http://www.payrollconsult.co.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.payrollconsult.co.nz en-us Tue, 05 May 2026 21:30:26 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.payrollconsult.co.nz/blog/post/130351/annual-leave-pay-how-to-make-sure-your-staff-get-paid-correctly/ Leave is consistently the number one area where businesses fall short on payroll compliance, and the reports of Holidays Act non-compliance haven't slowed down.Reform is on the way. The Government is actively developing replacement legislation to simplify the rules around holidays and leave, but the Holidays Act 2003 remains in force until that work is complete.In the meantime, the complexity is real, and the compliance obligations haven't changed.So why is paying annual holidays so difficult to... Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.payrollconsult.co.nz/blog/#post130351 http://www.payrollconsult.co.nz/blog/post/130343/how-payroll-evolves-as-your-business-grows/ Most business owners don't think much about payroll until it becomes a problem. And by then, it's usually costing them time, money, or both.The good news is that payroll typically follows a pretty predictable path as a business grows – and understanding where you are in that journey can help you figure out what’s next. Here's how it usually goes.... Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.payrollconsult.co.nz/blog/#post130343 http://www.payrollconsult.co.nz/blog/post/130348/why-having-payroll-software-isnt-enough-to-keep-you-compliant/ It's well established that the Holidays Act has been a headache for businesses for years. Too complex, ambiguous, and easy to get wrong even when you're trying to do the right thing.The good news is that reform is now actively underway. The Government is developing new legislation to replace the Holidays Act 2003, with the goal of providing a clearer, more workable set of rules for holidays and leave entitlements. The existing Act still applies until the new legislation is passed, but the acknow... Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.payrollconsult.co.nz/blog/#post130348 http://www.payrollconsult.co.nz/blog/post/130350/what-is-gross-earnings-and-how-should-it-be-calculated-in-your-payroll-software/ 'Gross earnings' is an area many businesses overlook. It’s the foundation for several key calculations under the Holidays Act, and getting it wrong means errors flow through to annual leave payments, average daily pay, final pay, and more. The downstream effect is often bigger than people realise.In this article I'll walk you through what gross earnings includes, what it doesn't, and how to calculate them correctly for your employees.... Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.payrollconsult.co.nz/blog/#post130350 http://www.payrollconsult.co.nz/blog/post/130356/sick-leave-and-the-holidays-act-reform/ The increase from 5 to 10 sick days took effect in July 2021 as planned, so if you updated your employment agreements and payroll system at the time, that part is sorted.The bigger development since then is that the Government is now working on a full replacement for the Holidays Act 2003 - the law that governs sick leave, annual leave, and public holidays.The current Act is known for being complex and easy to get wrong, so the reform has been a long time coming. Until the new legislation is pas... Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.payrollconsult.co.nz/blog/#post130356 http://www.payrollconsult.co.nz/blog/post/130342/public-holiday-payroll-made-simple-what-you-need-to-know/ New Zealand public holidays can be tricky for payroll – especially if you're juggling multiple roles in your business. With Christmas, New Year, Waitangi Day, Easter and ANZAC Day all seeming to roll into each other, now is a good time to make sure you've got the key rules sorted.If you're ever unsure, you're not alone. Many business owners and payroll administrators find public holiday pay confusing. This guide covers the essentials so you can process payroll with confidence.... Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.payrollconsult.co.nz/blog/#post130342 http://www.payrollconsult.co.nz/blog/post/163649/what-happens-in-a-payroll-review-and-why-you-need-one/ A payroll review isn't about catching you out or highlighting failures. It's a proactive compliance measure that gives you certainty. Either everything is fine and you have peace of mind, or there are issues and you've found them before they become bigger problems.Here's what actually happens during a payroll review with me, from that first phone call to what comes next. ... Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.payrollconsult.co.nz/blog/#post163649 http://www.payrollconsult.co.nz/blog/post/130354/understanding-annual-leave-accrued-advanced-and-entitled-leave/ Leave is probably the most talked-about area of payroll, and it's where I spend most of my time helping clients.On the surface, you'd expect it to be straightforward. But as you've probably come to appreciate, anything payroll-related gets complicated the moment real employees are involved.In this article I explore what annual holiday leave is, the different stages of leave, and how to make sense of leave balances in your payroll software.... Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.payrollconsult.co.nz/blog/#post130354 http://www.payrollconsult.co.nz/blog/post/130355/has-your-employee-received-a-tax-bill-from-ird/ A 53-week year is a common reason for an employee to receive an unexpected tax bill. It's worth understanding what's going on so you can reassure them (and know what they need to do).... Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.payrollconsult.co.nz/blog/#post130355 http://www.payrollconsult.co.nz/blog/post/163623/how-to-choose-the-right-payroll-system-for-your-new-zealand-business/ "I wish I'd called you three years ago."I hear this more often than you'd think. Business owners who've been wrestling with a payroll system that looked perfect on paper but causes headaches every fortnight. The accountant loved it, the price was right, it integrated beautifully with their accounting software. But each time payroll came, it felt like battle after battle with more hours spent double-handling and doing manual updates. The issue usually stems from a system being chosen for accounti... Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.payrollconsult.co.nz/blog/#post163623