The Cost of Living Payment was a payment to help with the rising costs of inflation. This was paid automatically to those who were eligible.
Final date to receive the payment
From 31 September 2023, we are no longer checking eligibility for the payments. The final date to file your return to get the payment was 30 June 2023.
In some cases, we may have already worked out that you are eligible to receive the payments, but we don’t have a bank account number. We can still make the payment to you up until 31 March 2024.
You can check this, and update your bank account details, in your myIR account.
You can also call us on:
- 0800 473 777
- +64 4 832 5202 if you are overseas.
About the Cost of Living Payment
The Cost of Living payment was a payment made to those who were eligible, to help with the rising costs of inflation. At first it was paid in up to 3 instalments, between August and September 2022. After September 2022, the payment was made in a lump sum. The total amount you could receive under the scheme was up to $350.
We no longer check for eligibility to receive this payment.
Eligibility was based on:
- income in the 2022 tax year (1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022)
- age
- New Zealand tax residency
- being present in New Zealand
- not being in prison at that time.
Income was assessed based on 2022 Income tax returns or Income tax assessment.