Note: All news content is archived by year and accessed using the links below. Some older content may not be available - a general rule is the older the link, the less likely it is to be there. To search for information by topic rather than date, try our Alphabetical Site Index.

Monday 26th December
Ace Payroll is sometimes asked what the difference is between a casual and a part time employee.

Saturday 24th December
Merry Christmas from Ace Payroll. Our help desk continues to operate throughout the holiday period 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday, public holidays excepted.

Friday 23rd December
North Shore book keeper & tax agent Linda Lamont (39) was today sentenced to three and a half years in prison in the Wellington District Court, after pleading guilty to charges of changing and using documents with intent to obtain a pecuniary advantage or benefit.

Thursday 22nd December
In answer to one of the questions most commonly emailed to us, details about the minimum wage in New Zealand can be found on this page which we keep updated.

Wednesday 21st December
An old employee has come back to work for me again. How do I resume them in Ace Payroll?

Tuesday 20th December
Christmas 2005 - How do I record the upcoming Christmas and New Year stat days for employees that do not work on these days but need to be paid for them?

Monday 19th December
Christmas 2005 - My employee has only worked for me for a few months, and is demanding a few days of paid holidays. Am I required to allow this?

Saturday 17th December
A tax specialist who avoided paying tax owed by his company till the day he was due to be sentenced has avoided jail by handing over the money.

Friday 16th December
Christmas 2005 - I have an employee who refuses to take holidays, and has built up a large entitlement over the years. Can I insist they take a holiday?

Thursday 15th December
Christmas 2005 - With Xmas in mind, how do I record the actual dates my staff take off in Ace Payroll?

Wednesday 14th December
Christmas 2005 - How do I handle the taxing of holiday pay in Ace Payroll, especially in situations when I'm paying a lump sum such as at Christmas time?

Tuesday 13th December
Christmas 2005 - In this tutorial we look at annual compulsory closedowns. That is, where a business traditionally closes down for a number of weeks each year, usually over Christmas.

Monday 12th December
Christmas 2005 - This tutorial explains the calculation methods used for paying holiday pay under the Holidays Act 2003 and how you go about doing so in Ace Payroll.

Friday 9th December
The Official Cash Rate (OCR) will increase by 25 basis points to 7.25 per cent.

Thursday 8th December
Having problems with direct credits? This useful checklist will allow you to make sure you haven't missed a step while exporting your direct credit file from Ace Payroll.

Wednesday 7th December
Paid parental leave has been extended a further week to 14 weeks. The extension kicked in from December 1 for babies of eligible parents who are due, born, or adopted on or after December 1.

Tuesday 6th December
I have accidentally filed a pay for an employee and it is showing on my reports. How do I delete it?

Monday 5th December
This document shows how to record the upcoming Christmas and New Year stat days for employees that do not work on these days but need to be paid for them.

Friday 2nd December
I have tried putting in my password several times but it wont let me into the program?

Thursday 1st December
An important part of the Holidays Act 2003 is the introduction of an Employee Leave Profile. How do I attend to this in Ace Payroll?

Wednesday 30th November
The Ace Payroll Site Index is an alphabetical listing of items on our website - it makes searching for the items you wish to learn about quick and easy.

Tuesday 29th November
Even the best employee can get sick. Colds, flu and every day illnesses are easily handled with the sick leave provisions of the Holidays Act, but what do you do when an employee suffers a more serious accident or illness that keeps them off work for an extended period?

Monday 28th November
What are the different things I can access using the function keys in Ace Payroll?

Friday 25th November
Starbucks shift supervisor Takuira Hika walked out of the chain's coffee shop in Newmarket yesterday to add his support to a claim for a minimum $12 an hour for the workers who report to him.

Thursday 24th November
To assist you to plan well in advance for this year, this very specific document covers how Xmas 2005 should be handled, given which days of the week the statutory days fall on this year.

Wednesday 23rd November
This FAQ explains how to reserve a fixed amount of cash for an employee, prior to direct credits being paid.

Tuesday 22nd November
There is no legal obligation to pay an employee for time on jury service. However, some employers see this as part of their social or community obligations.

Monday 21st November
My accountant has asked me to pay out all leave owing on the 31st March each year, in order to bring holiday pay into the books, and keep things tidy. Should I do it?

Friday 18th November
What questions are employers entitled to ask prospective employees about their state of health prior to employing them?

Thursday 17th November
New Zealand's most important tax treaty - with Australia - has been updated, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne said yesterday.

Wednesday 16th November
An employee was redundant before he even started work, the Employment Relations Authority heard.

