KiwiSaver Growth Calculator NZ 2026

IRD matches 25 cents per dollar you contribute, up to a maximum of $260.72 a year (halved from $521.43 in Budget 2025, with a new income cap). You need to contribute at least $1,042.86 in the year to get the full match.

3.5% of salary from 1 April 2026 (up from 3%), for both employee and employer. You can choose to contribute more — 4%, 6%, 8% or 10% — but employers only need to match the 3.5% minimum.

Employer Superannuation Contribution Tax is deducted from your employer's KiwiSaver contribution before it's paid into your account, at a rate based on your income. It doesn't apply to your own employee contribution, which is deducted from already-taxed salary.

It depends on your fund type: conservative funds target lower, steadier returns; growth and aggressive funds target higher long-term returns with more short-term volatility. This calculator uses illustrative assumptions per fund type — actual returns vary by provider.

PIR (Prescribed Investor Rate) is the tax rate applied to your fund's investment earnings, based on your income. ESCT is a separate tax on your employer's contribution. Getting your PIR wrong with your provider can mean overpaying tax on your fund's returns.