- Income tax brackets updated
Full refresh — verification date and data year 2026, tax authority URL, WHT 15%, no capital gains tax, brackets, sources and descriptions, filing 2 March (mfem.gov.ck) Source
Top income tax
30.0%
Worldwide system
Corporate tax
20.0%
VAT
15.0%
standard rate
Tax residency
183 days
Cook Islands tax profile
Data year: 2026
- Tax system
- Worldwide Residents pay income tax on Cook Islands–source income and worldwide income. The Cook Islands dollar is pegged to the New Zealand dollar; amounts are quoted in NZD. Value added tax is 15% on taxable supplies by registered persons (registration generally required when turnover exceeds NZD 40,000 in 12 months).
- Top PIT rate
- 30.0%
- Corporate tax rate
- 20.0%
- VAT
- 15.0%
- Capital gains tax
- No Capital Gains Tax
- Social security (employee)
- Rate not recorded
- Social security (employer)
- Rate not recorded
- Dividend withholding
- 15.0%
- Interest withholding
- 15.0%
- Royalty withholding
- 15.0%
- Treaty count
- Treaty count not recorded
Income tax brackets
Corporate
| Bracket min | Bracket max | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| NZD 0 | and above | 20.0% |
Personal income
| Bracket min | Bracket max | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| NZD 0 | NZD 14,600 | 0.0% |
| NZD 14,600 | NZD 30,000 | 17.0% |
| NZD 30,000 | NZD 80,000 | 27.0% |
| NZD 80,000 | and above | 30.0% |
Tax residency
- Days threshold
- 183 days
- Residency rules
- An individual is resident if their home is in the Cook Islands and they are personally present there for more than 183 days in any 12-month period. A company is resident if incorporated in the Cook Islands or if its head office (centre of administrative management) is in the Cook Islands; international companies may be non-resident under the 2021 company-residence amendments.
- Exit tax
- No
- CFC rules
- No
Filing information
- Fiscal year
- 01-01 – 12-31
- Filing deadline
- March 2
Sources
- MFEM Inland Revenue (accessed Oct 9, 2026) 2026 filing calendar (individual return 2 March, company 1 May), VAT/PAYE due dates
- Income Tax Act 1997 (consolidated to 1 September 2016) (accessed Oct 9, 2026) Sch. 1 PIT/CIT rates, s. 82 residency, s. 100 15% withholding on dividends/interest/royalties
- MFEM — Explanatory Note, Income Tax Amendment Bill 2017 (accessed Oct 9, 2026) Lowest individual marginal rate reduced to 17% from 1 January 2018
- MFEM — company tax residency consultation (Income Tax Act s. 82) (accessed Oct 9, 2026) Natural-person residency: home in the Cook Islands and 183+ days in any 12-month period
- Cook Islands News — tax threshold and brackets (accessed Oct 9, 2026) Rarotonga tax-free threshold NZD 14,600; Pa Enua NZD 60,000; marginal bands 17/27/30%
- BTIB Business One-Stop Shop guide (accessed Oct 9, 2026) Worldwide income for residents, VAT 15%, no capital gains tax, company rate 20%
Change history
-
-
- Income tax brackets updated
Full refresh — verification date and data year 2026, tax authority URL, WHT 15%, no capital gains tax, brackets, sources and descriptions, filing 2 March (mfem.gov.ck) Source
-
- Income tax brackets updated
Full refresh — verification date and data year 2026, tax authority URL, WHT 15%, no capital gains tax, brackets, sources and descriptions, filing 2 March (mfem.gov.ck) Source
-
- Income tax brackets updated
Full refresh — verification date and data year 2026, tax authority URL, WHT 15%, no capital gains tax, brackets, sources and descriptions, filing 2 March (mfem.gov.ck) Source
-
- Income tax brackets updated
Full refresh — verification date and data year 2026, tax authority URL, WHT 15%, no capital gains tax, brackets, sources and descriptions, filing 2 March (mfem.gov.ck) Source
-
- Income tax brackets updated
Full refresh — verification date and data year 2026, tax authority URL, WHT 15%, no capital gains tax, brackets, sources and descriptions, filing 2 March (mfem.gov.ck) Source
-
- Income tax brackets updated
Full refresh — verification date and data year 2026, tax authority URL, WHT 15%, no capital gains tax, brackets, sources and descriptions, filing 2 March (mfem.gov.ck) Source
-
- Income tax brackets updated
Full refresh — verification date and data year 2026, tax authority URL, WHT 15%, no capital gains tax, brackets, sources and descriptions, filing 2 March (mfem.gov.ck) Source
-
- Income tax brackets updated
Full refresh — verification date and data year 2026, tax authority URL, WHT 15%, no capital gains tax, brackets, sources and descriptions, filing 2 March (mfem.gov.ck) Source
-
- Income tax brackets updated
Full refresh — verification date and data year 2026, tax authority URL, WHT 15%, no capital gains tax, brackets, sources and descriptions, filing 2 March (mfem.gov.ck) Source