A Moneybren tool
WORKING FOR FAMILIES CALCULATOR
New Zealand’s most under-claimed money. Enter your family income and kids — see the Family Tax Credit, In-Work Tax Credit and Best Start you might be leaving on the table.
Your numbers
$/yr
Combined, before tax — salary, self-employment, most taxable income.
kids
Under 18, or under 19 and still at secondary school.
The In-Work Tax Credit needs the work hours and no main benefit.
kids
For Best Start — count each child under three.
Your family could get about
$0/wk
How it’s built
Estimates only — and here’s what’s underneath. Rates from 1 April 2026: Family Tax Credit $152.30/wk for the eldest child and $124.10/wk for each other child; In-Work Tax Credit $147.50/wk (a temporary Budget 2026 boost from $97.50, scheduled to expire 31 March 2027); Best Start $77.70/wk per child under 3, income-tested over $79,000 for babies born from 1 April 2026 (universal in year one for babies born earlier — this calculator applies the income test, so it may understate for older babies). FTC and IWTC reduce together by 27.5c per dollar of family income over $44,900. The classic trap is the year-end square-up: estimate your income low and IRD claws it back as debt — estimate honestly and update myIR when circumstances change. For the exact entitlement, IRD’s own estimator is the authority; this shows you the shape and the why.
How to use this calculator
Enter your combined family income, how many kids you have, whether you meet the work-hours test, and any under-threes. The calculator stacks the credits, applies the abatement, and shows the weekly and annual total.
Watch the abatement line as you change income — understanding that 27.5c taper is understanding why a pay rise doesn’t always feel like one.
This is a tool only, and none of the information it produces is financial advice. Its accuracy is not guaranteed. Always check your own figures and get advice from your own financial professionals before making decisions.