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Capital Gains Calculator 2026

New Zealand has no general capital gains tax, so long-term investment profit is usually yours to keep. Enter your buy and sale amounts to see your gain in NZ$, plus the cases where tax can still apply if you trade frequently.

This tool is for information and guidance only. New Zealand has no general capital-gains tax, so a gain on a personal, long-term investment is generally not taxed. If you buy with the purpose of resale or trade frequently, the profits can be taxable as income at your marginal rate (assessed by Inland Revenue on the facts). This is not tax advice and does not replace a professional opinion. Rules can change. When in doubt, consult Inland Revenue (IRD) or a qualified adviser.

The principle: no general capital-gains tax

New Zealand does not have a general capital-gains tax. For an individual investing for the long term, a profit on listed shares, ETFs or crypto is generally not taxed when you sell, as long as it is genuinely capital in nature. That is a reason many long-term investors find New Zealand attractive for building wealth: your investment gains are generally yours to keep.

Markets and intermediaries are supervised by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA), and trades take place on the New Zealand Exchange (NZX).

The important caveat: trading treated as income

The absence of a general capital-gains tax applies to gains that are capital in nature. If you buy an asset with the purpose of resale, or your buying and selling is frequent and business-like, Inland Revenue (IRD) can treat the profits as income, taxable at your marginal rate (10.5% to 39%). IRD looks mainly at your intention when you bought, and at how regularly and business-like your activity is. Occasional, long-term investing is generally not taxed.

Stocks and ETFs

Listed shares and ETFs: gains on a personal, long-term holding of local shares are generally not taxed. There is no short-term versus long-term rate distinction, because there is no general capital-gains regime. Note that foreign shares can be taxed under the Foreign Investment Fund (FIF) rules once your overseas holdings exceed the NZ$50,000 cost threshold.

Dividends

Dividends from New Zealand companies are taxable, but they usually carry imputation credits for the company tax already paid, which offset the tax you owe; resident withholding tax may be deducted at source. This is separate from any gain on selling the shares.

What about crypto?

Crypto is treated as property. Because New Zealand has no general capital-gains tax but IRD generally views crypto as acquired with the purpose of resale, gains on disposal are commonly taxable as income at your marginal rate. Frequent trading, mining and staking rewards can also be taxable.

What you need to report

If your gains are genuinely capital in nature, there is generally nothing to report. If you bought with the purpose of resale, trade frequently, or hold foreign shares caught by the FIF rules, the income is reported in your tax return. This content is for information only and is not investment or tax advice.

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Frequently asked questions

Are gains on shares and ETFs taxable in New Zealand?
For most long-term individual investors, no. New Zealand has no general capital-gains tax, so a gain on shares or ETFs held as a personal, long-term investment is generally not taxed when you sell. The main exceptions are when you buy with the purpose of resale, or when your activity is frequent and organised enough to be treated as trading, in which case profits can be taxable as income. This is not tax advice.
When can a gain still be taxed as income?
Inland Revenue (IRD) looks mainly at your intention when you bought: if you acquired the asset with the purpose of resale, the profit is taxable. It also considers whether you trade in a regular, business-like way. If your activity looks like trading rather than long-term investing, the profits can be taxed as income at your marginal rate (10.5% to 39%). Occasional, long-term investing is generally not taxed. This is not tax advice.
How are dividends taxed in New Zealand?
Dividends from New Zealand companies are taxable, but they usually come with imputation credits for the company tax already paid, which reduce the tax you owe. Resident withholding tax may be deducted at source. Foreign shares can also be taxed under the Foreign Investment Fund (FIF) rules once your overseas holdings exceed the NZ$50,000 threshold. Keeping your broker statements helps with reporting. This is not tax advice.
Is crypto taxed the same way?
Broadly, yes, and often more strictly. New Zealand has no general capital-gains tax, but IRD generally treats crypto as property acquired with the purpose of resale, so gains on disposal are commonly taxable as income at your marginal rate. Frequent trading, mining and staking rewards can also be taxable. This is not tax advice.
What do I need to report?
If your gains are genuinely capital in nature (long-term personal investing in local shares), there is generally nothing to report, since there is no general capital-gains tax. If you bought with the purpose of resale, trade frequently, or hold foreign shares caught by the FIF rules, the income is reported in your tax return. Markets and intermediaries are supervised by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA), and trades take place on the NZX. Keep your annual broker statements as proof. This is not tax advice.