ARE MY PERSONAL INSURANCE PREMIUMS TAX-DEDUCTIBLE?

Comic illustration of a worried New Zealand man holding a note asking "Personal Insurance? Tax Deductible?". Features a map of NZ, a pie chart, and an angry kiwi bird in a top hat representing the Inland Revenue Department.

Are my personal insurance premiums tax-deductible? It’s a question we get asked constantly. The honest answer depends entirely on what kind of insurance you’re talking about. Life insurance, trauma cover, income protection, and employer-provided policies are all treated quite differently under current tax law. This guide walks through each type clearly. It also covers the…

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WHAT BUSINESS EXPENSES ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE?

WHAT BUSINESS EXPENSES ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE?

What business expenses can you deduct in your income tax return? It depends on your business structure, but includes things such as:ACC leviesaccounting feesbank chargescontractor costsdepreciation (wear and tear)entertainment (be careful!)home office expenseslease or rental costslegal feesmotor vehicle expenses e.g. WOF, registration, repairs, insurance, FBTpurchases (for business purposes e.g. stock, materials)travel e.g. fuel, parking, business travelstationery, printing and office costs […]

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WHEN THE IRD WANTS MORE INFO!

When the IRD wants more info… what do you do? This year (2016) we’ve seen a dramatic increase in requests for information from IRD, generally, letters where they want a more detailed breakdown of expenses. We’ve also seen some more “direct” methods employed. What is this all about? FOCUS ON PROPERTY ​This year, as in…

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WHAT HAPPENS IF I MAKE A LOSS?

That’s a good question, and it depends a lot on what entity incurs the loss.  Let’s break down the various types and what effect they have. LOOK-THROUGH COMPANY (LTC) If you are a shareholder in a Look-Through Company (LTC) and that company makes a loss, then you get to carry that loss through to your…

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