Tuesday 15th November
When I go to calculate my regular payroll it shows last weeks pay date. What is wrong?

Monday 14th November
Looking for help with Ace Payroll? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions where we answer well over one hundred questions about Ace Payroll with simple explanations and screenshots to demonstrate the answers.

Friday 11th November
New Zealand's unemployment rate fell to a seasonally adjusted 3.4 per cent in the September quarter - the lowest rate in 23 years.

Thursday 10th November
I have a number of casual employees on my payroll, but when I go to do my weekly wages, they are not there. How do I pay them?

Wednesday 9th November
A bill introduced into Parliament today boosts income assistance for working families, removes interest on student loans for most borrowers, and offers an amnesty on student loan penalties for certain borrowers who live overseas.

Tuesday 8th November
IRD Payroll News Issue 80 November 2005.

Monday 7th November
My employee is short of money and has asked for a few hundred dollars as an advance on their holiday pay. Should I pay it?

Friday 4th November
Recruiting a new staff member and unsure what to ask? - These 109 questions include both traditional and behavioral interview questions.

Thursday 3rd November
Inland Revenue is collecting more tax than ever but still can't answer its phones on time, the department's annual report said yesterday.

Wednesday 2nd November
Can an employment agreement require medical certificates for all sick leave?

Tuesday 1st November
An Employment Tribunal case illustrates the danger to employers of not making it clear to prospective employees when and how an offer of employment will be made.

Monday 31st October
The User Definable Employee Data Field allows you to set up and name a field, then use it to record whatever item of employee information you want.

Friday 28th October
The Reserve Bank has increased the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 25 basis points to 7.00 per cent.

Thursday 27th October
I do weekly and fortnightly payrolls. When I do a backup, does it backup both of them?

Wednesday 26th October
I forgot to do my direct credits but have already filed my pay. Is there any way I can still do my direct credits?

Tuesday 25th October
Confused by parental leave? To assist, we have published the Act, written a tutorial, and assembled FAQ's by the Employment Relations Service.

Monday 24th October
Today is Labour Day, we hope you're enjoying it. This document shows you how to handle Labour Day in Ace Payroll.

Friday 21st October
In answer to one of the questions most commonly emailed to us, details about the minimum wage in New Zealand can be found on this page which we keep updated.

Friday 21st October
Businesses surveyed on the proposed 25 per cent increase in the minimum hourly wage rate say it will have negative consequences, among them the reduction of staff numbers and hours.

Thursday 20th October
Nearly $36 million worth of additional tax has been identified, assessed and paid during the past year, thanks to Inland Revenue's High Wealth Individual programme.

Wednesday 19th October
I have a casual employee who has recently become a permanent employee. How do I change their holiday pay from 6% each pay?

Tuesday 18th October
Looking for new payroll software? See what others have to say about Ace Payroll on our Testimonial page.

Monday 17th October
I have deductions set up for many of my staff. Some of these deductions are linked to a bank account, but some (such as "Repayment of Advance") are not. How can I see which deductions have been direct credited?

Friday 14th October
IRD Payroll News Issue 79 October 2005

Thursday 13th October
Employers anxious not to hire sex offenders and fraudsters are flocking to the police for background checks.

Wednesday 12th October
Were you confused last Xmas by the Holidays Act 2003? To assist you to plan well in advance for this year, this very specific document covers how Xmas 2005 should be handled, given which days of the week the statutory days fall on this year.

Tuesday 11th October
The next public holiday this year, Labour Day, falls on Monday 24th October. This document shows you how to handle Labour Day in Ace Payroll.

Monday 10th October
New Zealand companies are robbing their customers, robbing their staff, and robbing themselves with an insincere approach to customer service.

Friday 7th October
IRD AGENTSanswers Issue 74 October 2005

Thursday 6th October
Labour costs rose 2.7 per cent in the June quarter compared to the same period last year, according to provisional data out from Statistics New Zealand today.

Wednesday 5th October
The Wages Protection Act governs the way in which wages are paid, the making of deductions, and recovery of over payments.

Tuesday 4th October
Inland Revenue has launched a crackdown on alleged abuses primarily by Australian-based companies it fears will rapidly erode the New Zealand tax base.

Monday 3rd October
The full text of the Holidays Act 2003 which came into force on 1st April 2004, converted into an easy to read browsable document by Ace Payroll.

Friday 30th September
What is the correct way to show ACC payments on the IR348 Employer Monthly Schedule?

