Marketing Consultant

Tax guide for New Zealand freelance marketing consultants and strategists

Allowable Expenses

• Marketing tools — HubSpot, Mailchimp, Hootsuite, analytics software subscriptions
• Client advertising spend — If billed through you — must be carefully recorded
• Professional development — Marketing certifications, Google Ads, Meta Blueprint courses
• Home office — NZ$5/week flat rate or actual proportion
• Professional memberships — Marketing Association NZ, PRINZ, industry bodies

Tax Tips

• Marketing Association NZ membership fees are a deductible professional subscription
• If you pay for client advertising on their behalf and invoice them, keep detailed records
• Networking event costs are partially deductible — entertainment rules apply (50%)

Frequently Asked Questions

Are client advertising costs deductible for NZ marketing consultants?

If you pay for advertising on behalf of clients and they reimburse you, the costs are generally not a net expense (income and expense cancel out). If you absorb any costs, those are deductible. Keep clear records of all pass-through arrangements.