M / M SL
For the main or highest source of salary or wages when ME does not apply. Use M SL where a New Zealand student loan applies.
New Zealand Tax Code Tool
NZ Tax Code Finder 2026
Which IRD tax code should you use? Answer a few questions for a likely code, then confirm it on the current IR330 before giving it to your employer or payer.
IRD sources checked: 4/4 · 17 Sept 2026, 10:54 am
Quick answerMain job: M or MESecond income: usually SB, S, SH, ST or SA. Add SL for a student loan.
Tax code checker
Which NZ tax code should I use?
Start with whether this is your main or secondary income, then your expected annual income and student-loan status. The result covers common salary-and-wage situations.
Quick reference
NZ tax codes explained
ME / ME SL
Main-income codes with Independent Earner Tax Credit treatment. Eligibility depends on IRD conditions, not just your salary band.
SB, S, SH, ST, SA
Common secondary-income codes. The code is chosen using expected annual total income from all sources.
No IR330?
IRD says the non-declaration rate is generally 45% if you do not give your employer the required tax code declaration.
Second job tax code
Secondary tax codes and current income bands
Your second job is not automatically taxed at one fixed rate. IRD uses your estimated total annual income to select the secondary code.
| Estimated total annual income | Secondary code | Rate before ACC | With student loan |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 – $15,600 | SB | 10.5% | SB SL |
| $15,601 – $53,500 | S | 17.5% | S SL |
| $53,501 – $78,100 | SH | 30% | SH SL |
| $78,101 – $180,000 | ST | 33% | ST SL |
| $180,001+ | SA | 39% | SA SL |
When to change it
Your tax code can change during the year
You start or leave a second job
A change in the number or size of income sources can change which income is main and which secondary code fits.
Your student loan changes
Taking out or paying off a student loan can mean adding or removing SL from the tax code.
Your expected income changes
A material change in total annual income can move secondary income into a different code band.
Special situations
When this tax code finder is not enough
Benefits, NZ Super and pensions
These income sources can affect the IR330 flow. Follow the official declaration rather than assuming the highest-paying job always determines every code.
Contractors and schedular payments
Contractor withholding can use different forms and rates, including IR330C, rather than the ordinary salary-and-wage flow.
Tailored tax code
IRD can approve tailored tax options where ordinary codes are likely to cause a large year-end refund or bill.
Official IRD sources
Confirm your code before submitting IR330
What tax code should I use?Official Inland Revenue guidance ↗About tax codesOfficial Inland Revenue guidance ↗Secondary tax codesOfficial Inland Revenue guidance ↗Complete my tax code declaration (IR330)Official Inland Revenue guidance ↗
Calculate NZ PAYE and take-home pay → Calculate student loan deductions → Calculate KiwiSaver contributions →
FAQs
NZ tax code questions
Which tax code should I use in New Zealand?
Your main or highest income source normally uses a main tax code such as M or ME. Other salary or wage income generally uses a secondary code such as SB, S, SH, ST or SA based on your estimated total annual income. Add SL where a New Zealand student loan applies.
What is the M tax code in New Zealand?
M is the standard main-income code for salary or wages when the ME conditions do not apply. You should have only one main income source.
What is the ME tax code?
ME is a main-income code that includes Independent Earner Tax Credit treatment for eligible people. IRD says the credit has income and other eligibility conditions, so ME should not be chosen from salary alone.
What tax code should I use for a second job?
A second salary or wage generally uses a secondary tax code. IRD bases SB, S, SH, ST or SA on your estimated annual total income from all sources, not only the pay from the second job.
What does SL mean on a tax code?
SL tells the payer that a New Zealand student loan applies. It can be added to main or secondary salary and wage codes, for example M SL or SH SL.
What happens if I do not give my employer an IR330?
IRD says an employer generally deducts tax at the non-declaration rate of 45% if you do not provide an IR330 tax code declaration.