Important ACC levy changes will take effect from 1st April 2026. Below is a summary of the key updates, which are being introduced to help keep the ACC scheme fair and sustainable.
- No Claims Discount removed – The current 10% discount or 10% loading based on a business’s claims history will no longer apply. Employers will see this change in their 2026 provisional invoice, while self-employed people will see it from 2027
- Experience Rating becomes self-funding – Businesses in the Experience Rating programme will pay an additional programme rate (currently 7.2%) on top of their Work Account levy. This ensures the programme funds its own discounts rather than being subsidised by other businesses
- Interest on new instalment plans – Interest will apply to all new or rolled-over levy instalment plans, including three- and six-month plans that were previously interest free. Please note if you have a payment plan currently in place that runs past 31st March for the 1st April – 31st March 2026 year this will remain at 0%. Any new invoices/roll over plans for invoices dated after 1st April will have interest applied
- Changes to late payment interest – Late payment charges will move to an interest-based system, calculated daily and compounded monthly, with the rate linked to instalment interest rate
Both instalment and late payment interest rates will be based on the floating mortgage rate published by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, and the final rates will be confirmed by ACC.
To better prepare for these changes, please read the full ACC update linked here.
As always, we are here to help. If you have any questions, please contact our office on 07 885 1022.