Capital Gains Tax NZ
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Bright-line calculatorMain home testIs my gain taxable?End dateElection 2026Guides

Is my gain taxable in New Zealand?

New Zealand has no general capital gains tax, but some gains are taxed. Answer a few questions about land, shares or crypto and we give a plain outcome with the IRD reference.

Your answers

What did you sell?
Are you, or someone associated with you, in the business of dealing in, developing, dividing or building on land?
When you bought it, did you have a firm intention or purpose of selling it at some point?It need not be the main reason. A vague idea or a mere possibility is not enough (QB 25/08).
How did you get it?
How was it used?
Was the sale agreement signed before 1 July 2024?
Was the sale agreement signed within 2 years of the title being registered to you (or to the person you got it from with rollover relief)?
Did you live there as your main home for more than half that time, using more than half of the land?
Had you already used the main home exclusion twice in the 2 years before, or do you regularly buy or build and sell homes?
Do you trade shares as a business?
Why did you buy them?
Did your foreign shares cost more than NZ$50,000 in total?
Is my gain taxable?A guide, never a certainty
Our reading of the rulesLikely taxable

The sale agreement is inside the 2-year bright-line period and no exclusion applies, so the gain is likely taxable at your marginal rate.

IRD referenceIR1229 p6
What to do nextWork out the tax with our calculator, and keep records of your costs.

Worked example shown. Change any figure to see your own result (needs JavaScript).

Questions people ask

Are share gains taxed in New Zealand?

Usually not for long-term investors. Gains are taxable if you bought mainly to sell, trade shares as a business or hold them in a profit-making scheme. Foreign shares costing over NZ$50,000 in total may fall under the FIF rules.

Is crypto taxed in New Zealand?

In most cases, yes. IRD treats cryptoassets as property, and amounts from selling, trading or exchanging them are usually taxable at your marginal rate.

If I hold land for 10 years is it tax free?

Not if you bought it with a firm intention of selling. IRD calls the 10-year idea a common misconception (QB 25/08 para 28).

Is inherited property taxed when I sell?

Not under the bright-line test: a beneficiary’s sale of inherited property is excluded (IR1229 p27).

More tools

Other questions about selling

Bright-line calculator

Tax on a sale under every bright-line period.

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Main home test

Does the main home exclusion apply? Days and land area.

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End date finder

The first day a sale agreement is clear of the bright-line test.

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Election 2026

Current law and every party’s position, with Labour’s proposal on your sale.

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