Thursday 29th September
This case demonstrates that parties need to take care when preparing employment contracts, as they will be bound by what the contract says. When interpreting contracts, the Court's are generally not interested in what the contract was meant to say.

Wednesday 28th September
Employers may use published mileage rates to reimburse employees who use their own vehicles for work purposes.

Tuesday 27th September
More than a few managers must have had a sinking feeling when they heard that the Occupational Safety and Heath service had succeeded with its first prosecution for workplace stress.

Monday 26th September
Set your clocks forward one hour next Sunday 2nd October. If staff are employed during the transition, our Daylight Saving and the Time Act 1975 clarifies the situation.

Friday 23rd September
The casual agricultural tax code CAE reputedly taxes at 22.2%. Farmers and orchardists regularly ask why the calculation in Ace Payroll differs by a few cents.

Thursday 22nd September
Looking for payroll software? Download the latest demonstration version of Ace Payroll and run it for up to eight weeks against your current payroll system.

Wednesday 21st September
Under the Employment Relations Act, all employment agreements are required to be in writing, but an oral agreement is still valid, the Employment Relations Authority has ruled.

Tuesday 20th September
Two men have each been awarded $10,000 in compensation after the company they worked for was sold without warning or consultation.

Monday 19th September
Written initially for prospective clients, this explanation of the different routines in Ace Payroll designed to provide data security should be of interest to current users who wish to be prepared should disaster ever strike!

Friday 16th September
This FAQ explains why the figures on your monthly IR348 Employer Monthly Schedule do not match other wage data for the month.

Thursday 15th September
A child support variation code is used if you regularly deduct child support from an employee's wages, but the amount deducted in a certain pay period is different from the usual deduction.

Wednesday 14th September
Earnings Certificates provide your employees with a record of their earnings, tax payments and deductions for the financial year selected.

Tuesday 13th September
A Wellington man's dismissal for having pornography on his work computer was unjustified, the Employment Relations Authority has held.

Monday 12th September
In this article we look at how the taxation of holiday pay is handled in Ace Payroll

Friday 9th September
On the help message in your bereavement leave routine, it seems to suggest I should pay somebody for one day if they feel "reasonably bereaved". Surely I have some sort of say in whether this is justified or not?

Thursday 8th September
A Green Party proposal to raise the youth minimum wage by 58 per cent is drawing an anguished reaction from employers.

Wednesday 7th September
How to search for an employee on the Ace Payroll employee index.

Tuesday 6th September
I own a small business. My employees are entitled as a condition of their employment to staff buying privileges. One of my employees has resigned and is currently working out his notice period. Can I deduct the amount owed on his staff account from his final pay? If not, how can I recover this money?

Monday 5th September
IRD Payroll News Issue 78 September 2005

Friday 2nd September
This FAQ describes the best way to direct credit all an employee's nett pay.

Thursday 1st September
The Holidays Act states that after 12 months you can replace an alternative day with a payment. How is this payment amount calculated?

Wednesday 31st August
National Party education spokesman Bill English says a shake-up of employment law is needed to address the workforce skills shortage New Zealand businesses now say is their biggest headache.

Tuesday 30th August
Let's put tax cuts in terms everyone can understand. Suppose that every day 10 men go for dinner. The bill for all ten comes to $100

Monday 29th August
If an employee does not normally work on the day that the Public Holiday falls but works the Public Holiday are they entitled to an alternative holiday?

Friday 26th August
Timber workers, journalists, nurses and beermakers have been among the workers shutting up shop to get more pay over the last two weeks.

Thursday 25th August
What is the significance of figures that appear in blue in Ace Payroll?

Wednesday 24th August
The IRD has sent us an IR23 Special Tax Code Certificate asking to deduct student loan at 12 cents in the dollar. How do we do this?

Tuesday 23rd August
Can you confirm that Ace Payroll correctly validates the bank account numbers for Superbank?

Monday 22nd August
Sometimes the IRD asks you to deduct tax at a rate which is not a whole number, plus the earner premium. An example of this is a request to deduct tax at 22.5%, as asked of one of our clients recently. When the IRD does this, they have made a mistake.

Friday 19th August
I have a casual employee who has recently become a permanent employee. How do I change their holiday pay from 6% each pay?

Thursday 18th August
This document shows you how to overwrite the PAYE calculated by Ace Payroll should you wish to enter a manual figure for any reason.

Wednesday 17th August
In this article we look at the calculation of Relevant Daily Pay for an employee who works irregular hours. We examine both the legislation as well as what you need to do to handle this requirement in Ace Payroll.

