International Money Transfer details now.
Need to confirm or update your payment method?
Contact our customer service team — we’re here to help.
Important: Timeframes may vary if:
Incorrect information has been provided
Inland Revenue requires further details
Your tax return type is more complex
Working days are Monday to Friday. Payments are not processed on weekends or public holidays.
If you owe tax from a previous assessment, you’ll need to pay it by Inland Revenue’s due date to avoid late payment penalties.
Our clients usually have until April the following year to pay any tax owing.
Important to note:
Inland Revenue will usually use any future tax refunds to reduce your outstanding tax bill before refunding any remaining balance.
If our assessment shows you haven’t paid enough tax, we may hold off filing your return until we’ve discussed your obligations with you.
To make a payment or set up a payment plan, you’ll need to contact Inland Revenue directly.
Learn more about paying your tax bill here
There are many reasons why you might need to file an IR3.
You received untaxed income, such as from self-employment, rental income, or contract work
An IR3 return was filed or is overdue from a previous tax year
Inland Revenue believes you may have earned income through self-employment, contract work, or cash jobs
You are a shareholder in a company, partner in a partnership, or a beneficiary of a Trust
You have deductions or expenses that could reduce your tax liability
You received or applied for COVID-19 support, such as the wage subsidy, resurgent support payment, or a small business loan
You earned overseas income or traded shares
You sold a property that may be subject to the Brightline Test
If you’ve received untaxed income, you might also be eligible to claim a range of expenses that could lower the amount of tax you owe.
To receive updates about your tax refund application, make sure your contact details are accurate and up to date. If your information has changed since you applied, you can update them now.
A regularly checked email address is the most reliable way to receive updates and respond to any queries. If we can’t reach you by email, we’ll try to contact you via the phone number you provided.
For your security, you’ll need to confirm your identity by answering security questions when speaking with our customer Relations team.
What to Expect After Applying:
After you submit your online application you’ll receive an email confirming your application details.
Within 2-3 business days, My Refund will review your application and email you with an update.
This could include:
A request for additional information, or
A notification about the outcome of your assessment
If you’re unsure about the status of your application, contact us now and one of our friendly customer relations representatives will assist you.
Yes, you can still receive a tax refund if the amount exceeds your child support debt.
If you have child support arrears, Inland Revenue will automatically apply your refund toward reducing your outstanding balance. Unfortunately, this process cannot be stopped or altered by us — but don’t worry, we’ll let you know if your refund has been transferred.
If you’re in this situation, think of your tax refund as a simple way to help reduce your debt — so there’s no reason not to apply now.
If you’d like to discuss your child support obligations further, please contact Inland Revenue directly.
If you have money owing from previous tax years, the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) will automatically transfer your refund to cover those arrears. This is standard procedure and cannot be stopped or reversed by My Refund.
The Bright-Line Property Rule (also known as the "bright-line test") is a law that determines if tax needs to be paid on profits made when a property is sold. It does not apply to properties acquired before 1 October 2015.
Similar to a capital gains tax, the bright-line rule calculates the difference between the purchase price and sale price of a property. If the property is sold within a specified period, any profit made will be subject to income tax.
Key points to note:
The bright-line rule does not apply if you’ve owned the property for more than ten years, unless your primary business is buying and selling houses.
Taxable gains apply if you sell residential property within the specified timeframe, except in cases where:
It’s your main family home
The property was inherited
The property was transferred as part of a relationship property settlement.
If you’re unsure whether the bright-line rule applies to your situation, My Refund can help you.
Yes, you can apply for a tax refund
In fact, working part of the year can mean you are more likely to be eligible for a tax refund.
If you’ve closed your New Zealand bank account, we can arrange an International Money Transfer (IMT) to your overseas account — just note that a small fee applies.
To help speed up your application, please:
Provide acceptable identification
Include the date you left New Zealand in your application
Or feel free to contact us to discuss your situation further
We’re here to help make the process easy, wherever you are in the world!
If My Refund receives mail on your behalf from Inland Revenue, we will review the correspondence and send you an email notification to keep you updated.
If we don’t have your email address on file, we’ll forward the letter to your postal address.
Need a copy of your Summary of Earnings?
There’s no need to contact Inland Revenue — just get in touch with My Refund, and we’ll send it to you directly.
To ensure you stay informed about your tax situation, it’s important to keep your personal details up to date with My Refund Ltd.
Yes — you’re absolutely welcome to contact Inland Revenue (IR) directly to discuss your own tax matters or returns.
Just keep in mind:
If you owe money, IR will expect you to arrange payment.
They may recommend that you speak with an accountant or a tax agent like My Refund for further help or to ensure everything is handled correctly.
We’re here if you need support or want us to liaise with IR on your behalf!
