NZ GST at 15%, registration threshold, invoicing and progress payment treatment for NZ joinery contractors.
You must register for GST in New Zealand if your annual turnover is NZ$60,000 or more. Below this threshold, registration is voluntary. Registering voluntarily below the threshold allows you to claim GST input credits on business purchases — worthwhile if you have significant expenses.
As with Australia, the convention is to quote ex-GST to GST-registered clients (builders, commercial clients) and GST-inclusive to residential consumers. Always clearly state the GST component. The joinery.io estimating tool calculates and displays both ex-GST and 15% GST-inclusive totals.
NZ GST is filed through Inland Revenue (IR). Most small businesses file bi-monthly or six-monthly. For joinery businesses with significant materials purchases, cash-basis accounting (pay GST when received, claim when paid) is typically the simpler approach. Confirm with your accountant.
Each progress payment claim should be a valid tax invoice with GST clearly stated. Issue invoices promptly at each milestone — deposit, commencement, installation, completion — rather than in a batch at the end. Late invoicing delays GST cash flow unnecessarily.
Estimating and job costing tools pre-set for NZD and NZ GST (15%).
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