No employer, no match — the maths changes
An employee putting in 3% quietly gets another 3% from their employer. Self-employed and contractor members get none of that, so every dollar in your account is a dollar you decided to put there.
FundfinderSelf-employed & contractors
No employer match. So what should you actually put in?
Work for yourself and nobody deducts KiwiSaver for you — and nobody adds 3% on top. The one piece of free money still on the table is the government contribution: $260.72 a year if you put in $1,042.86. That is $20.06 a week or $40.11 a fortnight.
Settings checked September 2026, based on Inland Revenue's current government contribution rules for the 1 July – 30 June KiwiSaver year.
Your contribution plan
Set what you can realistically pay in. Everything updates live and nothing is stored.
How often you pay in
No employer contribution is included — self-employed members do not get one unless they pay themselves a salary through PAYE.
Government contribution this year
$260.72of $260.72
You are putting in $1,300 a year, past the $1,042.86 needed for the full amount.
Balance at 65
$179,628
You will have paid in
$39,000
Government adds
$7,822
Your plan vs the bare minimum
The dashed line is what you would have if you only ever contributed the $1,042.86 threshold each year.
Your plan Minimum only Government contributions
Educational illustration only, using a constant return and no contribution increases. Real returns vary and this is not financial advice.
What self-employed members need to know
$20.06 a week unlocks the free money
Contribute at least $1,042.86 between 1 July and 30 June and the government adds $260.72 — a 25% return on that slice before your fund earns anything. Miss the deadline and that year's contribution is gone for good.
Set it up as a standing order
Irregular income makes lump sums easy to forget. A weekly or monthly automatic payment to your provider means the threshold is met without you thinking about it, and it smooths out the price you pay for units.
KiwiSaver is not your only option
Money locked in until 65 suits retirement, not a rainy-day fund for a quiet quarter. Many self-employed people keep a cash buffer first, then contribute what they can spare above it.
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Self-employed questions
How much should a self-employed person put into KiwiSaver?+
There is no required rate. Most people start with at least $1,042.86 a year to capture the full government contribution, then add more if their cash flow allows. Contractors paid schedular payments can also ask for deductions to be made from their pay.
When is the cut-off for the government contribution?+
The KiwiSaver year runs 1 July to 30 June. Your contributions must reach your provider by around late June to count for that year — check your provider's cut-off date, as it is usually a few days early.
Do I still get it if I have a high income?+
From 1 July 2025 the government contribution is not paid to members whose taxable income is over $180,000 a year. Below that, it is 25 cents per dollar up to $260.72.
Can I claim my KiwiSaver contributions as a business expense?+
No. Voluntary contributions made as a self-employed person are paid from your after-tax money and are not deductible. Talk to your accountant about your own situation.
Is this financial advice?+
No. It is a general educational illustration using assumptions you set. For advice about your circumstances, talk to a licensed financial advice provider.