FIF Tax Calculator
Estimate your annual New Zealand Foreign Investment Fund tax on foreign ETFs and shares using either the FDR or CV method.
What is FIF?
Foreign Investment Fund — NZ's tax regime for foreign investments
NZ tax residents who own shares or ETFs in foreign (non-NZ, non-Australian) companies. Also applies to listed Australian shares that aren't on the approved "grey list".
If the cost of all your foreign investments is $50,000 NZD or less, you may be exempt from FIF and instead pay tax only on dividends and realised gains.
FDR (5% of opening value, simple and common) — or CV (actual gain/loss for the year). You can choose whichever results in lower tax.
Enter your investment details
All values in NZD (convert using the exchange rate at the relevant date)
NZ FIF Quick Reference
Key rules, thresholds and exemptions at a glance
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| $50,000 threshold | If your total cost base of foreign investments ≤ $50,000 NZD, you may be exempt from FIF (pay tax on dividends only instead). |
| Australian exemption | ASX-listed shares of Australian companies on the "grey list" are generally exempt from FIF — you pay tax on dividends and capital gains instead. |
| FDR rate | Always 5% of opening market value (1 April NZD). Capped at your actual return if actual < 5% via the CV method. |
| CV losses | If your actual return is negative, FIF income = $0. You CANNOT offset FIF losses against other income or carry them forward. |
| PIE funds | PIE (Portfolio Investment Entity) funds like managed NZ funds handle FIF internally — the tax is managed inside the fund at the PIR rate. |
| Tax year | NZ tax year runs 1 April to 31 March. Opening value = 1 April, closing value = 31 March. |
| Currency conversion | Convert all values to NZD using the rate on the relevant date (1 April for opening, 31 March for closing). |