Law Retirement KiwiSaver Scheme – Facts & Information
KiwiSaver is a voluntary, work-based savings initiative to help people with their long-term savings for retirement.
The Law Retirement Plan now offers New Zealanders access to the Law Retirement KiwiSaver Scheme. The Law Retirement Plan was established by the legal profession in 1975, when National superannuation savings were compulsory. We now have a KiwiSaver option for all New Zealanders.
The Law Retirement KiwiSaver Scheme uses the same investment advisors as the Law Retirement Plan, Diversified Investment Strategies Limited. Diversified, who provide independent investment advice, have an enviable track record and have achieved excellent returns for the Law Retirement Plan.
Investment Portfolios Available
The Law Retirement KiwiSaver Scheme offers a choice of two investment portfolios:
- Balanced Portfolio: To seek good capital growth, over the medium to longer-term, through a diversified array of asset classes, including cash, fixing interest, shares, and alternative assets.
- Dynamic Portfolio: To seek superior capital growth over the long term, while absorbing a high degree of sharemarket swings in the short and medium term.
Employee Contributions
Employees are able to elect to contribute either 2%, 4% or 8% of their before-tax salary/wage, and they are able to switch between contribution rates. Lump sum payments are also able to be made into the Law Retirement KiwiSaver Scheme by cheque or online banking.
*From 1st April 2013 the minimum employee rate becomes 3%.
Employer Contributions
Employees contributing to KiwiSaver will be entitled to an employer contribution of 2% of their gross salary or wage. If you change employment – your KiwiSaver scheme is not affected, your KiwiSaver account follows you wherever you go.
*From 1st April 2013 the minimum employer contribution rate becomes 3%
Government Contributions
The $1,000 tax-free government kick-start will be paid into your account once the initial three-month period has passed.
Member Tax Credits:
- From 1st July 2011 the Member Tax Credits will become $521.43 per annum. Members who want the maximum tax credits will have to contribute $1,042.86 to receive the $521.43.
- To receive the Member Tax Credits you must be between ages of 18 – 65 and reside in New Zealand.
- If you join KiwiSaver part-way through a year (1 July to 30 June), you’ll receive a member tax credit based on the number of days in the year you’ve been a member.
- When you turn 18, you’ll receive a member tax credit for the number of days in the year (1 July to 30 June) that you are 18.
- The Law Retirement KiwiSaver Scheme will claim the tax credit on your behalf after 1 July each year. You don’t have to do anything. Your member tax credit will appear in your KiwiSaver account within a month of your provider making the claim.
First Home Deposit Subsidy
From 1 July 2010 KiwiSaver offers a first home deposit subsidy of $1,000 each year of membership in a scheme, up to a maximum of $5,000. Funds can also be used to buy land to build a house. To be eligible the member must have been saving through a KiwiSaver Scheme for at least three years & meet certain criteria. (Previous home owners may also qualify, provided Housing New Zealand determines they are in the same financial position as a first home buyer).
Housing New Zealand administers the deposit subsidy and will make payments directly to solicitors settling the purchase. If the sale of the house fails to settle, any deposit subsidy payments made to a solicitor will need to be returned to Housing New Zealand.
KiwiSaver members need to meet criteria in order to qualify. This includes criteria around income, house prices, and level of contribution to a KiwiSaver scheme. Housing New Zealand also need to see the sale and purchase agreement as part of its eligibility assessment.
For more information about the eligibility criteria and the application process visit: www.hnzc.co.nz/kiwisaver.
If you have any questions about the deposit subsidy, please contact Housing New Zealand on 0508 935 266, or email kiwisaver.firsthome@hnzc.co.nz
First Home Withdrawal
After three years of membership, members of a KiwiSaver scheme can withdraw their savings (but not government kick start or tax credits) from their scheme to help purchase their first home (but not an investment property).
KiwiSaver members need to contact the Law Retirement KiwiSaver Scheme directly. The Law Retirement KiwiSaver Scheme will process the application and pay any withdrawal to your solicitor settling the property purchase. Funds will have to be returned to scheme accounts should a property purchase not be completed.
Previous home owners may also qualify, provided Housing New Zealand determines they are in the same financial position as a first home buyer. For more information about previous home owners eligibility criteria and the application process visit: www.hnzc.co.nz/kiwisaver.
Access to Funds
Generally a member cannot access their savings until they are 65 or have been with the Law Retirement KiwiSaver Scheme for five years, whichever is later. Special circumstances include:
- a one-off withdrawal to help purchase a first home, after completion of three years with KiwiSaver
- significant financial hardship
- serious illness
If a member moves permanently overseas they are able to withdraw their funds 12 months after they leave.
Contribution Holidays & Miscellaneous
After a member has been with KiwiSaver for 12 months they can apply for a savings break, called a contributions holiday, of between three months and five years. When a member’s savings mature they can withdraw them in a lump sum. If a member dies before they are 65 their savings will be paid to their estate.A member cannot borrow against their savings.
Click here for a contributions holiday application form
Member Charges
There will be a monthly charge on a members account to cover administration costs, please refer to the Investment Statement for a full description of all fees.
Information Packs to be Provided by the Employer
Employers will need to give new employees a KiwiSaver information pack within seven days of their starting work, and provide to the Inland Revenue the names, Inland Revenue numbers and addresses of all new employees and those who want to join KiwiSaver.
Employer Chosen KiwiSaver Scheme
An employer can choose to have a preferred scheme provider so that employees who don’t choose their own savings scheme will be allocated this provider as their default scheme.
The advantages of an employer choosing a preferred provider include:
- Employers will have only one provider to liaise with
- Using a top quality preferred provider will reduce administration issues and employee questions
- Able to ensure a good investment track record and choice of investment management options that will be suitable for all employees and their different situations
- Shows an interest and concern by the employer that their employees will make a suitable decision regarding their financial future
- By choosing one provider this will remove stress and frictional comparison between employees.Under the default option there is the possibility that each employee may be allocated a different provider with different features and benefits
- By having one provider this will ensure that all employees will receive the same
- Choice of Investment funds offered
- Investment performance
- Scheme fees
- Reporting and timing of annual reports
Click here for a preferred provider application form
An employer does not incur any legal liabilities by appointing a preferred provider.However, if at any stage an employer starts offering advice to employees, they will need to comply with the legal obligations of giving financial advice. Diversified Investment Strategies Limited can assist with the advice part of the KiwiSaver process.
Employer Responsibilities
Employers will deduct employees KiwiSaver contributions from their before-tax salary/wage and forward them to Inland Revenue through the PAYE system, who will then forward these payments onto the Law Retirement KiwiSaver Scheme. Employers will also need to action any opt-out or Contribution Holiday requests and forward these to the Inland Revenue, as well as provide information packs and investment statements.