If you no longer wish to use My Refund's services, it's easy to opt out.
You can either:
Complete this form
Or contact us directly to let us know you’d like to stop using our service
We’ll update our records and remove our authority to act on your behalf.
To process your request, you’ll need to confirm your identity by answering a few security questions.
Alternatively, you can also contact Inland Revenue directly and ask them to remove My Refund as your tax agent.
🔔 Important:
If you stop using our service, make sure to update your bank account details and contact information with Inland Revenue.
Failing to do so could result in future refunds or IR correspondence being sent to My Refund in error.
If we receive notice from IR about the removal of our authority, we may reach out to confirm this was your decision.
If it wasn’t, or you change your mind — simply reapply to rejoin us.
You can find a full breakdown of our fees in the FEES section of our TERMS & CONDITIONS page.
We believe in transparent pricing — no hidden surprises. If you have any questions about our charges or how they apply to your refund, feel free to contact us.
During the review of your tax entitlements, My Refund may ask you to provide extra information or documents to ensure your return is assessed correctly.
Commonly Requested Documents:
Photo ID & Identification Verification Form
Donation receipts
Interest/Dividend statements
Working for Families details
Kiwisaver statements
We understand that collecting this info can be time-consuming. To make things easier, you can give us authority to contact these organisations on your behalf — just get in touch with our customer relations team to set this up.
How to Send Your Documents:
📱 Scan or Snap a Photo:
Take a clear photo or scan the documents
Send them to us using one of these methods:
📧 Email: Send to in**@my******.nz
💻 Live Chat: Use our live chat to upload and send your files instantly
📮 Prefer to Post?
You can send your documents by mail — and no stamp is needed:
FreePost My Refund Ltd
PO Box 6490
Christchurch 8442
We’re here to make the process as simple as possible — just reach out if you need help!
For the quickest processing of your tax refund application, you can use your NZ driver's licence or NZ Passport and we'll verify it electronically through a third-party authentication service (Veda NZ).
Required Details for a Driver's Licence:
Licence Number
Licence Version
Exact names as they appear on your licence
Required Details for a NZ Passport:
Passport Number
Date of Birth
Exact names as they appear on your passport
If you’re using photo ID other than a NZ driver's licence or a NZ passport, you will be able to provide a clear colour copy of the ID to the application form.
Other Acceptable Photo IDs:
Kiwi Access Card
Overseas Passport & Visa
Firearms/Dealers Licence
International Drivers Permit
New Zealand Certificate of Identity (issued by the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment or Department of Internal Affairs)
Providing valid and clear ID helps ensure your application moves smoothly and quickly!
If you’re under 16, you’ll need parental or guardian consent before we can process your tax refund application.
What you need to provide:
A form of acceptable ID
Your birth certificate
What your parent or guardian needs to provide:
A form of acceptable ID
A signed statement confirming their approval of your application
orCo-sign an Identification Verification Form
⚠️ Without this additional consent, we won’t be able to proceed — but you’re welcome to reapply after your 16th birthday. If you have any questions or need help, just reach out to our team!
Yes — your personal information is 100% confidential.
As a registered tax agent with Inland Revenue, My Refund is bound by the Privacy Act 2020 to protect your data.
We will never share your information without your express consent, except when required by law (e.g., by Inland Revenue).
To protect your privacy:
We will ask you to verify security questions before discussing any account details.
If you’d like to nominate someone (like a friend or family member) to access your account, you’ll need to give formal consent.
➡️ Simply complete the Nominate Authority form.
Alternatively, contact our Client relations team to receive the form via post or complete the verbal authority steps.
What if my details change?
Keeping your contact information up to date is essential — outdated details can delay your tax refund and important updates.
If your email, phone number, address, or bank details change, just:
Send us a message via our website
Complete the Update My Details form
We’ll make sure your file stays current so you don’t miss out on any important info or payments.
Claiming expenses means you can deduct certain costs from your income, which may help increase your tax refund or reduce any tax you owe.
Common Expenses You Can Claim:
Tax return preparation fees (including My Refund’s fee from the previous year)
Income protection insurance premiums
Commission on interest or dividend income (not including general bank fees)
Fees related to investments that generate taxable income
Business-related expenses, if applicable
✅ Good to know:
If My Refund Ltd processes your return each year, we’ll automatically claim our previous year's fee as an expense for you.
📝 Want to claim additional expenses?
Just send us the documentation and we’ll take care of the rest. If you’re unsure whether something qualifies, feel free to contact us — we’re happy to help!
Everyone’s tax situation is different — even small differences can make a big impact.
Things like working one extra hour a week, taking unpaid leave, or switching jobs can all change your tax outcome.
When you complete your application, we ask questions about your income over the past five years to help assess your current tax position accurately.