Tuesday 16th August
If your printed IR348 Employers Monthly Schedule as produced by Ace Payroll is returned by the IRD as unsuitable, there are only three possible causes.

Monday 15th August
An Auckland tax and property consultant was yesterday sentenced to 12 months in prison, in a case that demonstrates computers can hold important evidence in tax prosecutions.

Friday 12th August
IRD AGENTSanswers Issue 72 August 2005

Thursday 11th August
My employee wants to pay back more than the minimum student loan so has asked me to increase the amount I deduct each week. How is this done in Ace Payroll?

Wednesday 10th August
My employee usually works 2 days a week. What is their annual holiday entitlement?

Tuesday 9th August
I am going to ask my IT person to put Ace Payroll on the network. How do they go about it?

Monday 8th August
Children as young as eight are claiming ACC for workplace injuries, as alarm grows at the increasing number of youngsters entering the work force.

Friday 5th August
Looking for payroll software? Download the latest demonstration version of Ace Payroll and run it for up to eight weeks against your current payroll system.

Thursday 4th August
IRD Payroll News Issue 77 August 2005

Wednesday 3rd August
The government will tighten the withholding payment regulations to stop evasion of income tax and PAYE by fruit picking industry contractors, the Minister of Revenue announced today. The measure is aimed at contractors who channel income through companies, pay net wages to their fruit pickers and then leave the country without paying tax.

Tuesday 2nd August
There is no legal obligation to pay an employee for time on jury service. However, some employers see this as part of their social or community obligations.

Monday 1st August
Family-run businesses in New Zealand are among the most stressed in the world, a survey shows.

Friday 29th July
The Reserve Bank has left the Official Cash Rate (OCR) unchanged at 6.75 per cent.

Thursday 28th July
I imagine some people think unlimited bereavement leave starts the day they are employed. That is not correct, is it?

Wednesday 27th July
I am the only person who has the password for Ace Payroll. How would my company gain access if something happened to me?

Tuesday 26th July
My employee has only worked for me for a few months, and is demanding a few days of paid holidays. Am I required to allow this?

Monday 25th July
An employer cannot terminate employment without justification by simply giving written notice of termination, even if that is provided for in an employment agreement.

Friday 22nd July
How do I backup to a zip drive in Ace Payroll?

Thursday 21st July
In answer to one of the questions most commonly emailed to us, details about the minimum wage in New Zealand can be found on this page which we keep updated.

Wednesday 20th July
Having problems with direct credits? This useful checklist will allow you to make sure you haven't missed a step while exporting your direct credit file from Ace Payroll.

Tuesday 19th July
A fact sheet covering Bereavement Leave under the Holidays Act 2003, from the Employment Relations Service website.

Monday 18th July
A 26 year-old company director has been sentenced today in the Tauranga District Court to two-and-a-half years jail for tax evasion.

Friday 15th July
Vineyard contractors seeking an amnesty for illegal workers pruning in Marlborough have been rebuffed by the Department of Labour.

Thursday 14th July
Employers are alarmed by a rapid increase in court-ordered reparation awards to victims of workplace accidents, says the Employers and Manufacturers Association.

Wednesday 13th July
When I print the IRD approved IR348, the first page comes out with IR348 printed on it, but the second and subsequent pages say IR349. Why is this?

Tuesday 12th July
How can I set the Provincial Anniversary Date on a company wide basis so that Ace Payroll knows this is a public holiday for my staff?

Monday 11th July
I have an employee who refuses to take holidays, and has built up a large entitlement over the years. Can I insist they take a holiday?

Friday 8th July
The way out can also be the way forward, according to a guide to exit interviews by Robert Half Finance & Accounting.

Thursday 7th July
Is there a facility in Ace Payroll where I can check when public holidays fall, in this, and future years?

Wednesday 6th July
Nelson's biggest immigration crackdown has unearthed 16 illegal vineyard workers, but contractors say they are just the "tip of the iceberg".

Tuesday 5th July
Small investors will suffer if the government's capital gains tax proposals make it into law unchanged, tax experts say.

Monday 4th July
An important part of the Holidays Act 2003 is the introduction of an Employee Leave Profile. How do I attend to this in Ace Payroll?

Friday 1st July
Confused by parental leave? To assist, we have published the Act, written a tutorial, and assembled FAQ's by the Employment Relations Service.

Thursday 30th June
How can I show year to date totals on payslips in Ace Payroll?

Wednesday 29th June
Is there a place in Ace Payroll where I can record hours in lieu that have nothing to do with a public holiday? For example, if an employee works three hours on a Saturday and I wish to hold these in lieu?

