Small business guides > Quick guide to GST > Working out your GST refund or payment
Working out your GST refund or payment
When filing a GST return, most businesses must account for all of their purchases and sales. Let’s take a look at the maths you need to do, and some practical bookkeeping tips.
GST is a simple formula
You work out GST by comparing the amount you paid on purchases to the amount you collected on sales.
You may need to make adjustments for assets, such as a car or computer, that are shared between your business and family. Visit the IRD page on claiming mixed-use assets for more.
How to work out GST in four steps
1. Note the GST paid on your business purchases
2. Note the GST collected on sales
3. Add both types of GST
4. Run the GST formula
Avoid nasty surprises with smart bookkeeping
Like any business, you’ll aim to sell more than you buy. If you succeed in doing that, you’ll most likely end up with GST to pay. Run the four-step GST equation regularly so you can:
work out how big your GST payment is shaping up to be
transfer cash to a separate bank account to cover the GST you’ll need to pay
Automate your GST calculations
You can use online accounting software like Xero to stay on top of GST. It automatically collects sales and purchase information from multiple sources, and does the maths for you.
The software keeps a running count of your GST situation so you always know where you stand. When your GST return is due, you just connect to the IRD and submit it online. All the information is ready to go.
Chapter 6: GST returns and due dates
There’s no need to be confused about the GST filing process. We take you through simple and painless ways to file your GST in New Zealand.
Read next chapterAll chapters:
3. Calculating GST and issuing tax invoices
4. Claiming GST (and input tax credits)
5. Working out your GST refund or payment