Accounting · Tax · Business AdvisoryUseful thoughts for the work ahead.
Fresh New Zealand tax, property and business ideas in plain English, with a new practical read each week.
Christmas party and staff gifts: what is deductible and when FBT applies
A staff party is usually 50% deductible, while vouchers and gifts can create FBT above $300 per employee a quarter. Check the rules before the end-of-year spend.
IRD interest rates in 2026: what overdue tax really costs
IRD charges 8.97% on underpaid tax and pays 2.25% on overpayments. Understand the dates, daily interest and cash-flow decisions behind use-of-money interest.
FBT loan interest rises to 6.07%: what employers should check
From 1 October 2026, the prescribed rate for low-interest employment-related loans is 6.07%. Check staff loans, shareholder-employee balances and your next FBT calculation.
GST registration and filing in New Zealand: the practical guide
Know when registration applies, what changes on day one, how filing periods work and how to keep GST cash from becoming a surprise.
Small business tax deductions in NZ: what to record and why
A practical guide to common deductible costs, mixed-use expenses, evidence, timing and the difference between an expense and an asset.
Rental property ownership structures in NZ: personal, company, LTC or trust?
Compare the accounting, tax, lending and administration questions that come with common rental-property ownership structures.
Chattel depreciation in NZ rental properties: a clear starting point
Understand what a chattel is, how depreciation records work and why purchase documents and valuations matter.
Rental repairs vs capital improvements in NZ
Why the purpose, scale and timing of property work matter before a landlord treats the cost as an immediate deduction.
Airbnb and short-stay tax in New Zealand
A plain-English guide to income records, GST questions, mixed use, platform statements and the costs behind short-stay hosting.
Mortgage interest and NZ rental property tax
Keep the lending purpose, loan movements and current rules visible before calculating a rental-property interest claim.
Financial documents for banks and immigration-related requests
How to build a clear evidence pack around a lender, accredited employer or visa-related checklist without overclaiming what the numbers prove.
Provisional tax in New Zealand: how it works for new businesses
Understand the $5,000 residual-tax trigger, payment dates, safe estimates and how to plan cash for provisional tax.
Monthly financial reports for small business: what to track
A practical monthly reporting checklist covering profit, cash flow, GST, debtors and the numbers behind better decisions.
GST registration in New Zealand: what to do next
Just registered for GST? Learn what to charge, what records to keep, how GST returns work and how to avoid cash-flow surprises.
Sole trader or company in NZ: which structure is right?
Compare sole trader, company and partnership structures by setup, tax, risk, administration and what you plan to build.
Cash-flow forecast for a small business in NZ: a simple guide
Build a usable 13-week cash-flow forecast with honest assumptions, payment timing and a weekly habit.
Home office expenses in New Zealand: what can you claim?
A practical guide to business-use percentages, records, rent and home-office costs for NZ sole traders and companies.
How to price your services: a small business NZ guide
Use costs, capacity, GST and target margin to set prices that give a new business room to grow.
Shareholder salary vs drawings: paying yourself from a NZ company
Understand shareholder salary, drawings, dividends, PAYE and the records to keep when taking money from a company.
Small business numbers to track each week in New Zealand
Five simple numbers—cash, sales, margin, debtors and upcoming payments—that help new business owners stay ahead.
When to change from sole trader to company in NZ
The practical signals that it may be time to move from sole trader to company, plus the costs and admin to plan for.