Tuesday 28th June
I have received a letter from the IRD telling me to pay my PAYE twice a month from now on. How do I do this in Ace Payroll?

Monday 27th June
Fishing company Sealord has been handed a record penalty after one of its workers died 17 hours after becoming trapped in fish processing machinery in the Southern Ocean.

Friday 24th June
Looking for help with Ace Payroll? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions where we answer well over one hundred questions about Ace Payroll with simple explanations and screenshots to demonstrate the answers.

Thursday 23rd June
If I have someone working on a public holiday, and they start at 10pm on the public holiday and work till 5am, do I have to pay them at time and a half for the whole day?

Wednesday 22nd June
Still doing payroll manually and handwriting the IR348 return every month? See how Ace Payroll produces an IRD approved form, saving you time each month.

Tuesday 21st June
An old employee has come back to work for me again. How do I resume them in Ace Payroll?

Monday 20th June
A jail sentence imposed on an Auckland barrister and solicitor today sends out a strong message to anyone planning to evade tax, says Inland Revenue Auckland North Service Centre manager, Richard Philp.

Friday 17th June
Were you confused last Xmas by the Holidays Act 2003? To assist you to plan well in advance for this year, this very specific document covers how Xmas 2005 should be handled, given which days of the week the statutory days fall on this year.

Thursday 16th June
I read that under the new Holidays Act an employee can sell a holiday day back to an employer? Is this true?

Wednesday 15th June
This tutorial explains the calculation methods used for paying holiday pay under the Holidays Act 2003, then shows how Ace Payroll automatically handles these calculations.

Tuesday 14th June
The Ace Payroll Site Index is an alphabetical listing of items on our website - it makes searching for the items you wish to learn about quick and easy.

Monday 13th June
With the Irregular Work Pattern calculation, what happens in the event of partial days. For example, if the employee has worked 25.5 days, do I divide the gross by 25.5 days, or by 26 days? How can I enter a part day for the calculation, such as 25.5?

Friday 10th June
The Reserve Bank has left the Official Cash Rate (OCR) unchanged at 6.75 per cent.

Thursday 9th June
For monthly salaries, why is there a small discrepancy between the IRD printed tax tables, and the figures calculated by Ace Payroll?

Wednesday 8th June
IRD Payroll News - Issue 75 June 2005

Tuesday 7th June
The IRD has sent us an IR23 Special Tax Code Certificate asking to deduct student loan at 12 cents in the dollar. How do we do this?

Monday 6th June
Today is Queen's Birthday - this document covers how to pay for it in Ace Payroll.

Friday 3rd June
This FAQ explains how to reserve a fixed amount of cash for an employee, prior to direct credits being paid.

Thursday 2nd June
Looking for new payroll software? See what others have to say about Ace Payroll on our Testimonial page.

Wednesday 1st June
Under the Holidays Act 2003 it is important to identify actual dates taken for all leave types. How do I go about doing this in Ace Payroll?

Tuesday 31st May
The recent decision of the Employment Court in Heinz Wattie’s Limited v National Distribution Union Inc and others is attracting attention among those involved in the field of employment law, as it provides further clarity in regard to the relatively recently enacted Holidays Act 2003.

Monday 30th May
This document covers how to pay for Queens Birthday in Ace Payroll which this year falls on Monday the 6th of June.

Friday 27th May
Can an employment agreement require medical certificates for all sick leave?

Thursday 26th May
How do I show employee IRD numbers on the payslip?

Wednesday 25th May
The prescribed rate used to calculate fringe benefit tax on low-interest, employment-related loans will rise from 8.76 per cent to 9.01 percent from 1 July 2005, Revenue Minister Michael Cullen announced today.

Tuesday 24th May
A Christchurch manager sacked for opening a sexually explicit email picture of socialite Paris Hilton has won $11,700 in compensation.

Monday 23rd May
Confused by parental leave? To assist, we have published the Act, written a tutorial, and assembled FAQ's by the Employment Relations Service.

Friday 20th May
What are the different things I can access using the function keys in Ace Payroll?

Thursday 19th May
When I go to calculate my regular payroll it shows last weeks pay date. What is wrong?

Wednesday 18th May
A 45 year-old Auckland man, who flew to the US to avoid prosecution for tax fraud, has been sentenced in the Auckland High Court today.

Tuesday 17th May
I have tried putting in my password several times but it wont let me into the program?

Monday 16th May
Ace Payroll is sometimes asked what the difference is between a casual and a part time employee.

Friday 13th May
Employers can use Inland Revenue mileage rates to calculate the tax-free reimbursement to employees who use their own vehicle for work use.

