# New Zealand

 Country code: NZ · Currency: NZD · Language: English

**Pros**
- High economic freedom with minimal corruption and a streamlined regulatory environment for business startups.
- Absence of a general capital gains tax and a simplified, transparent personal and corporate tax system.
- Strong protection of private property rights and a stable, secure environment for long-term capital investment.

**Cons**
- Geographic isolation leading to high logistics costs and limited access to large-scale international markets.
- Significant state intervention in the housing market and increasing labor market rigidities through recent legislative changes.
- High cost of living and infrastructure challenges due to a small, dispersed population and remote location.

Long story short: Setting up a company in New Zealand takes a single day, online, without ever meeting a bureaucrat: paperwork is stunningly smooth, and corruption barely exists.

The catch: income tax climbs fast (39% at the top bracket), a flat 15% consumption tax squeezes everyone, and being this far from everywhere makes importing anything expensive. Banks are rock solid, but stingy without solid collateral.

Other things worth knowing: Auckland stays calm in its nicer suburbs, despite a few car thefts making headlines. Landscapes are stunning, food is improving, and daily living costs bite.

## Will your income be taxed?

Long story short: YES, A LOT.
Income gets *fleeced* in **New Zealand** (top marginal rate **39%**), but the residency test is surprisingly hands-off.

The bill is brutal for residents; the whole game is simply not to become one by accident.

**01.1 Income tax**

| Metric | Value | Detail |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Personal income tax | 10.5 → 39% | progressive · 5 brackets |

| Bracket (USD) | Rate |
| --- | --- |
| 0 – 9,217 | 10.5% |
| 9,217 – 31,608 | 17.5% |
| 31,609 – 46,142 | 30% |
| 46,142 – 106,345 | 33% |
| 106,345 + | 39% |

**01.2 Tax residence test**

_A single active rule is enough to make you tax-resident._

| Metric | Value | Detail |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 183-day rule | exists here |  |
| Economic interest | does not exist here |  |
| Family centre | does not exist here |  |
| Habitual abode | exists here |  |
| Extended-stay test | does not exist here |  |

## Will your wealth be taxed?

Long story short: YES, A LOT.
**New Zealand** shears capital gains hard (**39%** at the top), but at least it stops there: no annual wealth levy, no inheritance regime.

Selling is the trigger; as long as you don't pull it, the position compounds untouched.

**02.1 Investment income**

| Metric | Value | Detail |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Capital gains | 39% | progressive |

| Bracket (USD) | Rate |
| --- | --- |
| 0 – 9,217 | 10.5% |
| 9,217 – 31,608 | 17.5% |
| 31,609 – 46,142 | 30% |
| 46,142 – 106,345 | 33% |
| 106,345 + | 39% |

| Metric | Value | Detail |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dividend tax | 39% | progressive |

| Bracket (USD) | Rate |
| --- | --- |
| 0 – 9,217 | 10.5% |
| 9,217 – 31,608 | 17.5% |
| 31,609 – 46,142 | 30% |
| 46,142 – 106,345 | 33% |
| 106,345 + | 39% |

| Metric | Value | Detail |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Interest income | 39% | progressive |

| Bracket (USD) | Rate |
| --- | --- |
| 0 – 9,217 | 10.5% |
| 9,217 – 31,608 | 17.5% |
| 31,609 – 46,142 | 30% |
| 46,142 – 106,345 | 33% |
| 106,345 + | 39% |

**02.2 Wealth & estate**

| Metric | Value | Detail |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Wealth tax | NONE | no annual wealth tax · no real-estate wealth tax · no net-worth assessment |
| Inheritance system | NONE | no estate tax · no heir-based duties · no succession tax framework. Wealth transfers across heir-classes are not taxed in this jurisdiction. Only standard probate / registration fees may apply. |

**02.3 Crypto**

| Metric | Value | Detail |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Crypto · tax regime | PROGRESSIVE | Rate: 39% · New Zealand treats crypto-assets as property. There is no general Capital Gains Tax; instead, gains are taxed as ordinary income if the assets were acquired for the purpose of disposal. The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) presumes most crypto-assets are acquired for disposal. Swapping one cryptocurrency for another is a taxable event. New or returning residents may qualify for a 4-year transitional tax residency exemption on offshore crypto income. |
| Crypto-to-crypto | TAXABLE | each swap counts as a disposal — gains realised at every trade |
| FATF travel rule | SIGNED | committed but not yet enforced |

## Easy to run a company there?

Long story short: NO.
Corporate tax in **New Zealand** is **28%**, no IP-box mercy, VAT at **15** on top.

Operationally, running a company here is fine; fiscally, the state helps itself to a fat slice of every unit of profit. You do the work, they skim the cream.

