Tax Made Easy

02/09/2026

If you saw that deleted ad from Xero this morning saying you don't need an accountant because AI can do it for you...

Here is my take.

I can clean my own windows. I can spend ages on them, but it won't be great. There'll be streaks, missed patches, and my wife will probably shout at me later and end up redoing them herself anyway, like she does with the dishwasher. 😅

Or, I can just pay a proper window cleaner who has the gear, knows what they're doing, and gets it done right the first time.

Software and AI can churn out numbers, but they don't know your business, they don't spot the hidden risks, and they definitely won't save you when things go sideways, you can't blame AI.

Doing your own accounts with AI is just cleaning your own windows. Sure, you can do it, but you'll probably spend twice as long making a mess of it.

And then end up paying double for someone to clean it up later. (I have had two last month come to us with this)

We are all for technology and doing things smarter, AI is not there yet with this.

26/08/2026

And this is why you don't take advice from randoms on the internet..

Also, people seem oblivious to the fact that IRD staff, do use the internet outside of work and see this kinda of stuff on a regular basis

🙄

A "coordinated" fraud scheme has prompted an investigation after a series of "bogus" expense claims resulted in Inland Revenue paying out over $150,000.

20/08/2026

Burning Out and Forgetting Why We Do This

When you run your own setup, contract, or work on commission, the hustle is relentless. Every dollar you make comes directly out of your own energy and time. There is no guaranteed wage hitting your account if you take your foot off the pedal, so if you do not perform, things grind to a halt pretty fast.

Because of that constant pressure, it is dead easy to fall into the trap of thinking that doing more hours is the only path to success. But running flat out on 100% capacity catches up with you eventually. You lose focus on why you started, and burnout sneaks in.

It flows on to everyone around you
When you are constantly in overdrive, it does not just affect you.

If you have staff, they watch how you operate. When they see you working 14 hour days, sending emails at all hours, and never taking a breath, it sets an unspoken standard. They start feeling the pressure to match your crazy pace just to prove they are working hard enough, which builds an unhealthy culture for everyone.

It hits home too. Kids pick up on stress long before we think they do. They notice when you are physically in the room but mentally still sitting at your desk, checking emails or stressing over the next job. The whole reason most of us work this hard is to build a better life for our families, but when work takes over completely, they miss out on having us actually present.

The stats in NZ tell the story
If you have been feeling the weight of it lately, you are definitely not the only one.

Looking at the numbers across New Zealand, the recent MYOB When you run your own setup, contract, or work on commission, the hustle is relentless. Every dollar comes out of your own energy and time. But running flat out on 100% capacity always catches up with you.

For me, keeping my head right comes down to a few basic non-negotiables:

Family first: Work will be there tomorrow, moments with your kids won't. Close the laptop and be present.

Move your body: Getting stuck into a session at https://unrulycompany.co.nz/ or going for a run/walk clears brain fog faster than coffee.

Say g'day: Say hi to people you pass on your run. A simple smile back reminds you there’s a whole world outside your inbox.

Take a breath today. Set a firm finish time, hit the gym, and show your team and your family that taking time out is necessary.

(If you’re struggling, call or text 1737 anytime for free 24/7 support in NZ.)

https://taxmadeeasy.co.nz/blog/f/burning-out-and-forgetting-why-we-do-this

28/07/2026

Just received the annual email from Xero announcing another round of price increases for New Zealand starting 1 October 2026.

If it feels like we do this every year, it is because we do.
Standard plan in 2021, price increase.
2022, price increase.
2023, price increase.
2024, plan restructure and price increase.
2025, price increase.
Now 2026, another price increase with Grow going to $89 a month and partner plans up over 7%.

That means the standard plan for a small business has gone from $62 a month in 2022 to $89 a month in 2026. That is a 43% jump in four years, which easily outpaces inflation.

I stand by the software (just) and almost all my clients use it. But the timing and regular price creep are getting harder to justify when Kiwi businesses are already feeling the pinch.

And for accountants and bookkeepers, we get handed the extra admin. Xero gives us a weak template email so we can break the news, (non of us use it) and then we get to spend hours manually updating client direct debits, monthly invoices, and agreements one by one.

What makes it even harder to swallow is seeing where the money goes. (Sukhinder ridiculous bonus) While customers keep getting squeezed to drive revenue growth, Xero's stock on the ASX is down over 60% in the last year. Raising prices on small businesses to make up for market pressure is a tough look.

What a farce!, if it was a movie it would be called "Carry on Xero"

21/07/2026

Ever noticed how ordering a "pint" in NZ is a total gamble? 🍻

The Spinoff ran an article showing that NZ has zero legal definition for a pint.

Back in England, you get legally guaranteed 568ml. Over here? Weights and measures only recognize metric, so a "pint" is literally just guesswork. One pub hands you a 480ml glass, the next gives you 425ml, and a craft spot pours 330ml. I only have to walk 10 minutes to get a small glass of beer for the price of a small boat.

