General COVID-19 information for businesses
If you're a business, you'll find updates that affect you here.
On this page
We're still here to support you
We acknowledge the difficult time many businesses are experiencing and we remain committed to supporting businesses where we can.
If you've received a levy invoice
The financial impact of COVID-19 may be ongoing, and changes to your business can happen quickly.
We’re here to support you if you’re unsure you can meet your ACC obligations. The most important thing is to let us know before the due date to avoid any penalties.
Live Chat MyACC for Business
Phone 0800 222 776
For information on what to expect for your levy invoice in 2021:
If you owe us a levy
If you currently owe us for an outstanding levy, and you can't make a payment due to the impact of COVID-19, call or email our Collections and Recovery Team.
Phone 0800 729 538
Email collections@acc.co.nz
Active payment plans
If you have an active payment plan with us, the payments will continue as scheduled. If you have any concerns about meeting these payments, email us.
Email business@acc.co.nz
If you're unsure whether you've got an outstanding amount
To see if you have an outstanding amount owing, register or log in to MyACC for Business.
COVID-19 impacts and your levy
Liable earnings (payroll) for the 2021/22 period
The way we calculate levies means that businesses who have seen a reduction in liable earnings and payroll will likely see this reflected in their levy invoice.
This highlights the importance of employers updating their estimated liable payroll for 2021/22 in MyACC for Business to ensure their provisional invoice also reflects any reduction.
Find out how levies are calculated
We expect any impact to levy rates will be accounted for in future levy setting rounds where we consider claim costs and other impacts on future levy rates.
The Minister for ACC has announced that levy rates will remain the same until the end of the 2021/2022 levy year.
ACC levy rates will continue for 2021/2022
While the rollover keeps levy rates the same for the 2021/22 year, the Work levy businesses and self-employed pay is calculated using their liable earnings and in some cases their health and safety performance which may change throughout the year.
The government wage subsidy and levies
Employers
As outlined on Inland Revenue's website, wage subsidies should be passed onto the employee by the employer and processed as part of the employee's normal wages.
All deductions, such as PAYE, KiwiSaver, and child support, should be made as normal. This includes ACC Earners' levies. Through these deductions, employees pay their Earners' levy as they normally would to cover the cost of non-work injuries.
As this wage subsidy is part of an employer’s payroll, we'll use it as part of their Work levy calculation for the 2019/20 financial year, and for 2020/21 for the continuation of the wage subsidy.
Self-employed
The wage subsidy received by a self-employed person is not subject to ACC Work levies. Under section 14 of the Accident Compensation Act 2001, the self-employed income must be derived from personal exertions before it will be liable for ACC Work levies for self-employed people.
The ACC Earners' levy component for self-employed will also not be applied to the wage subsidy received by a self-employed person.
As set out on the Inland Revenue website, self-employed customers should return the wage subsidy as 'Government subsidies' box in the IR3 return. If it's included as part of the 'Self-Employed Income' we'll assume the total amount is liable for ACC levies and calculate your invoice based on the amount declared.
If you need to change an already filed 2020 IR3 return, please visit Inland Revenue's website. Changes made at Inland Revenue will be automatically sent to us so your levy invoice can be invoiced correctly.
Fix mistakes in my individual income tax return - IR3
Non-PAYE shareholder-employees
Non-PAYE shareholder-employees will continue to be levied directly on their earnings each year. As non-PAYE shareholder-employee earnings are not subject to the same 'personal exertions' test, shareholder-employee earnings will include the wage subsidy.
Find out more from Inland Revenue about filing for the wage subsidy
Inland Revenue's temporary loss carry-back scheme
If you're self-employed, Inland Revenue's temporary loss carry-back scheme does not affect the calculation of earnings liable for ACC levies. This also applies to employers and non-PAYE shareholder-employees.
More information is available on Inland Revenue's website.
COVID-19 Temporary loss carry-back scheme
If you're no longer in business
If you're no longer in business, please let us know through MyACC for Business or by using our online form to make sure you don't receive an incorrect invoice.
Please note, we need you to do this even if you've notified Inland Revenue.
If you're no longer in business
If you haven't received an invoice, there's nothing you need to do. Contact us once you have your invoice and we can discuss options.
More COVID-19 information
We encourage all businesses to stay up to date with the latest government information on Business.govt.nz
COVID-19: Information for businesses
Support for businesses is available via the economic package announced by the Government. The Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) website has more detailed information about the COVID-19 support available, including information on business support and workplace guidance for employers and employees.
Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment website
Keep up to date on general COVID-19 updates on the New Zealand Government website.
Unite against COVID-19 website
Keep up to date with COVID-19 health advice and information from the Ministry of Health (MOH):