Every year I see the same pattern. December is busy, everyone's flat out trying to get jobs finished, invoices go out late and then the whole country goes to the beach. Your customers stop paying. Your costs keep going. And then mid-January hits, and so does a tax bill.
None of that is a surprise, which means it can be planned for. Here's what's coming and what to do about it now.
The dates to have in your diary
Date | What's due |
|---|---|
28 November 2026 | GST return and payment for the period ending 31 October (monthly filers) |
20 December 2026 | PAYE for November (small employers) |
15 January 2027 | GST for the period ending 30 November, plus your 2nd provisional tax instalment. Two payments, same day, straight after the holidays |
20 January 2027 | PAYE for December |
28 January 2027 | GST for the period ending 31 December (monthly filers) |
7 February 2027 | Terminal tax for the 2026 year, if you're not with a tax agent |
28 February 2027 | GST for the period ending 31 January, and ratio-method provisional tax |
Dates assume a March balance date, one monthly or two-monthly GST and the standard provisional tax option. Yours may differ, so check with us.
15 January is the one that catches people out. You've just paid holiday pay, the money hasn't come in for three weeks, and you've got GST and provisional tax due on the same day.
What to do before you shut the door
Invoice early. Get every invoice you can out the door before Christmas. If you have regular customers, ask whether they'd like to pay for January work in advance.
Chase what's owed. Pick up the phone. People pay the people they have a relationship with first.
Put the tax money aside now. Work out what's due on 15 January and move it into a separate account. If it's not in your everyday account, you won't spend it.
Know your holiday pay bill. Christmas Day and New Year's Day fall on Fridays this year. Boxing Day and 2 January are Saturdays, so they're observed on Monday 28 December and Monday 4 January. Work out who's owed what before the first pay run.
Cut what you don't need. Go through your subscriptions and regular payments. Costs creep up when no one's looking.
Talk early if it's tight. IRD and the bank are far easier to deal with before a payment is missed than after. If you think 15 January will be a stretch, let's talk now about instalment arrangements or tax pooling.
We'll keep you two steps ahead
Our clients get a reminder from us for tax throughout the year so they know what needs to be saved and when it's to be paid at all times. Before each of these dates we send reminders, along with the amount. If you'd like the same peace of mind going into summer, give me a call on 09 947 9839 or book a time. I'm happy to come to you.