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ACC Levy Calculator

Estimate your ACC levies as an employee or self-employed earner. Includes earner levy, work levy, and working safer levy based on your industry classification.

By Konstantin IakovlevPublished 28 March 2026Last reviewed
Data stays on your deviceIRD sourced data

About this calculator

This calculator implements earner levy ($1.75/$100) + work levy from Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC). Last consulted 1 April 2026. Verify the figures yourself by following the link.

Current ACC levy rates

FY 2026-27 (effective 1 April 2026)
  • Earner's levy rate: $1.75 per $100 (1.75%)
  • Max liable earnings: $156,641
  • Max annual earner's levy: $2,741.22
  • Self-employed work levy: Varies by Classification Unit
  • Levy increase from 2025-26: Up from $1.60/$100

Source: IRD — ACC earner's levy

Disclaimer

This calculator provides estimates for general information purposes only. Results should not be relied upon as professional financial, tax, or legal advice. Tax rates and thresholds are based on publicly available IRD data and may change. Always consult a qualified tax agent or financial adviser for advice specific to your circumstances.

How NZ ACC earner's levy is calculated

Every employee and self-employed person pays an ACC earner's levy — flat 1.75% of liable earnings up to the annual cap. This funds personal injury insurance.

  1. 1

    Calculate liable earnings (capped)

    Liable_earnings = min(gross_income, $156,641)

    Max liable cap for 2026-27 = $156,641 (up from $142,283 in 2025-26).

  2. 2

    Apply earner's levy rate

    Earner's levy = liable_earnings × 1.75%

    Up from $1.60 to $1.75 per $100 from 1 April 2026. Max = $156,641 × 1.75% = $2,741/yr.

  3. 3

    Self-employed also pay work levy

    Work levy = liable_earnings × industry_rate (varies by CU)

    Work levy varies by Classification Unit (CU) — high-risk industries like roofing/forestry pay more. Average ~$0.80/$100 across all CUs.

Worked example

Inputs: $80,000 salary, employee (not self-employed)

Result: Liable: $80,000. Earner's levy: $80,000 × 1.75% = $1,400/yr (~$27/wk).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ACC?
ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation) is New Zealand's national no-fault personal injury scheme, providing cover for everyone in New Zealand — citizens, residents, and visitors alike — for injuries caused by accidents. It is funded through levies paid by earners (via PAYE), employers, and vehicle owners (via registration and fuel levies). ACC covers treatment costs, weekly compensation (80% of pre-injury earnings), rehabilitation, and long-term support for serious injuries. Because ACC provides comprehensive cover, New Zealanders generally cannot sue for personal injury compensation in court — the ACC scheme replaces that right. In the 2026-27 year, the earner's levy (paid by employees and self-employed people) is $1.75 per $100 of liable earnings. Source: ACC (acc.co.nz).
How much is the ACC earner's levy?
The ACC earner's levy for the 2026-27 year is $1.75 per $100 of liable earnings, which is equivalent to a rate of 1.75%. The levy applies to all employment and self-employment income up to a maximum liable earnings cap of $156,641 per year — meaning the maximum annual earner levy anyone pays is $2,741.22 ($156,641 * 1.75%). For example, someone earning $80,000 per year pays $1,400 in ACC earner's levy annually. The levy is deducted by your employer through the PAYE system for employees, or paid directly to ACC for self-employed individuals via their annual tax return. The levy rate is reviewed annually by ACC and the government, and can change each April. Source: ACC — Earner Levies (acc.co.nz/about-acc/levy-funding).
Does ACC cover self-employed people?
Yes, self-employed people in New Zealand are covered by ACC for work and non-work injuries, just like employees. However, self-employed people pay both the earner's levy (covering non-work injuries) at $1.75 per $100 of earnings and a work levy (covering work-related injuries), which varies by industry risk classification. The work levy rate depends on your business classification code (BIC) — higher-risk industries like construction or forestry pay higher rates than office-based businesses. Self-employed people pay their ACC levies through their annual income tax return filed with IRD, rather than through PAYE each pay period. Cover includes weekly compensation at 80% of pre-injury earnings, treatment costs, and rehabilitation. Source: ACC — Self-Employed Cover (acc.co.nz/for-business/self-employed).

The ACC earner's levy funds New Zealand's Accident Compensation Corporation scheme, which covers the cost of treatment and rehabilitation for personal injuries regardless of fault. For employees the levy is collected via PAYE; self-employed people pay it directly to ACC as part of their annual levy invoice.

How this calculator works

For employees, the earner's levy is $1.75 per $100 of gross earnings up to the maximum liable earnings cap of $156,641 per year (2026-27). Earnings above this cap are not subject to the earner's levy. The employer deducts the levy automatically alongside PAYE. Employers also pay a separate work levy whose rate varies by industry risk classification. Self-employed people pay both an earner's levy and a work levy on their liable earnings.

ACC Earner's Levy 2026-27

Earner levy rate$1.75 per $100 (1.75%)
Maximum liable earnings$156,641
Maximum earner levy$2,741.22
Employer work levyVaries by industry risk classification
Self-employed work levy (average)Approximately $1.39 per $100 of liable earnings

ACC levy rates are set each year. Check acc.co.nz for current rates.

Worked Examples

Employee earning $75,000 gross per year

Annual ACC earner's levy: $1,200.00.

  1. Liable earnings: $75,000 (below the $156,641 cap)
  2. Annual levy: $75,000 × 1.75% = $1,200.00
  3. Weekly levy deduction: $1,200 / 52 = $23.08

Employee earning $200,000 gross per year

Annual ACC earner's levy: $2,741.22 (capped).

  1. Gross earnings $200,000 exceed the maximum liable earnings cap of $156,641
  2. Levy is capped: $156,641 × 1.75% = $2,741.22
  3. No earner's levy is charged on earnings above $156,641
  4. Weekly levy deduction (averaged): $2,741.22 / 52 = $43.78

Built and maintained by Konstantin Iakovlev. Data sourced from the IRD and official New Zealand government sources.

Last reviewed: