What is Contribution Year?
The KiwiSaver contribution year runs from 1 July to 30 June each year — the period IRD uses to calculate the Government contribution.
Detailed Explanation
Member contributions made between 1 July and 30 June are counted toward the NZ$1,042.86 threshold for the full NZ$521.43 Government contribution. Contributions paid after 30 June count toward the next year. The Government contribution is paid into your KiwiSaver account in late July or August.
Example
You contribute NZ$900 by 30 June and a further NZ$200 in August. Only the NZ$900 counts for the just-ended year (yielding NZ$450 from Government). The August NZ$200 starts the next year's tally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make a top-up just before 30 June?
Yes — many self-employed members do exactly this to ensure they hit the NZ$1,042.86 threshold.