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Not sure how IR tax return and tax refund works, have questions to ask. Here are the questions and answers people ask quite often when it comes to tax return and tax refund. If you can’t find answers here, you can contact us directly.
You can apply now for your 2021 tax refund.
2021 tax year: 1st April 2020 to 31st March 2021.
Income confirmation for 2021 are expected to be sent to clients emails in May 2021
Upon receipt of confirming My Refund will be able to continue processing your tax return
While you wait for your 2018 tax refund, we can reassess your 2017 – 2020 tax refund entitlements to ensure you have received your maximum tax refunds.
Finding out if you are owed a tax refund is easy. You will need your IRD number, a form of identification, payment details, and to answer some simple questions about your tax situation.
The quickest way is to complete our single page online application using a NZ driver licence for identification.
Using an alternative form of identification? Complete the online application. You will also need to supply a copy of your identification and a signed Identification Verification Form.
Prefer to sign up using a pen? print a paper application now. If you don't have access to a printer please contact us and we will post one to you.
Once you have applied, My Refund will do the hard part and assess your tax refund entitlements to gain you the maximum tax refund.
An IRD number is an unique eight or nine-digit identification number that IRD issue to you.
You can find your IRD number in any of these places:
Our aim is to ensure that your tax refund and any other money owed to you will be paid within 5 working days to your preferred payment method once My Refund Limited has received your funds. You will receive email notification when your payment has been made.
Depending on your preferred payment method will then depend on how fast your refund gets to you;
Payment Via Direct Credit – 2 to 3 Working days to appear in your account.
Payment Via Cheque – 14 Working days to arrive to you. $5 cheque issuing fee applies
Payment Via International Money Transfer – 14 Working days to appear in your overseas account. $30 IMT fee applies
To confirm/update your preferred payment method contact our customer service representatives.
NB: Cheques will be issued in the name and to the address you provided in your application.
To receive an update on your tax refund application you must provide correct and current contact details on your application. If your details have changed since your application update them now.
A regularly checked email address is the best method to receive regular updates and resolve any pending queries. If email contact is unsuccessful, we will attempt to contact your phone number.
You must confirm security questions with our customer service representatives to access your account details. This is for your protection.
Once you submit an online application you will receive an email with a confirmation of application details. Once My Refund reviews your application you will receive an email update on your tax refund application within 24 hours. This update could be requesting additional information needed to continue processing your application or to advise of your result.
If you are unsure on the status of your application you can contact us now and a customer service representative can review your account and update you on your tax refund application or your current tax situation.
When My Refund is reviewing your tax entitlements you maybe requested to send in copies of additional information or documentation.
Examples of requested information/documentation:
Find ALL our various contact details here
Prefer to send your information/documentation through the post?
You maybe requested to send in additional information/documentation that you have received from another organisation.
Examples of organisations:
While most organisation will send you end of year statements for tax purposes, it is easy to misplace these and you will need to contact the organisation to obtain another copy.
It can at times be difficult and time consuming to obtain these copies. You can give My Refund authority to contact these organisations and obtain these copies on your behalf.
Complete the authority form now and send to My Refund. Alternatively, contact our customer service team to post you a copy of this form.
You can enter your licence details on your application and we will verify this information electronically through a third party authentication service (Veda NZ). This is the quickest form of ID to use to keep your application moving for your tax refund.
Drivers Licence details required:
Photo identification other than a NZ drivers licence requires you to send in a clear colour copy and a signed Identification Verification Form
If you are under 16 years old you will need parental authority prior to the processing of your application.
What you need to provide:
What your parent/guardian needs to provide:
Without this additional authority you will need to reapply after your 16th birthday.
Yes, all our clients’ information is kept confidential.
As a registered tax agent with Inland Revenue we are bound by the Privacy Act 1993 to protect your information.
We will never disclose your information without your expressed consent except to Inland Revenue when requested.
For this reason, you will be asked to verify security questions with our customer service representatives prior to the disclosure of your account records.
If you would like to nominate a relative or a friend to have authority on your account you will need to provide consent.
Complete the Nominate Authority form and send into My Refund. Alternatively, contact our customer service representative to receive the form via post or complete the verbal authority steps.
We understand life gets busy, but without your current contact information it can create delays in you receiving your refund.
When your details change send us a message online or contact us with your updated details.
This means we can keep you updated and informed on your tax situation.
There are expenses that can be claimed against your income that can be included in your personal tax summary to increase your refund.
These include:
If My Refund Ltd processes your refunds year after year we will automatically include our preparation fee from the year before as an expense to increase your refund. If you're wanting to claim expenses other than our preparation fee, you will need to send My Refund documentation of these expenses.
Every individual has an unique tax situation. Working 1 extra hour in a week, an unpaid day off or changing jobs can change your tax situation.
Answering the questions about your income for the past 5 years in your application assists in the determination of your current tax situation.
Various factors that can affect an individuals tax situation are:
Yes, you can still receive your refund if it exceeds your debt.
If you do have arrears with Inland Revenue they will offset your refund towards your outstanding account.
Unfortunately, we cannot stop this process from occurring but we will let you know if Inland Revenue do transfer your refund.
You can look at your tax refund as an easy way to reduce your debt if you are in this situation, so don't be afraid to apply now.
Should you wish to discuss your child support debt or payments, please contact Inland Revenue directly.
Yes, you can still apply. You may need to provide both your old and new IRD numbers.
If you have been discharged from bankruptcy, we can file your returns for the financial years after you have been discharged.
For example, if you were discharged from bankruptcy in December 2014 we could file your tax return for the 2016 financial year (01/04/2015 - 31/03/2016) onwards.
