Event Planner

Tax guide for New Zealand self-employed event planners and coordinators

Allowable Expenses

• Supplier costs — Venue deposits, catering, floristry on behalf of clients
• Event software — Event management platforms, registration tools
• Marketing — Website, social media advertising, portfolio hosting
• Vehicle expenses — Site visits, vendor meetings, event day travel
• Professional development — Event industry certifications, conferences

Tax Tips

• Client-paid supplier costs must be carefully accounted — they may net off against payments received
• Event management software is 100% deductible as a business tool
• Professional liability insurance for event planning is a deductible expense
• Keep separate client ledgers for each event — this makes it easy to verify income and pass-through costs for IRD if asked

Frequently Asked Questions

How do NZ event planners handle client deposits for venues and suppliers?

Amounts received as deposits for supplier costs are generally not your income — they are pass-through amounts. You must carefully account for what you received and what you paid out. Only your management fee/commission is your taxable income.

Can NZ event planners claim event software subscriptions?

Yes. Subscriptions to event registration platforms, project management software, and CRM tools used to manage client events are fully deductible business expenses.

Is professional liability insurance deductible for NZ event planners?

Yes. Public liability and professional indemnity insurance for event planning is a fully deductible business expense and is strongly recommended given the high-value supplier contracts involved.

How does GST apply to NZ event planner management fees?

Your management fee is a taxable supply subject to 15% GST once you are registered. The pass-through supplier costs you collect and remit are generally not treated as your own GST supply. Keep clear records showing which amounts are your fee versus client reimbursements.