Factors That Can Affect Your Tax Refund:
Only worked part of the year
Received a lump sum payment (like a bonus or backpay)
Had more than one employer
Claimed deductible expenses
Qualified for tax credits
Received Working for Families payments
Used an incorrect tax code
Had self-employed, rental, or untaxed income
Had a low Prescribed Investor Rate (PIR) on investments
Even if you didn’t get a refund this time, completing a full assessment ensures you're not missing anything — and we’ll always aim to get you the maximum refund you’re entitled to. If you’re unsure why you didn’t receive one, feel free to contact us and we’ll walk you through it!
Yes, you can still apply for a tax refund!
Working for Families is a tax credit provided by Work and Income or Inland Revenue to help New Zealand families with the cost of raising children while working.
Although Working for Families payments are separate from your taxable income, the payments you receive during the year are based on an estimated total family income you’ve provided. If your family or income situation changes, it's important to notify Work and Income or Inland Revenue right away.
At the End of the Tax Year:
To process your tax refund, a "square up" calculation will need to be completed based on your actual total family income. This helps determine if you’ve been overpaid or underpaid on your Working for Families entitlement.
If you've received too much, the overpaid amount will need to be repaid. If you’ve been underpaid, you may be entitled to a refund, which will be assessed alongside your income tax refund.
Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about how Working for Families impacts your tax situation!
You can file tax returns for the past 5 tax years if you haven't already done so.
However, in some special circumstances, we may be able to claim tax credits for up to 8 years.
If you think you may be eligible for refunds from previous years, feel free to apply and we can help you review your situation!
If you’re receiving Working for Families payments, My Refund may advise that your partner needs to file their tax return as part of your tax refund process.
This is because the "square up" calculation for your Working for Families payments can’t be completed without your total actual family income. Your partner’s tax return is required to ensure Inland Revenue has the correct information to calculate the total family income and complete the square-up calculation.
If your partner would like assistance with their return they can apply with My Refund, or contact us once your partners return has been completed.
All income — including additional income beyond your salary, wages, or benefit — must be declared to ensure an accurate assessment of your current tax situation.
Examples of Additional Income:
Self-employment income
Partnership or company earnings
Shareholder dividends
Rental income
Trust income
Untaxed income
Property sold within 10 years (subject to the Bright-Line Property Rule)
This Can Affect:
The type of return required (e.g., ITA or IR3)
The documentation you need to provide
Initial tax refund calculations
In some cases, it could affect My Refund's ability to assist you
What to Do:
Ensure you disclose all additional income in your application. Once we have the details, a customer service representative will contact you to discuss how this income impacts your tax situation and what documents or information you need to provide to continue processing your return.
Your KiwiSaver earnings are taxed based on the Prescribed Investor Rate (PIR) you choose when you sign up. This rate is based on your total income, and if it’s incorrect, it can affect your refund.
Most KiwiSaver schemes are Portfolio Investment Entities (PIEs). Here’s a quick guide to choosing the right PIR:
| Taxable Income | Total Income (taxable + PIE) | PIR |
|---|---|---|
| ≤ $14,000 | ≤ $48,000 | 10.5% |
| ≤ $48,000 | ≤ $70,000 | 17.5% |
| All others | 28% |
If your PIR is too low, you may owe tax or get a smaller refund.
My Refund will contact you if we need your KiwiSaver tax certificate. Need help? Just ask!
You can claim donation tax credits for the last 4 years, but it’s a separate process from your regular tax refund.
To qualify, your donation must:
Be over $5
Be made to an approved donee, such as:
Registered charities
Schools or kindergartens
Approved NZ religious organisations
Your receipt must include:
Your name
Amount and date
A note stating it’s a donation
The name of the organisation
A signature from an authorised person
Met the criteria?
Yes! Even if you didn’t work the full tax year, you may still be eligible for a refund.
In fact, working only part of the year can often mean you’ve overpaid tax, which increases your chances of a refund.
Apply here to find out what you’re owed.
If there’s any missing income information that could delay your refund, My Refund will be in touch.
Yes, you can! Work visa holders are eligible to apply for a tax refund in New Zealand.
It’s a common myth that short-term workers or low-income earners automatically get 100% tax back — but that’s not always the case. You still need to meet NZ tax obligations.
However, if you’ve only worked part of a tax year, you may be more likely to get a refund.
To speed up your application, please include:
A valid form of ID
The date you arrived and/or left New Zealand
To make sure your refund goes through smoothly, it’s important to enter the correct bank account holder name.
From 1 December 2024, New Zealand banks will use a Confirmation of Payee system to check that the name matches the account details. If they don’t match, your payment could be delayed or rejected.
Providing accurate details helps us process your refund quickly and securely — thanks for your help!
