John: first part-time job
With his teacher's help, John is considering part-time work after school. John heard about the What's Tax? website and he goes online and learns from Your first job that he needs an IRD number.
As John's never had an IRD number, he completes the application form he printed off the site and takes it to an Inland Revenue appointed verifier, along with the originals and photocopies of his forms of identification. John then receives a card printed with his new IRD number in the mail from Inland Revenue 8-10 working days later.
John gets a job and his employer gives him a Tax code declaration (IR330) form to fill in. John looks at the chart on the IR330 and decides that his tax code should be "M". By returning the completed form to his employer right away, he avoids having tax taken out at 45 cents for every dollar earned.
When John opens a bank account for his wages to be paid into, he's asked for his IRD number so any interest earned is taxed at the correct tax rate.
On What's Tax? John discovers he may be entitled to a tax credit for children (formerly child rebate) because he's still at school and under 19, but he needs a summary of earnings (SOE) to make the calculation. SOE's are available in May, so John requests an SOE online then.
Once John receives his SOE he then goes to the personal tax summary calculator from What's Tax? and works out that the under $9,880 tax credit suits him best. John calls Inland Revenue on 0800 227 774 and requests a personal tax summary (PTS). He tells Inland Revenue how many weeks he worked more than 20 hours.
Important:
Only request a PTS if you're sure of a refund. If you owe tax you'll have to pay it.
John's told to check that the information on the PTS is correct and to call INFOexpress on 0800 257 777 to confirm his PTS. By the time John receives his PTS 10 days later, he's forgotten what to do and logs back on to What's Tax? The Personal tax summary page under Everything you need to know tells him to:
- check that all the information on the PTS is correct, and
- check that his bank information is listed - if not, he should fill out the direct credit form attached to his PTS and return both to Inland Revenue, and
- confirm the refund if it's over $200.
He also finds out that:
- a refund of less than $200 will automatically be paid within 30 days of the PTS being issued, or
- he has to pay any tax owing by the due date.
John hasn't provided his bank account number so 10 days later a cheque arrives.
Important:
You get your refunds quicker if we have your bank account details.
