Commission does not arrive in neat monthly slices. You might bank three settlements in a fortnight and then nothing for two months. Tax planning built for a steady salary simply does not fit.
The lumpy-income trap
When a big month lands, it is tempting to treat the whole payment as spendable. But income tax, GST and ACC are all waiting in the wings. Without a plan, the bill arrives when your pipeline is quiet.
Smoothing it out
- Estimate your effective tax rate across the full year, not per payment
- Set aside a fixed percentage of every commission as it lands
- Use provisional tax dates as guardrails, not surprises
We model your year and tell you the exact percentage to hold back — then keep it accurate as your sales change.