It made me laugh, but it’s a lot like how a lot of small businesses price their work: completely on guesswork.

If you don't know the exact breakdown of your time, true overheads, and hidden admin costs, your margins shrink fast. You think you’re charging for a full glass, but you're only keeping a half.

Three quick checks for your numbers this week:
Audit your time: Invoicing 5 hours for a 10 hour job cuts your rate in half.
Account for the froth: Admin time and software subs add up. Bake them into your rates.
Know your baseline: Know what it costs to keep your lights on every hour you work.(Don't be the cheapest)

If your pricing is built on guesswork, you will always wonder where the margin went.

Worth a think next time you're at the pub!

https://thespinoff.co.nz/kai/18-07-2026/why-doesnt-new-zealand-have-a-standard-size-for-a-pint-of-beer?hl=en-NZ

19/07/2026

Burying your head in the sand with IRD doesn’t work.

If you have overdue tax debt or missing returns, the strategy of ignoring it and hoping it goes away is officially out of time.

IRD just launched a massive targeted campaign specifically aimed at people who have been ignoring it.

They are not just sending another automated letter. They will try to call you twice, and if you ignore them, they are skipping the paperwork and going straight to enforcement.

That means bank deductions, where they legally take the money straight out of your account, and visits in person from the Community Compliance team.

Look, I used to work for Community Compliance at IRD. The people on that team are usually good, reasonable people who want to work with you to find a solution. But make no mistake, when they turn up at your door, that is officially your absolute last chance to sort it out before things get messy.

They will look at payment plans and relief options, but you have to front up and do it yourself.

If you need to get your outstanding returns and books up to date so you actually have accurate numbers to show them, get in touch with us. Just keep in mind that while we get your numbers sorted, we do not manage or negotiate the actual debt repayment on your behalf. That part is between you and IRD.

You can read the full update and look at your options directly on the IRD website here:

https://www.ird.govt.nz/updates/news-folder/2026/overdue-debt-and-returns

18/07/2026

My son and a crew of Westlake Boys have spent the last few weeks burning the midnight oil, hand making soy candles from scratch.

They bought the ingredients, sorted the packaging, designed the labels, ran the advertising, the whole lot.

Tomorrow morning, they are putting their hard work to the test to see if this new start up can really catch fire. They have poured their hearts into the business, so it makes perfect scents to come down Shore side and support them.

Let's just hope the crowds spark up early, because I am only the Uber driver dropping them off at dawn and I do not want them coming home feeling completely melted by lunchtime.

The Details:
Where: Browns Bay Market
When: Sunday, from 6:00 AM

Don't be a Wick..come buy a candle 😉

12/06/2026

"Hey, can you help me set up my Hnry account?"

​I have been getting this exact request a lot through my website contact form lately.
​The short answer is no, I cannot.

​There is a lot of confusion out there right now, with people thinking Hnry, Xero, and MYOB are all just different brands of the same basic software. They are completely different concepts.

​Xero and MYOB are software tools. They keep track of your financial records, but anyone can log in and use them on their own without or with an accountant. Personally, I work primarily with Xero.

​Hnry is an automated accountant app. Because they act as the actual accountant, their system is locked down. Outside accounting firms cannot log in to manage your account or adjust your tax strategy.

​This post is purely to clear up that technical boundary. If you are trying to figure out which platform actually fits your business structure, I just put together a full, jargon free guide on the blog comparing Xero, MYOB, and other tools in the NZ market.

https://taxmadeeasy.co.nz/blog/f/the-kiwi-business-guide-xero-vs-myob-vs-hnry-vs-the-rest

08/06/2026

Home Office Expenses.

When it comes to annual accounts time, there are a few main areas IRD will check.

Home Office.
Motor Vehicle Claims.
And Entertainment.

These are the ones that people tend to overclaim on.

See the link here for a guide on Home office expense claims, I've even attached the sheet we use here to calculate it.

Perminant link
https://taxmadeeasy.co.nz/home-office

Blog Page
https://taxmadeeasy.co.nz/blog/f/working-from-home-how-to-actually-claim-your-expenses

Because it should be!

04/06/2026

Mileage Rates 2026

Inland Revenue has released the vehicle rates for the 2025-2026 income year. Check the image below for the exact breakdown per vehicle type.

The Breakdown:
Tier 1 Rate: Covers both fixed and running costs (insurance, depreciation, fuel, maintenance, etc.). Use this for the business portion of the first 14,000 km travelled (including private use).

Tier 2 Rate: Covers running costs only. Use it for the business portion when total travel exceeds 14,000 km.

Don't forget the logbook rule:
To claim these, you need a valid 90 day logbook to lock in your business use percentage. These need to be redone every three years. IRD can and do disallow claims if you have no valid logbook

You can find a free template here https://taxmadeeasy.co.nz/links-and-resources