Lawyer / Solicitor

Tax guide for New Zealand self-employed lawyers and solicitors in sole practice

Allowable Expenses

• Law Society practising certificate — Annual practising certificate and regulatory fees
• Professional indemnity insurance — Mandatory coverage for legal practitioners
• Legal research tools — LexisNexis, Westlaw NZ, online legal databases
• Office & court costs — Court filing fees (billed to clients), professional library
• CPD courses — Continuing professional development as required by NZLS

Tax Tips

• NZLS annual practising certificate fee is fully deductible
• Trust account costs and bank charges are deductible business expenses
• Professional indemnity insurance through NZLS is mandatory and deductible

Frequently Asked Questions

Are NZLS practising certificate fees deductible?

Yes. Annual NZLS practising certificate fees are a deductible business expense for self-employed lawyers. Professional indemnity insurance and CPD costs are also deductible.