McClean & Co

16/04/2026

𝗔 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁

Now that we're in the new financial year, it’s a good time to review your fixed assets and ensure depreciation has been correctly accounted for. Depreciation allows you to claim a deduction for the wear and tear on business assets over time, which can make a meaningful difference to your year-end tax position.

Also, keep in mind the new Investment Boost rules. For eligible new assets purchased and available for use from 22 May 2025, you can claim an immediate 20% deduction in the year of purchase, on top of normal depreciation on the remaining value. This can accelerate deductions and improve cashflow, so if you’ve made capital purchases, make sure to factor this into your year-end calculations.

We can help with all of this - get in touch!

McClean & Co - Queenstown Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors. Come and see us or contact us for a Free Consultation!

30/03/2026

𝗔𝗖𝗖 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟭 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹

From 1 April 2026, several ACC levy changes are coming into effect that will impact how levies are calculated, invoiced and paid. The updates are aimed at improving fairness across the system and better aligning interest with current economic conditions.

✅ The No Claims Discount is being removed, so levy invoices will no longer include the 10% discount or loading based on claims history, employers will see this from 2026 and self-employed from 2027

✅ Experience Rating will become self-funding, with businesses in the programme paying an additional levy rate, currently 7.2%, on top of their Work Account levy

✅ Instalment plans will no longer be interest-free, with interest applying to all new or rolled-over plans from 1 April 2026, and longer plans resulting in more interest overall

✅ Late payment interest will change, with interest calculated daily and compounded monthly, using a rate linked to wider economic conditions

Overall, there is more incentive to pay levies on time or in full to avoid additional costs.

Get in touch if you have any questions.

McClean & Co - Queenstown Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors. Come and see us or contact us for a Free Consultation!

27/03/2026

𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗺 𝘄𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟭 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹

From the beginning of the financial year, the following minimum wage rates will apply:

✅ The adult minimum wage will go up from $23.50 to $23.95 per hour

✅ The starting-out and training minimum wage will go up from $18.80 to $19.16 per hour

All rates are before tax and any deductions, for example, PAYE tax, student loan repayment, child support.

Get in touch if you need help with updating your payroll system, recalculating budgets and cashflow forecasts, or reviewing pricing strategies.

09/03/2026

𝗠𝗰𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 & 𝗖𝗼 𝘅 𝗡𝗭 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻

We’re pleased to share that McClean & Co has been selected as one of only six foundation members of the NZ Funds Wealth Plan programme.

Wealth Plan is a complimentary service provided by NZ Funds, a privately owned New Zealand investment firm established in 1988, with a mission to help clients make better financial decisions. In a short, free video call, a Wealth Plan expert will use purpose-built planning technology to help you plan for your future. It will enable you to map out your current financial position, clarify your goals, and understand the pathway ahead.

More info here:

We are pleased to share that McClean & Co has been selected as one of only six foundation members of the NZ Funds Wealth Plan programme.

09/03/2026

𝗞𝗶𝘄𝗶𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟭 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹

Minimum KiwiSaver contribution rates will increase from 3% to 3.5% for both employees and employers from 1 April 2026, with a further rise to 4% planned for 2028. Employer and government contributions will also extend to eligible staff aged 16–17.

The change means slightly lower take home pay for employees and higher payroll costs for employers, who will need to match the increased rate and include eligible younger staff.

Xero is releasing a bulk update tool in March to help update employee rates before April. As the new rates apply to new or reset draft pay runs, it is worth reviewing your payroll setup ahead of time.

More information in our latest blog:

From 1 April 2026, the minimum KiwiSaver contribution rate for both employees and employers will increase from 3% to 3.5%.

08/01/2026

Happy new year! We know some of you will be enjoying a well-earned break, while others are right in the middle of one of the busiest times of the year.

