FBT return due date: how and when to file
Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) is paid on perks you give employees — a vehicle, health insurance, discounted goods. Here's when returns are due and how to file, whether you file quarterly or annually. Always confirm current dates with the IRD.
General information only. Tax rules, rates, and due dates change. This guide is not financial or tax advice. Always confirm current dates and requirements on the official source linked below, or with your accountant, before acting.
What FBT is
Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) is a tax you pay on certain benefits you give to employees outside of their salary — a company vehicle available for private use, health insurance, discounted goods, low-interest loans, and others.
If you don't provide any of these, you don't pay FBT. If you do, you file FBT returns and pay the tax. Many small businesses with no perks don't need to file at all.
FBT is separate from PAYE — it's a tax on the benefit, not on the employee's income. The employee doesn't pay it; you do.
Quarterly or annual filing
All employers can file FBT returns quarterly — and you must file quarterly unless the IRD has approved an election to file annually or by income year.
You can elect to file annually (for ordinary employees) if, in the previous tax year, your annual gross PAYE (excluding ACC earners' levy) and employer superannuation contribution tax (ESCT) deductions were $1,000,000 or less, or you did not employ any employees. The annual return covers the FBT year (1 April to 31 March) and is due by 31 May.
If you're not sure which applies to you, start with quarterly and the IRD will advise if you can switch. You can change your filing frequency in myIR.
Quarterly due dates
If you file quarterly, your returns and payment are due by: Q1 (1 April – 30 June): 20 July, Q2 (1 July – 30 September): 20 October, Q3 (1 October – 31 December): 20 January, Q4 (1 January – 31 March): 31 May.
If a due date falls on a weekend or public holiday, you have until the next working day to file and pay.
The annual return (for those who elect annual filing) is due by 31 May, covering the full FBT year (1 April to 31 March).
How to file
File through myIR under your FBT account. Enter the total value of each type of benefit you provided, and the system calculates the FBT due. Pay the tax at the same time as you file.
If you provide a vehicle for private use, the IRD provides a fringe value calculator to work out the taxable value. Most other benefits are valued at cost or at a set rate.
If you're not sure whether a benefit is subject to FBT, check the IRD guide linked below — the rules are specific and getting them wrong is a common review trigger.
Dates and rules change. Before you act on anything in this guide, confirm the current details directly with the official source:
IRD — Fringe benefit taxFrequently asked questions
Do all businesses need to file FBT returns?+
No. If you don't provide any fringe benefits (no company vehicles for private use, no health insurance, no other perks), you don't file FBT returns. FBT only applies to businesses that provide taxable benefits to employees.
Is a work vehicle subject to FBT?+
If a vehicle is available for an employee's private use (including driving it home), it's generally subject to FBT. If it's a work-only vehicle with no private use (and meets the IRD's work-only vehicle conditions), it may be exempt. The rules are specific — check the IRD guidance.
What's the difference between quarterly and annual FBT filing?+
Quarterly filers file four returns a year (due 20 July, 20 October, 20 January, and 31 May). Annual filers file one return by 31 May. You can elect to file annually if your gross PAYE and ESCT were $1,000,000 or less in the previous tax year. All employers can file quarterly.
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