WorldTax Compare← All Comparisons

United States vs New Zealand
Tax Rate Comparison

Enter your income below for a personal tax estimate, then scroll down for full rate breakdowns.

πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States
vs
πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ New Zealand
Tax Year:

πŸ’° Personal Income Tax Calculator

Enter your income to see your estimated annual tax liability in each country β€” side by side.

Enter your annual income above to see your personal tax comparison β†’
Individual Income Tax (Top Marginal Rate)
Top Income Tax Rate
10–37%
TCJA provisions extended; no sunset
No change
10.5–39%
Thresholds may be adjusted; 39% top rate under review
No change
VAT / GST / Sales Tax
VAT / GST / Sales Tax
0–11%
No federal sales tax; state avg ~6–9%
No change
15%
15% maintained; no plans to change
No change
Corporate Tax Rate
Corporate Tax Rate
21%
Federal flat; proposals to raise to 28% stalled
No change
28%
28% stable
No change
Capital Gains Tax
Capital Gains Tax
0–20%
+ 3.8% NIIT; thresholds inflation-adjusted
No change
0–39%
No comprehensive CGT; Bright-line 2-year rule maintained
No change
Social Security & Payroll
Social Security / Payroll
~15.3%
SS wage base ~$180,000 est. 2026
No change
~3.5%
ACC levy review; no major structural change
No change
State, Regional & Local Taxes

πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States β€” State & Local Taxes

The U.S. has 50 states each setting their own income tax (0%–13.3%). California tops at 13.3%, while Texas, Florida, and Nevada levy no state income tax. NYC adds its own income tax (up to 3.876%). Sales taxes vary from 0% (Oregon) to over 11% combined. Property taxes are primarily local. Some states like Washington have introduced capital gains levies.

πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ New Zealand β€” Local & Regional Council Rates

New Zealand's 67 councils (cities and districts) levy property rates (analogous to council tax). There are no provincial or state-level income taxes β€” all income tax is national. GST is a national tax. Regional councils levy rates for transport, environmental, and water services. Auckland Council is New Zealand's largest with significant combined rating authority. The Earthquake Commission (EQC) levy is a national building insurance premium.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Rates shown are standard top/headline rates for informational purposes. Actual tax liability depends on income level, residency, deductions, and tax treaties. 2025–2026 data reflects announced or enacted rates and may be subject to change. Not financial or legal advice.

United States vs New Zealand: Key Tax Differences (2026)

πŸ’° Income Tax: πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ New Zealand has a higher top income tax rate (10–37% vs 10.5–39%). πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States is more favourable for high earners.

πŸ›’ VAT/Sales Tax: New Zealand has a higher consumption tax (0–11% vs 15%).

🏒 Corporate Tax: πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States offers a lower corporate rate (21% vs 28%), which can influence business location decisions.

πŸ“ˆ Capital Gains: πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States taxes investment gains at a lower rate (20% vs 39%), benefiting investors.

Related Comparisons

πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States vs πŸ‡¦πŸ‡· ArgentinaTax comparisonπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States vs πŸ‡¦πŸ‡Ί AustraliaTax comparisonπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States vs πŸ‡¦πŸ‡Ή AustriaTax comparisonπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States vs πŸ‡§πŸ‡­ BahrainTax comparisonπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States vs πŸ‡§πŸ‡ͺ BelgiumTax comparisonπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States vs πŸ‡§πŸ‡· BrazilTax comparisonπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States vs πŸ‡§πŸ‡¬ BulgariaTax comparisonπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States vs πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦ CanadaTax comparisonπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States vs πŸ‡¨πŸ‡± ChileTax comparisonπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States vs πŸ‡¨πŸ‡³ ChinaTax comparisonπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States vs πŸ‡¨πŸ‡΄ ColombiaTax comparisonπŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ United States vs πŸ‡­πŸ‡· CroatiaTax comparison