Just a reminder that we’re back in the office from Monday 12 January and a few tax dates coming up shortly after, on 15 January:

✅ GST due for the period ended 30 November, for monthly and two-monthly filers
✅ Provisional tax payments due for March balance dates using the standard, estimate or ratio option
✅ AIM instalments due for March balance dates

If you have any questions or need a hand with any of the above, get in touch next week.

03/12/2025

𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗜 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀

Business.govt.nz has put out a helpful video on prompt engineering, and it’s a good reminder that AI only performs as well as the instructions you give it. Clear, simple prompts make a real difference, whether you’re naming a new product or building a detailed financial forecast.

The video explains three handy prompt styles:

• Zero shot, ideal for quick creative tasks
• Few shot, where a couple of examples guide the tone or structure
• Chain of thought, the step-by-step approach that’s great for bigger, more complex jobs like planning or forecasting

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/OHsFpJ6LXvk

It highlights why tools like JAX, Xero’s AI assistant, are becoming so useful, giving you quicker insights, clearer answers, and a hand with the admin that usually slows you down, and why taking a moment to frame a clear prompt in JAX can make those results even sharper.

AI isn’t about replacing people, it’s about giving small business owners better tools to make smart calls with less hassle. If you want help figuring out where AI fits into your workflow, we’re always happy to point you in the right direction.

26/11/2025

𝗜𝗥𝗗 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝘁? 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄

If you’ve got GST or employer tax debt hanging around, Inland Revenue is stepping things up. They’re beginning to contact businesses with overdue balances, especially where the amount is over $1,000 and has been sitting for a while.

You may get a call from IRD outlining how much you owe, reminding you that penalties and interest are increasing, and encouraging you to either pay in full or set up instalments. If your GST or employer deductions debt is over $10,000, they’ll also outline the legal consequences of continuing to ignore it.

If they can’t get hold of you, they’ll try again, and in some cases they may visit you in person. If you still don’t take steps to deal with the debt, IRD can recover the money directly from your bank account or begin insolvency proceedings.

The good news is that engaging early usually leads to a far better outcome. You can pay or set up instalments, or send a message through myIR.

If you’re feeling unsure about the best path or want help dealing with IRD, get in touch with our team. We can look at where things sit, talk through your options, and help you get back on track.

McClean & Co - Queenstown Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors. Come and see us or contact us for a Free Consultation!

19/11/2025

Huge congratulations to our client Michael Sly (on left), winner of the Good Sort Award at the 2025 Queenstown Business Awards. The Good Sort award recognises people who set high standards in business, show genuine community spirit and consistently go above and beyond for others.

Michael, better known around here as the Compost King, has taken something most of us never think twice about, and turned it into real community value. His Waste to Wilderness project on Gorge Rd transforms hotel food waste into nutrient-rich compost for local gardens, community groups and reforestation projects.

What really stands out is the scale of the impact. Up to 50 tonnes diverted each month, a major cut in carbon emissions thanks to the site’s proximity to town, and enough compost each year to share between council’s parks team and various reforestation and community groups, such as KiwiHarvest and the Queenstown Community Gardens.

It’s inspiring to see tourism directly supporting local wellbeing, from family gardens to community greenspaces. Michael’s proving that practical sustainability can be creative, generous and genuinely good for the soul.

Well done Michael, and thanks for letting us be part of the journey.

Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce

📸 Thanks to Jonny James, Ara Jay Media

22/10/2025

𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀: 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁 & 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝘅 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁

Running a business while raising a family isn’t easy, especially with rising childcare costs and fluctuating income. Inland Revenue now offers two key supports for families with children under 18:

👉 FamilyBoost – a rebate to help cover early childhood education (ECE) fees for children aged 5 and under.

👉 Working for Families – weekly or fortnightly tax credit payments to help with the cost of raising children under 18.

Both are open to employees, business owners and contractors. We’ve summarised what business owners with families need to know in our latest blog:

Running a business while raising a family isn’t easy, especially with rising childcare costs and fluctuating income. Inland Revenue now offers two key supports for families with children under 18, including those who are self-employed or have variable income throughout the year. FamilyBoost — he...