Thursday 12th May
Auckland bus drivers have overwhelmingly rejected the latest pay offer by Stagecoach, Radio New Zealand has reported.

Wednesday 11th May
I have a casual employee who has recently become a permanent employee. How do I change their holiday pay from 6% each pay?

Tuesday 10th May
Confused employers are ignoring school leavers' NCEA qualifications and setting their own tests for job applicants.

Monday 9th May
The full text of the Holidays Act 2003 which came into force on 1st April 2004, converted into an easy to read browsable document by Ace Payroll.

Friday 6th May
Recruiting a new staff member and unsure what to ask? - These 109 questions include both traditional and behavioral interview questions.

Thursday 5th May
I have deductions set up for many of my staff. Some of these deductions are linked to a bank account, but some (such as "Repayment of Advance") are not. How can I see which deductions have been direct credited?

Wednesday 4th May
What questions are employers entitled to ask prospective employees about their state of health prior to employing them?

Tuesday 3rd May
I do weekly and fortnightly payrolls. When I do a backup, does it backup both of them?

Monday 2nd May
Having problems with direct credits? This useful checklist will allow you to make sure you haven't missed a step while exporting your direct credit file from Ace Payroll.

Friday 29th April
This month's IRD Payroll News tells you about responsibilities when hiring a labour-only contractor for the building industry, and when employing schoolchildren.

Thursday 28th April
Palmerston North District Court has reinforced Inland Revenue's tough stance on tax evasion, handing down a prison sentence to a Palmerston North couple found guilty of ignoring their tax obligations for four years.

Wednesday 27th April
Written initially for prospective clients, this explanation of the different routines in Ace Payroll designed to provide data security should be of interest to current users who wish to be prepared should disaster ever strike!

Tuesday 26th April
I have a number of casual employees on my payroll, but when I go to do my weekly wages, they are not there. How do I pay them?

Monday 25th April
This document covers how to handle paying for the Anzac Day public holiday in Ace Payroll.

Friday 22nd April
A change in approach in dealing with misconduct discovered after dismissal may greatly benefit employers.

Thursday 21st April
The Wages Protection Act governs the way in which wages are paid, the making of deductions, and recovery of over payments.

Wednesday 20th April
Bosses' representatives have refused to negotiate with unions over the metals agreement, prompting bargaining with employers directly, the union says.

Tuesday 19th April
Fraudsters dismissals were justified even though the fraud occurred prior to employment, the Employment Relations Authority has held.

Monday 18th April
The Government will increase the amount of income, excluding interest and dividends, that a child can earn tax free from $1040 to $2340 a year and could benefit up to 30,000 children.

Friday 15th April
A Nelson company has become the first company to be convicted under legislation making stress a work-related hazard.

Thursday 14th April
This document covers how to handle the upcoming Anzac Day public holiday in Ace Payroll.

Wednesday 13th April
Looking for payroll software? Download the latest demonstration version of Ace Payroll and run it for up to eight weeks against your current payroll system.

Tuesday 12th April
I forgot to do my direct credits but have already filed my pay. Is there any way I can still do my direct credits?

Monday 11th April
Looking for help with Ace Payroll? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions where we answer well over one hundred questions about Ace Payroll with simple explanations and screenshots to demonstrate the answers.

Saturday 9th April
Demotivated workers are costing the New Zealand economy $3.67 billion a year, according to a study.

Friday 8th April
The country's largest union says it will back down on its 5 per cent pay claim where employers can prove they cannot afford it.

Thursday 7th April
I have an employee who refuses to take holidays, and has built up a large entitlement over the years. Can I insist they take a holiday?

Wednesday 6th April
There is no legal obligation to pay an employee for time on jury service. However, some employers see this as part of their social or community obligations.

Tuesday 5th April
In answer to one of the questions most commonly emailed to us, details about the minimum wage in New Zealand can be found on this page which we keep updated.

Monday 4th April
How you can be sure that Ace Payroll is fully IRD compliant

Friday 1st April
The User Definable Employee Data Field allows you to set up and name a field, then use it to record whatever item of employee information you want.

Thursday 31st March
Confused by parental leave? To assist, we have published the Act, written a tutorial, and assembled FAQ's by the Employment Relations Service.

Wednesday 30th March
If your printed IR348 Employers Monthly Schedule as produced by Ace Payroll is returned by the IRD as unsuitable, there are only three possible causes.

Tuesday 29th March
A further reminder to all - Good Friday this year falls on 25th March, and Easter Monday is 28th March. Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th are not public holidays.

