Snap Shot

Not really free money, it's a refund but useful nevertheless. You would have had to declare interest (unearned income) on savings as part of the online form filling exercise to get your refund calculated.

Your tax refund goes into your myIR account by mid-late June. You then confirm it and they forward it to your nominated account.

At least, that's what the lady on the phone said when I phoned the IRD yesterday. I got a text message from the IRD earlier in the week advising me to log into my IR to see if I had a tax refund due.

I had forgotten my log in and password so I requested it be e-mailed to me and it was.

Later that day I got a letter from the IRD advising that eDocuments are replacing paper statements, notices and letters. Also, if I hadn't used myIR recently here's a reminder of my user ID and e-mail address. Ironic or what ?!

desmondo84

mmm, tried to select the PTS option but it's only valid if you were resident for the entire tax year,

Des

MrsFychan

how odd - ok well give them a ring and they will go through it with you on the phone. make sure you have the details of any interest you may have earned on your bank accounts to hand as they will ask and if you have a joint bank account don't forget to split the interest in half

Persephone

You will have to fill out an IR3 [tax return] if not tax resident for the whole year - you can't do it via a PTS.

It is still fairly simple to do if you register online with the IRD and get them to 'send' one to you online via MyIR. That is where you write in any interest and tax paid and it will all get added together along with your salary. Your refund can be credited straight into your bank account if you choose.

Kotare

If you arrive mid year (all income pensions, no paye) do you fill out both a uk and a nz return declaring the income for the relevant part year or?

Kotare

Despite being shouted down by assorted tax 'experts' on the need for this. I submitted a UK tax return for residual UK income (a reasonable refund) and a NZ return for NZ income since arrival (a reasonable credit) so all is sweet.

BEVS

Yes. That was the way to go.

poppy10

Doesn't that fall afoul of the double taxation arrangements?

I thought the reason you could get a refund for leaving the UK part way through the year is that they assume NZ will be taxing you for that tax year. So how can you also get a refund from IRD for that same tax year?

I arrived in NZ last September and got a few thousand back from HMRC. I haven't tried applying for an NZ tax refund for the 2015-16 tax year yet, but would like to know if I can

Kotare

It appears that each country treats your income for the part year as your annual income and tax

Kotare

It appears that each country treats your income for the part year as your annual income and taxes you at the appropriate (lower) rate thus tax rebates. I am not complaining. You should have completed an NZ IR3 for the 2015/16 year - don't think this is optional :-)

MrsFychan

Yes you can and it costs nothing to apply, you can use the calculator on the IRD website to see if you would get any money back or if you actually owe them money.

elainec_nz

I've just joined this forum and dropped into this thread & I'm so glad I did as it hadn't occurred to me I might be eligible for a tax rebate.
I arrived in NZ Dec 2014 but didn't get a work visa / start work until June 2015.
I assume I should apply for a tax rebate for the tax year of 2015/16?

Kotare

If I have it right. You should be applying for a UK tax rebate for the 2014/15 tax year. You should get a rebate if you didn't work Dec to Mar.

For 2015\16 year you should complete an NZ IR3 on which you declare any UK income (if any) and they will credit any UK tax paid. Sounds more complex than it is. This may also give you a rebate.

gun1986uk

My accountant said it's better to wait until the end of the tax year? Something to do with tax credits. Anyone else get this?