Capital gains tax in NZ — through Lynch & Associates

New Zealand has no general capital gains tax, but specific situations are taxable as income. We refer NZ capital-gains quote requests to Lynch & Associates, our Auckland-based partner firm of Chartered Accountants and IRD-registered tax agents.

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Capital-gains situations — what Chartered Accountants typically handle

NZ has no general capital gains tax. Specific provisions of the Income Tax Act 2007 still capture gains as income in defined situations. The items below are where most NZ taxpayers engage a Chartered Accountant on a gains question.

Bright-line property rule

Residential land sold within 2 years of acquisition (for property purchased on or after 1 July 2024) is taxed as income.

Property dealer and developer tests

Land transactions caught under the dealer, developer and builder provisions of the Income Tax Act 2007.

Land taxed under intention to resell (s. CB 6)

Land acquired with a purpose or intention of resale is taxable on disposal regardless of holding period.

Personal property sold for profit (s. CB 4)

Personal property acquired with a purpose of resale is taxable on the gain.

Cryptoasset gains

Crypto disposals where the acquisition purpose was disposal — IRD treats most retail crypto activity this way.

Foreign Investment Fund (FIF) rules

Offshore portfolios over the NZ$50,000 threshold use FDR / CV / DRR methods rather than a gains test.

Sale of business and depreciation recovery

On sale of a business, depreciation recovered above book value is taxable income.

Sale of shares with substantial holding considerations

Share sales where a dealer test or revenue-account treatment applies, including substantial-holding situations.

Sources: IRD buying and selling property, IRD income tax for businesses, IRD tax rates for individuals. Verified 2026-06-06.

Why we don't quote a price here

Capital-gains work scopes by transaction type — a single bright-line return is hours of work; an FIF portfolio with multi-year reconciliations is days; a property-dealer dispute can run weeks. Lynch quotes per engagement after a discovery call. See our cost guide for the structural factors.

Ready to talk to a CA about a gains question?

Submit a quote request and Lynch will contact you, usually within one business day.

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