April Newsletter

Sasha Curin
Apr 28
3 min read

April 1st Changes, Rental Property Deductions & New ESS Rules

With the new financial year now underway, April is a good time to get organised and start preparing your 2026 accounts. A bit of preparation now can save a lot of time and stress later on.

If you missed our recent blog covering the key changes from 1 April, it’s worth a read - especially for business owners, as it outlines updates to wages, KiwiSaver, ACC, and other costs that may affect you this year.

Recent Updates

What Changed on April 1st 2026

There were a few key changes that may affect your business:

· Minimum wage increased to $23.95 per hour

· KiwiSaver contributions increased from 3% to 3.5%

· ACC levies increased (depending on your industry)

· New Customs/import levies introduced on low-value goods

What this means for you:

· Payroll costs may be slightly higher

· Take-home pay for employees may change

· Importing goods may cost a little more over time

If you haven’t already, make sure your payroll system is updated and you’ve allowed for these changes in your budgeting.

Read our full blog on What Changed on 1 April 2026 here:

Read Blog

Rental property owners – interest is fully deductible again

From the 2025–26 income year, interest on residential rental property loans is now fully deductible again.

This means:

· Simpler tax treatment

· Potentially lower taxable income for property owners

This will be reflected in your 2026 accounts and tax returns, so it’s something we’ll factor in when preparing your year-end.

For more detail, you can read IRD’s guidance here:

IRD Website

New rules for employee share schemes (relevant for growing businesses)

From 1 April, there’s a new option for businesses offering shares to employees: Tax on shares can be deferred until they are sold.

This is mainly relevant for start-ups, growing businesses or companies offering staff incentives. It removes the issue of employees being taxed before they’ve actually received any cash benefit.

For more detail, see IRD’s guidance here:

Learn More

Support for You, Not Just Your Business

Running a business will test you. Not just your strategy but who you are and how you show up.

If you're constantly reacting, saying yes when you mean no, or bringing work stress home, you're not alone.

You may know Ines as Dennis’ wife. She has been part of the DC&A team since the beginning, mostly in the background. She is now offering her Enneagram and Integrative Coaching services to DC&A clients who are ready to break the patterns holding them back.

Most business advice tells you what to do. Ines helps you understand why you keep doing what you do, even when you know it’s not working.

Through her coaching, clients learn to recognise the automatic patterns driving their decisions, stop carrying work stress into home life, and lead from who they actually are - not who they think they should be.

This isn’t about quick fixes. It’s thoughtful, deeper work for business owners ready to make meaningful change.

Ines works with a limited number of clients each quarter to ensure her sessions remain focused and personal. She is offering complimentary 30-minute discovery chats through April 2026.

Reply to this email or call the office to book your chat, or find out more by clicking the button below.

Ines' Coaching

Important Upcoming Dates:

7th May