2025 GST Reform: What’s Changing in New Zealand’s Tax Law

Expanded Definitions: Updates to the definitions of financial services, supply, and taxable activity to reflect modern business practices.
Zero-Rating Adjustments: Changes to sections 11 and 11A refine the rules for zero-rating goods and services, especially in cross-border transactions.
Joint Ventures:
- Introduction of new provisions for flow-through joint ventures, allowing unincorporated bodies to elect simplified GST treatment. This includes:
  - Section 57B: Election mechanism
  - Section 78FB: Liability rules between members
Record-Keeping & Compliance: Amendments to sections 75 and 19E streamline record-keeping requirements and clarify definitions of record types.
Registration Rules: Updates to sections 51 and 51B clarify who must register for GST and under what conditions entities are treated as registered.
Supply Corrections & Adjustments: Section 19N and 21F amendments improve how supply corrections and disposal treatments are handled.
Transitional Provisions: New sections 92–94 provide transitional rules for joint ventures adopting flow-through treatment before April 2026.