The $260.72 the government gives you every year, and the one thing to do before 30 June
The KiwiSaver government contribution is 25 cents for every dollar you put in, up to $260.72 a year. To get the full amount you need to put in at least $1,042.86 of your own money between 1 July and 30 June, and you need to be aged 16 to 65 with taxable income of $180,000 or less. It's in addition to whatever your employer contributes, and it has nothing to do with how your fund performed or which provider you're with.
$260.72
Maximum government contribution, per year
$1,042.86
Your own contribution needed for the full amount
30 June
End of the KiwiSaver year, the deadline to top up
Who gets it? Here's what you need to qualify:
- Age: a KiwiSaver member aged 16 to 65.
- Income: taxable income of $180,000 or less for the year.
- Contributions: at least $1,042.86 of your own money in the KiwiSaver year, 1 July to 30 June. Employer contributions don't count towards that.
A quick example. The government adds 25 cents for each dollar you put in, so the amount you get grows with your own contributions until you reach the maximum:
- If you put in $500 of your own money, you'd get $125, and you'd need another $542.86 to reach the full amount.
- If you put in $1,042.86, you'd get the full $260.72.
Most employees don't need to do anything. The employee minimum has been 3.5% of pay since 1 April 2026, which gets past $1,042.86 on a pay of roughly $29,800 or more, and your provider claims the payment for you after 30 June.
Worth a closer look before 30 June if any of these sound like you:
- You're self-employed.
- You took a break from paid work, such as parental leave, redundancy or time overseas.
- You weren't paying in through payroll for the whole year.
If your own contributions look like they'll land under $1,042.86, you can add a lump sum any time before 30 June to close the gap.
Quick questions
When does the government contribution reach my account?
Your provider claims it after 30 June. It usually lands in your account by the end of July, and sometimes as late as the end of August.
Do my employer's contributions count towards the $1,042.86?
No, only your own money counts towards that. Your employer's contributions are added separately.
How do I see what I've put in so far this year?
Your provider's app or website will show what you've put in so far this year, so it's worth a look well before 30 June.
These figures are checked against Inland Revenue's published guidance (ird.govt.nz) as at 7 October 2026, so it's worth rechecking if you're reading this later. If you'd like a hand, run your numbers through the KiwiSaver Health Check or book a KiwiSaver review with Kyle well before the deadline.