Contributions management

In this section find out what options you have for your KiwiSaver contributions and how to manage them through changes in your life.

Depending on whether you are employed, self-employed or not employed your KiwiSaver contribution options will be different.

If you are employed:

• Find out about changing your contribution amounts from the options available
• Find out about taking contributions holidays
• Find out about making additional contributions
• And don't forget if you are employed and contributing to KiwiSaver, your employer will also generally contribute as well. Employers will contribute from when you are aged 18 until when you can take out your end KiwiSaver retirement savings. Employer contributions are generally 2% of your pre-tax salary or wages. But if you stop contributing your employer contributions will also stop.
• The Government announced in the 2011 Budget that the compulsory employer contribution rate will increase from 2% to 3% of gross salary or wages with effect from 1 April 2013.

If you are self-employed or not employed:

• Find out about your contribution options
• If you are self-employed and pay yourself a salary or wages (salary or wages is as defined in the KiwiSaver Act and includes most employment-related income that is subject to the PAYE tax regime), you may be treated as an employee and employer for the purposes of KiwiSaver contributions.

KiwiSaver is designed to be flexible so that you can manage your contributions when your circumstances change.

Also remember that if you wish to receive the maximum member tax credits you will need to be eligible and contribute a minimum each year of $1,042.86 (unless you joined part way through the year in which case this amount will be lower for the first year). The member tax credit year runs from 1 July to 30 June.