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You need to deduct tax from contractors who receive schedular payments. Contractors that you pay should let you know their schedular or tailored tax rate, exemption for schedular payments or prescribed withholding rate.

The contractor needs to give you a completed Tax rate notification for contractors - IR330C form.

If the contractor does not give you an IR330C form, you need to deduct tax at either:

  • 20% if the contractor is a non-resident company.
  • the 45% non-notified rate

You'll then need to pay these deductions to us.

If we notice the contractor is using the wrong tax code, we'll write to you. This letter will tell you what their tax code should be. You'll need to start using the correct code and deduct tax based on that code.

Tailored tax rates

Some contractors can apply for a tailored tax rate. When it's about to expire, we will contact your payee in myIR in time for them to reapply. If they get a new tailored tax rate certificate, they will need to give this to you.

If the contractor does not continue to use a tailored tax rate they will need to complete a new Tax rate notification for contractors - IR330C form and give it to you.

Certificate of exemption for schedular payments

Some other contractors are exempt from having tax deducted from their payments. These include:

  • resident contractors who have a certificate of exemption
  • non-resident contractors who are automatically exempt or who have a certificate of exemption.

Prescribed withholding rates

A prescribed withholding rate helps contractors pay the right amount of tax throughout the year and avoid ongoing tax debt. It can include a schedular tax rate that we set and a percentage of schedular payments that needs to be paid towards existing liabilities.

If you’re paying schedular payments to somebody with a prescribed withholding rate, they’ll give you a prescribed rate withholding certificate.

You must withhold the correct amount of tax according to the prescribed withholding rate. If you are employing more than one person with a prescribed rate, make sure that you’re meeting their individual prescribed withholding rates.

You declare the rate of schedular tax deducted on your employment information as normal. Use the prescribed rate from the contractor’s prescribed rate withholding certificate. You must pay the schedular tax deducted on the relevant payment dates for your employer obligations.

You must pay the prescribed percentage to us using the contractor’s IRD number and the ARR tax code.

Schedular payments with a prescribed withholding rate

Last updated: 29 Aug 2024
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