Paying Provisional Tax This Month? Here’s What to Check
The provisional tax payment date is just around the corner 28 August, but before you pay, it’s worth asking: Is your 2026 tax year shaping up to be lower than previous years?
If so, there may be opportunities to reduce your payment and improve your cashflow.
Is Your Income Tracking Lower This Year? (or Significantly Higher?)
If your 2026 year-to-date income is significantly down compared to 2025 – or even 2024 (if your 2025 accounts aren’t finalised) – the standard uplift method may mean you’re overpaying on provisional tax.
On the other hand, if your income is significantly up this year, it’s also worth reviewing your position. Higher income can mean a larger tax bill than expected, so options like AIM and TMNZ tax pooling may help you:
Spread out payments to ease cashflow
Align tax payments more closely with actual earnings
Avoid large lump sum surprises later in the year
This is relevant for businesses:
Experiencing slower or faster trade
Going through restructuring or rapid growth
Facing major changes in revenue streams
What to do: Get in touch with us. We can help you reassess your estimates and set up a payment approach that works for your business, whether your income is up or down.
No Cashflow Right Now? Consider TMNZ Tax Pooling
If your income is steady but cashflow is tight, you don’t have to miss the deadline. Tax pooling through TMNZ (Tax Management NZ) gives you the flexibility to make payments later – often up to 75 days after your Terminal tax due date (normally 7 April) – without IRD interest and penalties.
This could be a good option if:
You expect cash to free up soon
You want to avoid IRD charges
You prefer to spread your payments over time
We can help set this up quickly and seamlessly.
Could AIM Be a Better Option?
For businesses with fluctuating income or unpredictable cashflow, the Accounting Income Method (AIM) may be a better fit for the future. With AIM, you pay tax based on actual earnings rather than estimates, which means:
Less chance of overpaying
Payments that match your cashflow
More accurate, real-time tax management
If this sounds like it could work for you, let’s have a conversation.
What You Should Do Before 28 August?
Contact us if your 2026 income is significantly down or up so we can review your tax position.
Talk to us about TMNZ tax pooling if you need flexibility or want to spread payments.
Consider whether AIM might be a better option going forward, especially if your income is volatile or growing quickly.
Get in touch with our team today to make sure you’re paying the right amount of tax and are set up for the rest of 2026.