**03.1 Rates**

| Metric | Value | Detail |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Corporate tax | 28% | flat |
| VAT standard rate | 15% | single rate · no reduced tiers |

| VAT family | Category | Rate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Food & drink | food | 15% |
| Food & drink | non-alcoholic | 15% |
| Food & drink | alcohol | 15% |
| Print media | books | 15% |
| Print media | ebooks | 15% |
| Print media | newspapers | 15% |
| Culture | cultural events | 15% |
| Culture | cinema | 15% |
| Culture | theatre | 15% |
| Culture | museums | 15% |
| Culture | sports | 15% |
| Transport | public transit | 15% |
| Transport | rail | 15% |
| Transport | air | 15% |
| Hospitality | hotels | 15% |
| Hospitality | restaurants | 15% |
| Hospitality | takeaway | 15% |
| Health | pharma | 15% |
| Health | medical dev. | 15% |
| Energy | electricity | 15% |
| Energy | natural gas | 15% |
| Energy | district heat. | 15% |
| Energy | domestic fuel | 15% |
| Utilities | water | 15% |
| Utilities | waste | 15% |
| Clothing | kids clothing | 15% |
| Digital & telecom | digital | 15% |
| Digital & telecom | telecom | 15% |
| Digital & telecom | broadcast | 15% |
| Construction | construction | 15% |
| Construction | social housing | 15% |
| Agriculture | farm inputs | 15% |
| Agriculture | animal feed | 15% |
| Personal services | funeral | 15% |
| Personal services | hairdressing | 15% |
| Finance | insurance | 15% |

**03.2 Regime & registry**

| Metric | Value | Detail |
| --- | --- | --- |
| IP Box · Patent Box | NONE | no IP regime · IP income taxed under standard corporate rules |
| Misuse of corporate assets | NO CRIMINAL | no criminal liability · In New Zealand, the personal use of company assets by a sole director who is also the sole shareholder of a solvent company is not a criminal offense. Criminal liability under Section 138A of the Companies Act 1993 requires the director to act in 'bad faith' and with knowledge that the conduct will cause 'serious loss' to the company. Because the sole shareholder is the company's only stakeholder and provides consent, the elements of 'bad faith' and 'dishonesty' (required for theft under the Crimes Act 1961) are legally absent. Such actions are instead treated as civil breaches of distribution rules (Section 52) or as tax matters (deemed dividends) under the Income Tax Act 2007. |
| Shareholders privacy | PUBLIC | New Zealand Companies Office |
| Directors privacy | PUBLIC | New Zealand Companies Office |

**03.3 Incorporation cost**

_In this country, the most standard company form is called Limited Company (Limited Liability Company). The costs below are for incorporating a company in its simplest form, for reference only._

| Metric | Value | Detail |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Government Registration and Name Reservation Fees | USD 87 |  |
| Professional Incorporation and AML/KYC Compliance | USD 886 |  |
| Minimum Share Capital | USD 1 |  |
| Total | USD 974 |  |

## A good fit for a holding?

Long story short: YES.
**New Zealand** pairs a *moderate* treaty network (**24** signed) with a *full participation exemption* (**100%** on qualifying dividends and gains).

A perfectly honest holding base: not the NL/LU/SG first division on treaty count, but the pipes don't leak.

**04.1 Substance & exemptions**

| Metric | Value | Detail |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Territorial · individuals | WORLDWIDE | worldwide income taxation regardless of source |
| Territorial · corporates | WORLDWIDE | worldwide corporate taxation |
| Participation exemption | 100% | 10% holding |
| CFC rules | APPLY | New Zealand imposes tax on residents who hold interests in certain foreign companies that are controlled by five or fewer New Zealand residents or by a single resident. |

**04.2 Withholding tax · non-resident**

| Metric | Value | Detail |
| --- | --- | --- |
| WHT · dividends | 30% | non-resident outbound |
| WHT · interest | 15% | non-resident outbound |
| WHT · royalties | 15% | non-resident outbound |
| Tax-haven WHT | NONE | no punitive rate on record |

**04.3 Treaty network**

| Metric | Value | Detail |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Treaties signed | 20 | active |
| Treaties pending | 3 | in negotiation |

## Easy to come and go?

Long story short: SOME.
**New Zealand** taxes your worldwide income while you're resident, but at least the exit is free: *no exit tax* on the way out.

Leaving costs you paperwork, not money; your unrealised gains walk out the door with you, untouched.

**05.1 Exit & dual nationality**

| Metric | Value | Detail |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Exit tax | NONE | no triggers active · residence change tax-free · no deemed-disposal mechanism |
| Dual citizenship | ALLOWED | naturalised citizens may keep their existing nationality |

**05.2 Citizenship paths**

| Metric | Value | Detail |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Residence | 5 years | available path to naturalisation |
| Marriage | — | not available |
| Birth | jus soli | available path to naturalisation |
| Descent | — | not available |
| Investment | — | not available |

## Is your money watched?

Long story short: YES, CLOSELY.
**New Zealand** signed *every exchange framework that matters* and runs a *public corporate registry*. Whatever you do here (earn, hold, structure) is reported, searchable, or both.

Your money is watched from every angle; if discretion is part of your plan, this isn't your jurisdiction.

**Multilateral reporting frameworks — 4/9 active · 4 pending**

| Item | Status | Detail |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CRS | Signed | 2018 |
| CARF | Signed | 2025 |
| FATCA | In force | 2014 |
| MLI | In force | 2018 |
| BEPS | Signed | — |
| MAAC | In force | 2013 |
| GLOBAL FORUM | Signed | — |
| EOIR | In force | — |
| CRYPTO TRAVEL RULE | None | — |

## Is it blacklisted?

Long story short: NO.
**New Zealand** is *clean on every major blacklist* (FATF, EU, France, Spain, Portugal, Brazil) and sits *inside* the FATF club.

Wiring money to or from here raises zero eyebrows: no flags, no extra questions, no compliance officer waking up. Reputationally, a non-event.

**Blacklist exposure — Clear everywhere**

| Item | Status | Detail |
| --- | --- | --- |
| EMBARGO | Clear | un / us / eu sanctions |
| FATF | Clear | grey / black list |
| EU | Clear | non-cooperative list |
| FRANCE | Clear | ETNC list |
| SPAIN | Clear | tax-haven list |
| PORTUGAL | Clear | favourable regimes |
| BRAZIL | Clear | low-tax list |

## Do you feel free there?

Long story short: YES.
**New Zealand** scores high on press freedom (rank **\#16**) and treats crypto as a *taxable but legitimate* asset class. A CBDC is in the pipeline (**1** project(s)), so the payment rails are drifting toward state-issued, traceable money.

Speech: free. Money: the same slow squeeze as most of the developed world.

**08.1 Press freedom**

| Metric | Value | Detail |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Press freedom · RSF index | 16/180 | score 81 · ↑ 3 ranks year-on-year |

Central bank digital currency

    Program Status Cross-border Sources     New Zealand CBDC

The motivation for a Central Bank Digital Currency is to help address some of the downsides of reducing physical cash use.

Reserve Bank of New Zealand

   PROOF OF CONCEPT   —   [announce →](https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/hub/news/2024/12/kiwis-say-cash-and-privacy-are-crucial-in-record-digital-cash-consultation-response "Announcement")

 programs 1

## Connected to the world?

Long story short: EXCELLENT.
**New Zealand** is wired straight into the global money grid: **9/11** of the services we track work here.

*Stripe* onboards you, so you can charge cards from a laptop the day you land. Wise, Revolut, PayPal: pick your rails, they all run. One footnote for your comfort, not your business: *Amazon* doesn't deliver here, so plan on local e-commerce for the doorstep part of life.

**Accept payments — 5/6 available**

| Item | Status | Detail |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Stripe | Available | card payments |
| PayPal | Available | wallet payments |
| Adyen | Available | enterprise psp |
| Mollie | Not available | eu payments |
| GoCardless | Available | direct debit |
| Paddle | Available | merchant of record |

**Bank and move money — 3/3 available**

| Item | Status | Detail |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Wise | Available | multi-currency |
| Revolut | Available | personal banking |
| Revolut Business | Available | business banking |

**Buy and sell on Amazon — 1/2 available**

| Item | Status | Detail |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Amazon | Not available | consumer delivery |
| Amazon Seller | Available | marketplace selling |

  SEE ALSO## Other jurisdictions worth comparing

Picked by similarity of strategic profile to New Zealand. No editorial ranking — neighbours in the same scoring space.

  PROFILE-ADJACENT Same shape, comparable overall friction.

 [   Australia AU  → ](https://stateless.sx/en/country/au) [   Mexico MX  → ](https://stateless.sx/en/country/mx) [   Armenia AM  → ](https://stateless.sx/en/country/am)

  NOTABLY MORE FAVORABLE Same family of strategies, higher total score.

 [   Albania AL  → ](https://stateless.sx/en/country/al) [   Greece GR  → ](https://stateless.sx/en/country/gr) [   Slovakia SK  → ](https://stateless.sx/en/country/sk)

  NOTABLY LESS FAVORABLE Same family of strategies, lower total score.

 [   Lebanon LB  → ](https://stateless.sx/en/country/lb) [   U.S. Virgin Islands VI  → ](https://stateless.sx/en/country/vi) [   Israel IL  → ](https://stateless.sx/en/country/il)