How much of a donation can I claim back in NZ?

One third. Every receipted donation of $5 or more to an approved donee organisation earns a 33.33% tax credit, capped at your taxable income for the year.

How far back can I claim donation tax credits?

Four years. As of August 2026, the 2022-23 tax year is still claimable until 31 March 2027 — after that it is gone for good.

Do school donations qualify for the tax credit?

Usually yes — genuine donations to state and state-integrated schools qualify. Fees for tuition, activities or camps do not.

A third of every donation, back from IRD

Every receipted donation of $5 or more to an approved charity — including most school donations — earns a 33.33% tax credit. Industry estimates put the unclaimed pile around $250m a year (that figure comes from a donation-claiming business, not IRD, so treat it as a flavour of scale rather than gospel). What is not in dispute: the window is four years, it is rolling, and donations from the 2022-23 tax year stop being claimable on 31 March 2027.

This checker does the arithmetic and hands you the claim steps. You file it yourself in myIR or on paper — we never ask for a login, and your figures never leave this page.

Step 1 of 3 — saved on this device as you go

Do you hold receipts for your donations — paper or email, either counts?

IRD pays on receipts. "Somewhere in my email" is a yes — search the charity's name later.

What counts, what doesn't

Counts: donations to registered charities, most school donations, religious organisations, many overseas-aid funds — where you got nothing material in return. Doesn't: raffle tickets, event entry, school fees for tuition or camps, crowdfunding a person (Givealittle pages for individuals mostly do not qualify unless run by a donee organisation). When in doubt, the receipt itself usually says "donation tax credit" on it.

Source: IRD — donation tax credits. From 1 April 2027 a $100,000 annual donation cap applies — IRD expects it to affect about 350 people, so almost certainly not you.