If you are currently undischarged from bankruptcy then unfortunately you may not receive a refund entitlement, any refunds calculated and processed for the time you were bankrupt will go to your official assignee. It is then the official assignee’s decision what happens with your refund.
For example, if you were discharged from bankruptcy in December 2014 we could file your tax return for both your old and new IRD number for the 2015 financial year (01/04/2014 - 31/03/2015) and your refund will be issued directly from Inland Revenue to the official assignee as you were in bankruptcy during the 2015 tax year.
Yes you can apply for a tax refund.
Working for Families is delivered by Work and Income or Inland Revenue. A tax credit paid to many thousands of New Zealand families to makes it easier to work and raise a family.
While Working for Families is separate to your taxable income, the payments you receive throughout the tax year is based on an estimated total family income you have provided to either Work and Income or Inland Revenue. If your family or income situation changes during the tax year, inform your working for families provider immediately.
To process your income tax refund, a 'square up' calculation with your actual total family income is required to be completed on your working for families payments to determine if you have been overpaid or underpaid your working for families entitlement.
You may be requested to provide your working for families details for My Refund to be able to continue processing your application. Ready to supply them now? complete this form and send to My Refund
If you receive working for families payments, My Refund may advise you that to complete your tax refund, your partner is required to file their tax return.
This is because your Working for Families 'square up' calculation is unable to be completed without your actual total family income. Your partner will need to complete their tax return to enable Inland Revenue to determine your total family income and continue with the square up calculation before we can complete your tax refund.
Your partner can apply with My Refund, or contact us once your partners return has been completed.
All income must be declared to determine your current tax situation. Each type of additional income received has a different impact on your tax situation.
Examples of additional income:
It can affect:
Ensure you disclose all types of additional income in your application and a customer service representative will be in contact to discuss how the additional income affects your tax situation and what you need to supply to continue processing.
If you have received Interest, Dividends or Maori Authority Distributions of $200 or more in any one financial year then these need to be included in your tax return.
Your bank or financial institution should send you a statement at the end of the financial year, or you can simply contact your bank or financial institution and request an end of year statement for tax purposes.
Once you have a copy of the statement/s please send into My Refund Ltd to ensure your return is processed correctly. Need help to obtain these statements?
Your KiwiSaver investment earnings are taxed as it is another source of income.
When you register for KiwiSaver you must supply a tax rate, this is referred to as a prescribed investor rate (PIR). The PIR you provide is based on your total income from all sources. Your KiwiSaver provider will send you an Annual KiwiSaver Tax certificate at the end of the tax year. It will provide a summary of your type of scheme, taxable income earnings from your investment, any tax credits and tax paid figures.
There are two schemes your KiwiSaver scheme can be held in.
Portfolio Investment Entities (PIEs) have four prescribed investor rates based on your total taxable income:
- Less than $14,000 = 10.5% PIR
- $14,000 - $48,000 = 17.5% PIR
- More than $48,000 = 28% PIR
If you do not update your PIR with your KiwiSaver provider when your income situation changes it can result in complications when processing your tax refund application.
If you give a PIR that is too low, you may need to file a tax return and it may reduce your tax refund or you maybe responsible for paying any additional tax
If you PIR is too low, My Refund will contact you to discuss and request a copy of your end of tax year investment statement. Once you have a copy of the statement please send into My Refund Ltd. Need help to obtain these statements?
YES! Donation must have been made in the last 4 years.
A donations return is a separate return from your income tax refund.
Donation tax credit criteria:
Meet the criteria? Send your proof in now.
Get help in obtaining your donation receipts.
Yes, we can still file any available tax refunds for you even if you haven’t worked for the full tax year.
In fact, working part of the year can mean that you are more likely to have overpaid your tax and therefore have a refund. Apply here to find out.
My Refund will contact you if there is a period of missing income that will delay the process of your refund.
Yes, you can apply for a tax refund
It is a common misunderstanding that short term work visits in New Zealand or income under a certain amount are entitled to 100% tax back.
You are still required to meet your tax obligations on your New Zealand earned income. However, you are more likely to be eligible for a tax refund if you have only work part of a tax year.
To speed up your application please ensure you provide acceptable ID and the date you arrived and/or left New Zealand on your application or contact us to discuss further.
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 have closed your New Zealand bank account, we can also make an International Money Transfer (IMT) to your overseas account.
To speed up your application please ensure you provide acceptable ID and the date you left New Zealand on your application or contact us to discuss further.
If we receive mail on your behalf from Inland Revenue, we will review the correspondence and send you an email notification.
If we do not hold your email address we will forward your letter to the address held on file.
Needing a copy of your summary of earnings? No need to contact Inland Revenue, contact My Refund to receive a copy of your summary of earnings.
It is important that you keep your personal details updated with My Refund Ltd to ensure you stay informed about your current tax situation.
Yes. Anyone can talk to IR about their own tax returns.
Remember if you owe them money you will be obliged to pay it.
IR may suggest you speak to an accountant or tax agent such as ourselves. Our service is RISK FREE . Apply Now
Simply contact us to advise you no longer wish to use our service. We will update our records and remove our authority to act. You must confirm security questions to allow us to action your request to stop our service.
Alternatively, you can contact Inland Revenue directly and inform them that you wish to remove My Refund's authority to act.
It is important that you update your bank account number and contact details with Inland Revenue. Failure to do this can result in your future refunds or IR correspondence to be sent to My Refund in error.
Please Note: Should you make your request via IR, we may contact you to confirm the removal of our service was at your request. If it was not at your request, simply reapply to rejoin.