September Newsletter

Sasha Curin
Sep 30
3 min read

IRD System Upgrade, FamilyBoost Changes & FBT Rate Update

As we move into spring, there are a few updates that may affect your business and household finances. The IRD is planning a major system upgrade in early October that will cause a short shutdown of online services. There are also new changes to FamilyBoost – the childcare support scheme, which will provide larger payments to many families from October. Finally, Inland Revenue has reduced the rate used to calculate FBT on low-interest loans.

We’ve summarised this month’s key updates below.

Summary of Recent Updates

IRD System Upgrade – 4 & 5 October 2025

The IRD will be upgrading its systems over the weekend of Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 October.

Online services, myIR, and self-service phonelines will be unavailable from 9pm Saturday until around 3pm Sunday.
Drafts of IRD number requests not completed by 29 September will be deleted.
Payments through your bank won’t be affected.

If you have any urgent myIR tasks, make sure to complete them before the shutdown.

FamilyBoost – Higher Support from October

The Government’s FamilyBoost changes are now law, and families can claim the higher payments from 1 October 2025.

Here’s what’s new:

The income threshold is now $57,286 per quarter.
Families can claim 40% of early childhood education (ECE) costs, up to $1,560 each quarter.
A new 7% abatement rate applies for income above $35,000.

These changes mean many households will get more back on their childcare costs. To check your eligibility or register, log in to myIR.

Learn More

FBT Rate Decrease

From 1 July 2025, the prescribed rate for calculating Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) on low-interest employee loans has dropped from 7.38% to 6.67%.

This is a technical change but useful if your business provides staff loans as it means a slightly lower FBT cost for employers.

How to Reduce Your Tax Bill in New Zealand

Many business owners in New Zealand pay more tax than they need to. In our latest blog, we shared practical strategies to help you legally reduce your tax bill and improve cash flow. Here are some highlights:

Claim all eligible expenses - From home office costs to marketing, staff, and travel.
Depreciate business assets - Claim a portion each year.
Use credits and incentives -Like the R&D tax incentive and loss carry-forwards.
Keep excellent records - Receipts, invoices, and logbooks protect your claims.
Plan ahead - Structure, timing, and prepayments can make a big difference.
Don’t miss the small stuff - Low-value assets, memberships, and client entertainment add up.

Read the Blog

13 Tactics for Winners: A Tip to Succeed

We’ve created a guide called “13 Tactics for Winners” to help you succeed in business and life. It’s packed with practical advice on setting goals, staying motivated, and overcoming challenges.

This month, we’re highlighting one tactic from the guide to get you started:

This Month's Tactic: Make Honesty the Best Policy

Success requires trust. There's no such thing as a "white lie" - you can't be partly honest just as you can't be partly trustworthy. Your reputation is your most valuable asset, and it's built on consistent integrity.

Ask yourself:

Do your actions consistently build trust?
Are you willing to take a step back to maintain integrity?

We'll share another tactic next month to keep you inspired. If you'd like to explore all 13 tactics now, you can download the full guide below.

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