We don't know how lucky we are.
New Zealand tax wedges are among the lowest in the world - or in the OECD at least.
For families - that is a one earner married couple with two children and earnings at the average wage level - we have the lowest in the OECD.
For single people, only Chile has a lower level in the 34 nation survey.
France and other European countries score the worst.
A 'tax wedge' measures the difference between before-tax and after-tax wages. It measures how much the government receives as a result of taxing the labor force.
New Zealand outcomes benefit from having lower income tax rates, no separate payroll tax or superannuation tax, and adding back the substantial Working for Families benefits.
In the end, New Zealand families on the average wage get back almost as much in benefits as they pay in tax.
This data was released for 2012 by the OECD in an emailed statement.
Over the past two years, income tax burdens have risen in 23 out of 34 countries, largely because a higher proportion of earnings was subject to tax as the value of tax free allowances and tax credits fell relative to earnings. In 2012, only 6 countries had higher statutory income tax rates for workers on average earnings than in 2010, the OECD said.
Australia's rose because of the introduction of a temporary additional levy to finance post-cyclone reconstruction.
New Zealanders who emigrate chasing higher wages should consider the tax impact on gross earnings in other countries in addition to the costs of living there.
(If the following interactive graphic doesn't load, refresh the page.)
17 Comments
Amazing how we can have low taxes, pretty reasonable social security and healthcare, and a low government deficit compared to other countries. It really irks me when people constantly go on about how bad our government is, how corrupt they are, etc, yet when you compare ours to the rest of the world we look amazing.
What are the other governments doing with their money? The US has higher taxes than us and they don't get healthcare!
Agree, NZ Govn isnt doing that badly...however if you look at HC's WFF and if that hadnt been brought in or at least been limited....blame Brash for much of that, Cullen had to counter him in 2005.
When you look at all the deductables Im not sure the US has higher effective taxes. Also in the US if you earn below an admittedly low amount I think you pay no tax? not aware that applies here.
"Doing with their money"? supporting their egos with "there will be no more recessions" deficit spending, and/or pork barrel politics...grossly incompetant IMHO.
regards
Is this accurate? does it take into account GST, ACC, Rates etc? All those other little mandated add-ons from various Governments. In the middle of the last Labour Government's term i remember a University based tax expert identifying that the average tax rate in New Zealand when these are all accounted for was 47%.
It's personal income plus social security contributions less social assistance. So it doesn't include any of the taxes you listed, nor any taxes that NZ doesn't have (capital gains, stamp duties, land taxes and sales taxes for instance).
As an aside, my marginal tax rate is 50.7% if you include kiwisaver, ACC and student loan compulsory repayments, but before GST and other indirect taxes.
Perhaps people speak from memory, Jimbo.
When compared today, relatively speaking we are doing better than the rest, but when compared to the past the picture changes drastically, at least for me.
As Murray cleverly points out, income is taxed more than once in all countries!
In antiquity 5% was the universal tax taken by feudal lords. Today, GST is 3 times that.
Why do we accept this, and why do we put up with it?
HGW
Having recently returned from Finland with my family I can say New Zealand has a relatively attactive package. Primary and secondary education, health and wages (in the hand) are comparable or better.
Transport infrastructure is poor in NZ, both public transport and motorways. NZ houses are poor quality but as expensive as Finland.
Tertiary education and creating a supportive cultural, regulatory and governmental services environment for specialised industry is better in Finland.
Price wise only petrol is a little cheaper in NZ while phone/internet is more expensive. Wheras a decade ago NZ prices were significantly cheaper across the board.
Finland's economy is tied to the euro, which is in continual crisis.
New Zealand has the opportunity to surge ahead if we keep our strengths and work on our weaknesses.
Car insurance? In 1995 when I came here my car insurance was going up to 1500sterling per year, here same car was <$400NZ (32x12=$390)
Thats was just one car as well, the other was 650sterling v $25 amonth out here (I imported them both) So $1300NZ v $300NZ
All with full no claims (60%), and when I came to NZ they would only give me 50% no claims in the first year.
House contents? Our flat contents insurance was 800sterling, more than we judged the contents was worth so we didnt, here I was paying about $23NZ a month..about $32 today.
So $3kNZ v $400NZ
$1600NZ v $280NZ
Train pass? until recently (5 years ago) I was paying $45 a month, so $540NZ a year in the UK 900sterling for an annual pass = $1800NZ. Today I pay $1230 for monthly passes, could do 3monthly and save a few %.
2600+1300+1300+1000=$6200 post tax saved (roughly).
I have a harder time comparing salary, but on a 2:1 exchange basis I earn here today roughly what a friend was earning a few years ago, no idea what her salary is these days mind.
Granted food used to be way cheap in NZ, ditto housing...it was a lot cheaper to come here to live and buy...not now...
Internet, I pay $200NZ a month for 150gb, but the UFB prices are $200 for 1TB or $120 for 200~250gb plan incl a phone, that will be a big price dropper in the next year or 2. I'll be so glad to tell Clear to pee off.
regards
of course the grass isn't always greener here in Aus. It is very dependent on individual cases.
However on average there is definitely more opportunity to get ahead here, especially if you live outside of Sydney and Melbourne - in Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth.
In Auckland there's no way in hell I could have afforded to live in Grey Lynn. Here in Adelaide, I can comfortably afford to buy (in fact I built new - total just over 400K including land) in a suburb similar in ambience and location (relative to CBD).
I still like Auckland, but it is ridiculously overpriced and I want a life, rather than becoming a mortgage slave to a mediocre property and sitting in traffic for nearly an hour and a half a day.
Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth are all as nice as Auckland in their own ways and certainly more affordable overall.
But each to their own.
Hi Matt
I am glad your move to Adelaide is working out. We are planning on building too in Canterbury.
My opinion is that New Zealand and Canterbury in particular would benefit from something like state government. If you study your history, Christchurch and Adelaide were settled by the same people and with only a short time gap between settlements. So why the difference now in economic prospects?
The obvious difference is that in Canterbury provincial government was abolished in 1876 while South Australia become a constitutional state of Australia in 1902?
Regards Brendon
Yesterday it was reported that average incomes in Aus and NZ are:
* NZ $48,600 (average income) NZ $61,000 (average fulltime)
* Aust $61,400 (average income) Aust $75,700 (average fulltime)
Can someone please advise whether the Australian figure includes or excludes employer supernannuation contributions
DAVID / GARETH no answers to my question?
If super isn't included, you can add on at least 9% (some people get more than 9%) to the $75,700, that equals over 82K, or effectively more than a third more in Aus than NZ. Wipes out the minor tax advantage in NZ
I consider my income here in Aus to include the 9% on top which you don't get in NZ
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