Public Transport FBT Exemption Checker NZ

This checker works out whether an employer-paid transport benefit for an employee qualifies for the public transport FBT exemption that came into effect on 1 April 2023. You start by selecting the type of benefit from a dropdown covering bus, train, ferry and cable car fares, Total Mobility Scheme transport, bicycles, e-bikes, scooters, e-scooters and other Waka Kotahi-approved mobility devices, vehicle-share subscriptions, taxis, Uber and similar ride-share, shuttles, domestic flights, and both on-premises and off-premises car parking. For bus, train, ferry and cable car fares, the tool then asks whether the benefit is provided mainly for home-to-work travel, since that is the test the exemption depends on. Based on your answers, it returns a clear result banner showing whether the benefit is FBT-exempt, exempt with conditions, or still subject to FBT, along with a plain-English explanation of why that treatment applies and a set of practical next steps, such as checking the de minimis threshold or reviewing your records. Use it before setting up a new travel or transport perk, or when reviewing an existing arrangement for your FBT return, to see quickly which side of the 1 April 2023 rules it falls on. The checker reflects section CX 19B of the Income Tax Act 2007 and IRD guidance, but is general guidance only, so confirm your position with a tax adviser or IRD for anything material.

Updated  Implements the 1 April 2023 amendments to section CX 19B of the Income Tax Act 2007 and Tax Information Bulletin Vol 35 No 6.
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Step 1: What type of transport is the benefit?


The 1 April 2023 public transport exemption

Section CX 19B of the Income Tax Act 2007 was inserted with effect from 1 April 2023 to remove FBT from common public transport benefits and active transport modes. The reform was a response to the post-COVID push to reduce private vehicle commuting. It has two parts: (1) public transport fares for home-to-work travel, and (2) self-powered and low-powered vehicles regardless of use.

Part 1: Public transport fares (home-to-work)

The following fares are FBT-exempt if the employer pays for them and they are provided mainly for the employee to travel between home and work:

  • Bus fares (including BeeCard top-ups, monthly passes, and individual tickets)
  • Train fares (KiwiRail metro services, Transdev, suburban rail)
  • Ferry fares (commuter ferries, Auckland and Wellington services)
  • Cable car fares (Wellington Cable Car)
  • Transport partly funded by the Total Mobility Scheme (taxis and shuttles where the user qualifies for Total Mobility)

The "mainly for home-to-work travel" test allows incidental personal use without breaking the exemption. A weekly bus pass that the employee occasionally uses on weekends still qualifies. A bus pass given as a generic perk with no commute connection does not.

Part 2: Self-powered and low-powered vehicles

The following are FBT-exempt without the home-to-work test:

  • Bicycles (regular pedal-powered)
  • Electric bicycles (e-bikes)
  • Scooters (push)
  • Electric scooters (e-scooters)
  • Other low-powered vehicles that Waka Kotahi has declared mobility devices or non-motor vehicles
  • Vehicle-share services for any of the above (Lime, Beam, Onzo, etc.)

This part is broader: employers can provide an e-bike to an employee for general use without FBT consequence, even for personal use unrelated to commuting.

What is NOT covered

The following remain subject to standard FBT rules:

  • Taxis (Corporate Cabs, Green Cabs, etc., when not Total Mobility)
  • Ride-share (Uber, Ola, Zoomy)
  • Shuttle services (private airport shuttles, employer-arranged transport)
  • Air transport (domestic flights)
  • Cars provided to employees
  • Off-premises commercial car parking (technically a fringe benefit, often treated as on-premises in practice)

For these, the unclassified benefit rules apply with the $300 per employee per quarter and $22,500 per employer per annum de minimis exemption.

On-premises parking

Car parking provided AT the employer's business premises is not a fringe benefit at all because it is an on-premises benefit. The same parking provided NEAR the premises (a commercial car park leased by the employer) is technically a fringe benefit but in practice is usually treated as on-premises if the employer has exclusive rights and the parking is reserved for staff.

Sources

This checker provides general guidance only. Always verify your treatment with a tax adviser or refer to ird.govt.nz.

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Frequently asked questions

Are employer-paid bus passes FBT-exempt in NZ?

Yes, since 1 April 2023, employer-funded bus fares are FBT-exempt if they are provided mainly for the employee to travel between work and home. The exemption also covers train, ferry, and cable car fares for the same purpose. The benefit must be primarily for home-to-work travel; if the employer pays for general personal travel, the exemption does not apply and the cost is an unclassified fringe benefit subject to the de minimis exemption.

Are employer-provided e-bikes FBT-exempt?

Yes. Employer-provided bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters, electric scooters, and other low-powered vehicles classified by Waka Kotahi as mobility devices are FBT-exempt from 1 April 2023. The exemption also covers vehicle-share services for any of these transport modes (such as Lime, Beam, or Onzo subscriptions). The exemption applies regardless of whether the e-bike is used for home-to-work travel or general personal use, distinguishing it from the public transport exemption which has a home-to-work test.

Does the public transport FBT exemption cover taxis?

No. Taxis, shuttles, ride-share services (Uber, Ola), and air transport are NOT covered by the public transport FBT exemption. These remain subject to the general FBT rules. The exemption is limited to bus, train, ferry, and cable car fares plus the Total Mobility Scheme equivalents. Taxi rides for employees would be unclassified fringe benefits subject to the $300 per employee per quarter and $22,500 per employer per annum de minimis thresholds.

What if the employee uses the bus pass for personal travel too?

The exemption applies if the bus pass is provided mainly for home-to-work travel. Some incidental personal use does not break the exemption. However, if the dominant purpose is personal travel (such as a generic monthly pass given as a perk regardless of work commute), the exemption does not apply and the full value becomes an unclassified fringe benefit. The IRD's Tax Information Bulletin Vol 35 No 6 provides examples of acceptable use patterns.

Are car parks at work FBT-exempt?

Employer-provided car parks AT the employer's business premises are not subject to FBT (they are an on-premises benefit). Car parks NEAR the workplace but not on the premises (such as a leased space in a commercial car park) are technically a fringe benefit but in practice are usually treated as on-premises if the employer has an exclusive right to use them. Car parks for client visits are not benefits to the employee at all.