Monday 28th March
At the start of each financial year Ace Payroll receives a number of calls from clients unsure whether the tax is correctly calculated by the program. Here is a simple checklist.

Sunday 27th March
Labour Department inspectors hunting out shops illegally opening on Good Friday found several retailers trading yesterday.

Saturday 26th March
"The Department of Labour reminds retailers and market operators that, in general, they can't open on Good Friday or Easter Sunday," says the Department's Deputy Secretary Workplace, Andrew Annakin.

Friday 25th March
What is the correct way to show ACC payments on the IR348 Employer Monthly Schedule?

Thursday 24th March
My employee never works on Mondays but always works on Sundays. Does Easter Monday transfer to the Sunday in this case?

Wednesday 23rd March
My accountant has asked me to pay out all leave owing on the 31st March each year, in order to bring holiday pay into the books, and keep things tidy. Should I do it?

Tuesday 22nd March
An employee was redundant before he even started work, the Employment Relations Authority recently heard.

Monday 21st March
I am going to ask my IT person to put Ace Payroll on the network. How do they go about it?

Friday 18th March
Good Friday this year falls on 25th March, and Easter Monday is 28th March. Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th are not public holidays.

Thursday 17th March
Small businesses looking to export to Australia may benefit from a new online guide.

Wednesday 16th March
Turn your clocks back one hour on Sunday 19th March. If staff are employed during the transition, our Daylight Saving and the Time Act 1974 section clarifies the situation.

Tuesday 15th March
From 21st March 2005 the adult minimum wage is $9.50 an hour and the youth rate $7.60

Monday 14th March
In this tutorial we look at annual compulsory closedowns. That is, where a business traditionally closes down for a number of weeks each year, usually over Christmas.

Friday 11th March
The Reserve Bank has increased the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 25 basis points to 6.75 per cent.

Thursday 10th March
This article provides some tips on dealing with absent employees.

Wednesday 9th March
Resources to help keep yourself, your family & your workplace injury free from the ACC.

Tuesday 8th March
The Government is preparing a major campaign to lure hundreds of thousands of Kiwis home and increasing pressure on officials to fill migrant quotas as it tries to plug growing job vacancies.

Monday 7th March
Inland Revenue yesterday warned self-employed people against using trading trusts to reduce their taxable income.

Friday 4th March
Earnings Certificates provide your employees with a record of their earnings, tax payments and deductions for the financial year selected.

Thursday 3rd March
The Employment Court declined a worker's application for interim reinstatement pending the outcome of her unjustified dismissal claim after work colleagues said they did not want to work with her.

Wednesday 2nd March
Ace Payroll releases an upgrade each year, and we are often asked when is the best time to install the upgrade.

Tuesday 1st March
Employer groups have labelled union calls for across the board 5 per cent wage increases unfair and unrealistic.

Monday 28th February
I have accidentally filed a pay for an employee and it is showing on my reports. How do I delete it?

Friday 25th February
The student loan interest rate will stay at 7% for the year beginning 1 April 2005. The base interest rate component will be set at 4.2% and the interest adjustment rate component at 2.8%.

Thursday 24th February
As a High Court case illustrates, it is important that company directors disclose when they contract with employees and creditors that they are doing so on behalf of a company.

Wednesday 23rd February
This FAQ explains why the figures on your monthly IR348 Employer Monthly Schedule do not match other wage data for the month.

Tuesday 22nd February
The prescribed rate used to calculate fringe benefit tax on low-interest, employment-related loans will rise from 8.52 per cent to 8.76 per cent from 1 April 2005, Revenue Minister Michael Cullen announced today.

Monday 21st February
Sometimes the IRD asks you to deduct tax at a rate which is not a whole number, plus the earner premium. An example of this is a request to deduct tax at 22.5%, as asked of one of our clients recently. When the IRD does this, they have made a mistake.

Friday 18th February
How you can be sure that Ace Payroll is fully IRD compliant

Thursday 17th February
I use Ace Payroll to send wages to Deskbank, and rather than have one total for wages appear on the bank statement, I want a separate amount for each employee.

Wednesday 16th February
The Wages Protection Act governs the way in which wages are paid, the making of deductions, and recovery of over payments.

Tuesday 15th February
Employers can employ new staff on trial periods, as long as they specify in writing that the employee is on a trial period - now also referred to as a "probationary arrangement".

Monday 14th February
Confused by parental leave? To assist, we have published the Act, written a tutorial, and assembled FAQ's by the Employment Relations Service.

