Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a Portfolio Investment Entity?
- What does investing in a PIE mean for investors?
- What is a Prescribed Investor Rate?
- How do investors determine their correct PIR?
- What is taxable income?
- What is income from all your PIE investments?
- What is total income?
- What is a final tax rate?
- What if I am an investor in a managed fund and on a 33% marginal tax rate, do I need to pay more tax?
- I am a joint Account Holder and we have different PIRs, which rate should I use?
- Can I elect a 0% PIR?
- What happens at the end of the tax year if my PIR is 0%?
- What PIR can I elect if I am a Trustee of a Trust?
- What do investors do if their PIR changes?
- How can I find out or update my PIR with ASB?
- Do investors need to complete a tax return?
- Does this affect my investment in ASB Capital?
- When did the new rates come into effect?
What is a Portfolio Investment Entity?
A Portfolio Investment Entity (PIE) is a special tax investment entity type where tax on investment income is based on the tax rate advised by the investors up to a maximum tax rate of 28%. Some managed funds are PIEs, but not all.
What does investing in a PIE mean for investors?
PIEs are similar to other non-PIE managed funds, but instead of being taxed at 28% (like most managed funds) PIE investors have their share of the taxable investment income of the PIE taxed at their Prescribed Investor Rate (PIR).
What is a Prescribed Investor Rate?
An investor's Prescribed Investor Rate (PIR) is the rate at which their share of taxable investment income of a PIE will be taxed. There are four possible PIRs – 0%, 10.5%, 17.5% or 28%.
From 1 October 2010, your PIR can be determined as follows:
| Income thresholds | PIR before 1 October 2010 | PIR from 1 October 2010 |
| New Zealand tax residents who earned taxable income of $14,000 or less and total income (including PIE income) of $48,000 or less in either of the last two tax years to 31 March. | 12.5% | 10.5% |
| New Zealand tax residents who don’t meet the above criteria and earned taxable income of $48,000 or less and total income (including PIE income) of $70,000 or less in either of the last two tax years to 31 March. | 21% | 17.5% |
| New Zealand tax residents who earned taxable income of more than $48,000 or total income (including PIE income) of more than $70,000 in both of the last two tax years to 31 March. | 30% | 28% |
| Investors who aren’t New Zealand tax residents. | 30% | 28% |
| Companies, unit trusts, charities or not-for-profit organisations. | 0% | 0% |
| Trusts (excluding unit trusts) e.g. family trusts, estates etc. (certain testamentary trusts will be able to choose a PIR of 10.5% (12.5% prior to 1 October)). | 0%, 21% or 30% | 0%, 17.5% or 28% |
To ensure the correct amount of tax is deducted in respect of your PIE investments, ASB needs to know both your PIR and IRD number. If ASB does not have your PIR and IRD number on file, your investment income in a PIE will be taxed at the highest PIR of 28% (30% pre October 2010).
How do investors determine their correct PIR?
You can determine your PIR by using the tables above or by using our online PIR calculator.
If you filed an income tax return for either of the last two years, then use the taxable income figure shown in that return.
Below is a list of income items that are included as taxable income:
- a payment from an employer, including salary, wages, bonus, extra emolument, commission or other payment for services, Earnings Related Compensation, Income Tested Benefits, NZ Superannuation, Students Allowances, Certain Pensions and Superannuation, Retiring Allowances, Parental Leave, Tips and Gratuities;
- withholding payments;
- dividends;
- interest;
- rent;
- royalties;
- sales of rights;
- beneficiary income from an estate or trust;
- income from foreign investments funds;
- income from controlled foreign companies;
- income from any business, trade or profession including illegal activities;
- income from a partnership; and
- income from any undertaking or scheme entered into for the purposes of making a profit.
The income is after allowable deductions and losses.
You can request a summary of earnings from the Inland Revenue to assess your taxable income.
PIE income should be excluded from the calculation of your taxable income. For more information see What is a Prescribed Investor Rate? above.
What is income from all your PIE investments?
Income from any PIE investments is any taxable investment income that was allocated to you by a PIE less any deductible investment losses allocated to you by a PIE.
What is total income?
Total income is taxable income plus your income from all your PIE investments combined.
What is a final tax rate?
Your PIR is a final tax rate. This means that if your PIR is correct you do not need to do anything further.
If you are on a higher PIR but should be on a lower rate, you will not be able to claim back any of the extra tax you have paid. However if you are on a lower PIR than you should have been, you will need to include this income in your tax return and Inaland Revenue can assess the tax on this income at your personal tax rate.
What if I am on a 33% marginal tax rate and have invested in a PIE managed fund, do I need to pay more tax?
Investors who have a marginal tax rate of 33% but invest in a PIE with a PIR rate of 28% should not pay more tax as a result of their investment. The tax payable on taxable investment income derived through a PIE will be capped at 28%.
If I am a joint Account Holder and we have different PIRs, which rate should I use?
The PIE income of your jointly owned accounts will be taxed using the highest PIR of the account holders. Each joint account holder should provide us with their PIR as our systems are designed to determine which of the joint account holders PIR is the highest.
You can only elect a 0% PIR if you are:
- A Family Trust
- A Charity
- Other sorts of Trusts
- A Company
- A Superannuation Scheme Trustee.
To use a 0% PIR you must provide your IRD number.
What happens at the end of the tax year if my PIR is 0%?
Investors with a 0% PIR will need to calculate their own tax liability in respect of their investments in an ASB PIE investment.
You need to file a tax return with Inland Revenue directly in respect of your investment in the PIE and settle up any tax liability.
Your annual tax statement we send you will have the information you need.
What PIR can I elect if I am a Trustee of a Trust?
Trusts (including Family Trusts but excluding unit trusts) can choose a PIR of either 0% or 17.5% or 28%.
Some testamentary trusts may be eligible for a 10.5% PIR.
If you are a Trust and elect a 0%, 10.5% or 17.5% PIR, you will need to include your PIE investment income in the Trust’s tax return, but you will be allowed a tax credit for any PIE tax that is deducted by the PIE.
What should investors do if their PIR changes?
If your PIR changes at any time, you will need to contact us to let us know. If you invest in an ASB managed fund that is a PIE, you will be able to update you PIR at any time throughout the tax year.
PIR is a final tax rate so it is important you provide us with your correct rate. Where tax on your share of taxable investment income has been overpaid as a result of you providing an incorrect PIR, the overpaid tax cannot be recovered.
How can I find out or update my PIR with ASB?
You can find out or change your PIR by:
- Logging into FastNet Classic Internet banking
(Under Personal Details, Update Tax Details) - Phoning our Contact Centre on 0800 803 804
- Visiting any ASB branch
Do investors need to complete a tax return?
PIEs have been designed so most investors will not be required to file a tax return as a result of their investments in a PIE.
If your PIR is correct and it did not change during the year, then ASB will deduct the correct amount of tax in respect of your share of taxable income in the PIE, and will pass this to Inland Revenue on your behalf. If your PIR is not correct, the Inland Revenue may contact you directly.
If your PIR changed during the tax year to a higher PIR and you had tax deducted at the lower PIR, you will need to include in your tax return details of your PIE income and may have to pay additional tax. A tax credit will be available for any PIE tax paid.
Your annual tax statement we send you will have the information you need.
Investment Statements for PIE managed funds will contain more information.
Does this affect my investment in ASB Capital?
Changes to PIR do not affect the existing tax treatment of your distributions from ASB Capital Limited or ASB Capital No.2 Limited preference shares.
When did the new rates come into effect?
The new rates are effective 1 October 2010.
