Check your KiwiSaver against your payslip
Most KiwiSaver problems are quiet ones: a contribution rate set up wrong years ago, tax taken at last year's band, money filed but never landing. None of them look like anything on a single payslip. Reconciled properly, they show up.
This is free and stays free. Type the figures from your payslip — we never ask for a myIR or provider login, ever. If something does not reconcile, you get a letter to send payroll, written to open a conversation rather than start a fight. How it works.
Right — grab your most recent payslip. We will do this one document at a time, and I will tell you exactly where to look. Nothing here goes anywhere: no logins, no account numbers, and I forget the lot when we are done.
Your payslip
The most recent payslip you have. Paper or the PDF your payroll emails you — either is fine.
Where to look: Top of the earnings section. The number BEFORE any tax or deductions.
Where to look: In the deductions block, usually labelled KiwiSaver or KS EE.
Where to look: Often labelled Employer KiwiSaver, KS ER, or Employer Superannuation. Some payslips show a gross figure and a net figure — you want the gross.
This is the field people get wrong most often. The employer contribution is taxed before it reaches your account, so the amount that lands is smaller. If you give me the smaller one I will think your employer is short when they are not.
Where to look: Labelled ESCT or Employer Super Contribution Tax. Many payslips do not show it at all.
Where to look: The year-to-date or YTD column, on the same line as your KiwiSaver deduction.
Where to look: The YTD column on the employer contribution line. If your payslip shows both gross and net YTD, take the net.
Opposite of the field above. There I wanted the gross figure; here I want the one after tax, because that is what actually travels to your provider.
Where to look: Top of the payslip, near your name.
Where to look: Weekly is 7, fortnightly is 14, monthly is about 30.
Your employment agreement
Your employment agreement, or the KiwiSaver election form you filled in when you joined.
Where to look: Your KS2 election form, or ask payroll. It is one of a small set of allowed rates.
Where to look: Look for wording like 'total remuneration' or 'inclusive of KiwiSaver' in your agreement.
This is lawful, and it surprises people. If you are on one of these it does not mean anyone is short-changing you — but I need to know so I describe it correctly.
Last year, not this year
Last year's final payslip, or your IRD income summary for the year that has finished.
Where to look: The final YTD gross on last year's last payslip, or your IRD income summary.
If you had a pay rise since, do NOT use the new salary. The tax band on your employer contribution is set by last year and is fixed for the whole year — a rise in June does not move it. Using this year's number would make me tell you your employer is short when they are not.
Where to look: The final YTD employer contribution on last year's last payslip.
Your provider statement
The statement from whoever holds your KiwiSaver — the annual one, or whatever your provider's app shows.
Where to look: Your provider's transaction summary. Employee plus employer contributions received — not investment returns.
Where to look: Top or bottom of the statement.
This contribution year
Everything you have personally put in since 1 July — through payroll and any lump sum you paid your provider directly.
Where to look: Your provider's summary for the contribution year, plus anything you paid in directly.
The contribution year runs 1 July to 30 June, which is not the tax year and not the calendar year. Three different years, and this one catches everybody.
Where to look: Roughly is fine — I only use it to check whether you are above the income cap.