Friday 11th February
In this article we look at how the taxation of holiday pay is handled in Ace Payroll

Thursday 10th February
This case demonstrates that parties need to take care when preparing employment contracts, as they will be bound by what the contract says. When interpreting contracts, the Court's are generally not interested in what the contract was meant to say.

Wednesday 9th February
Earnings Certificates provide your employees with a record of their earnings, tax payments and deductions for the financial year selected.

Tuesday 8th February
IRD AGENTSanswers - February 2005

Monday 7th February
The casual agricultural tax code CAE reputedly taxes at 22.2%. Farmers and orchardists regularly ask why the calculation in Ace Payroll differs by a few cents.

Friday 4th February
Interest rates on unpaid and overpaid tax will increase from 8 March 2005, to align them with market interest rates. The interest rate on unpaid tax will increase from 11.93% to 13.08%, and the rate on overpaid tax will increase from 4.83% to 5.71%.

Thursday 3rd February
IRD Payroll News - Issue 71 February 2005

Wednesday 2nd February
I own a small business. My employees are entitled as a condition of their employment to staff buying privileges. One of my employees has resigned and is currently working out his notice period. Can I deduct the amount owed on his staff account from his final pay? If not, how can I recover this money?

Tuesday 1st February
The owner of a Michigan company who forced his employees to either quit smoking or quit their jobs said on Wednesday he also wants to tell fat workers to lose weight or else.

Monday 31st January
Waitangi Day is fast approaching - this tutorial shows you how to handle paying for it in Ace Payroll.

Friday 28th January
The Reserve Bank has left the OCR unchanged at 6.50 per cent.

Thursday 27th January
This FAQ describes the best way to direct credit all an employee's nett pay.

Wednesday 26th January
My employee is short of money and has asked for a few hundred dollars as an advance on their holiday pay. Should I pay it?

Tuesday 25th January
A child support variation code is used if you regularly deduct child support from an employee's wages, but the amount deducted in a certain pay period is different from the usual deduction.

Monday 24th January
On the help message in your bereavement leave routine, it seems to suggest I should pay somebody for one day if they feel "reasonably bereaved". Surely I have some sort of say in whether this is justified or not?

Friday 21st January
New Zealand employers are finding recruiting staff is harder than it has been at any time in more than 30 years, a survey shows.

Thursday 20th January
I am the only person who has the password for Ace Payroll. How would my company gain access if something happened to me?

Wednesday 19th January
Due to expansion, Ace Payroll is looking for another winner to join our team and help our customers over the phone.

Tuesday 18th January
I understand that under the new act people can accumulate sick days, but what happens to days they are already owed at 1 April 2004? I would have thought it would start from zero, but it seems people keep their balance, and get a whole new 5 at their anniversary?

Monday 17th January
This FAQ explains how to overwrite a PAYE deduction in Ace Payroll.

Friday 14th January
The Holidays Act states that after 12 months you can replace an alternative day with a payment. How is this payment amount calculated?

Thursday 13th January
In this article we look at the calculation of Relevant Daily Pay for an employee who works irregular hours. We examine both the legislation as well as what you need to do to handle this requirement in Ace Payroll.

Wednesday 12th January
The Court of Appeal has again reduced the remedies awarded to redundant workers whose redundancies were commercially necessary, but carried out in a procedurally unfair manner.

Tuesday 11th January
How can I show year to date totals on payslips in Ace Payroll?

Monday 10th January
I imagine some people think unlimited bereavement leave starts the day they are employed. That is not correct, is it?

Friday 7th January
In answer to one of the questions most commonly emailed to us, details about the minimum wage in New Zealand can be found on this page which we keep updated.

Thursday 6th January
The blame for the mass closures of Auckland's cafe and bars over Christmas-New Year has been heaped on higher public holiday wages.

Wednesday 5th January
New Years this year fall on a Saturday and Sunday. I understand that in this case, Monday and Tuesday become the public holiday. In my business, the staff will work on all four of these days. What do I do?

Tuesday 4th January
When I print the IRD approved IR348, the first page comes out with IR348 printed on it, but the second and subsequent pages say IR349. Why is this?

Monday 3rd January
How can I set the Provincial Anniversary Date on a company wide basis so that Ace Payroll knows this is a public holiday for my staff?

Saturday 1st January
Happy New Year from Ace Payroll. Our help desk continues to operate throughout the holiday period 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday, public holidays excepted.

Note: All news content is archived by year and accessed using the links below. Some older content may not be available - a general rule is the older the link, the less likely it is to be there. To search for information by topic rather than date, try our Alphabetical Site Index.