New Zealand · Family payments

Working for Families checker

See which Working for Families payments may apply and estimate what your family could receive.

Uses official Inland Revenue rules
Free
No account

Before you start

Estimates are indicative only. Inland Revenue makes the final assessment, and this tool does not model principal caregiver disputes.

What do you want to check?

What applies nowToday's Working for Families rulesPlan for 1 April 2027Known enacted changes from 1 April 2027

Your family

Relationship status

Number of dependent children

Age of youngest child (years)

Used for Best Start and Family Tax Credit estimates.

Income and work

Family income

Before tax, for your household. Leave blank if you are not sure yet.

NZ$

per year before tax

Family income after tax

Optional, but needed for a Minimum Family Tax Credit estimate.

NZ$

per year after tax

Combined paid work hours per week (household)

Enter 0 if nobody is normally in paid work. Exact hours are used for Minimum Family Tax Credit.

A shared-care arrangement applies (about half the time)I or my partner receive a main benefit from Work and IncomeI or my partner receive Student AllowanceI am receiving Paid Parental Leave for my youngest child

Your estimate

Family Tax Credit

Need more information

We still need your annual family income before tax.

In-Work Tax Credit

Need more information

In-Work Tax Credit has no minimum-hours test. Tell us whether your family is normally in paid work.

Best Start

Not applicable

Minimum Family Tax Credit

Need more information

Minimum Family Tax Credit needs your paid work hours. A sole parent generally needs 20 hours a week. A couple generally needs 30 combined hours a week.

How we worked this out

Rules used: 2026–27 Inland Revenue Working for Families rules
Rules checked for: 23 October 2026
Important assumptions: Amounts are estimates before Inland Revenue assessment. Current published 2026-27 rates are used. Principal caregiver disputes are not modeled.
Still needed: In-Work Tax Credit has no minimum-hours test. Tell us whether your family is normally in paid work.

Last verified 8 September 2026. Official source (Inland Revenue)

What you should verify

Whether your family is normally in paid work for In-Work Tax Credit
Whether a main benefit or Student Allowance affects In-Work Tax Credit
For a child under 1, the child's date of birth for the Best Start 1 April 2026 transition

Next step

Add your income to finish this check

We found the income limit for your household. Add your annual family income before tax so we can compare it with the published threshold.

What to know next

Log in to myIR or contact Inland Revenue to confirm entitlements. If you receive a main benefit, Work and Income may pay some credits with your benefit.

Official information

Read the agency guidance while you finish your answers here.

Open myIR (Inland Revenue)

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