At 65 you can withdraw your KiwiSaver balance whenever you choose, and nothing pays out automatically; the access rules and withdrawal options are covered in KiwiSaver at 65. This page covers the other side: what happens if you keep contributing after 65, whether your employer and the government still add money, and joining KiwiSaver for the first time after 65 (for joining at younger ages, see how to join KiwiSaver). Other KiwiSaver guides are on the KiwiSaver strategies hub.
What Changes for Contributions at 65
| Feature | Before 65 | From 65 |
|---|---|---|
| Employee contributions (payroll) | Compulsory unless suspended | Continue until you give your employer a non-deduction notice (KS51) |
| Employer contributions | Compulsory (minimum 3.5% from 1 April 2026) | Not required: employer discretion or employment contract |
| Government contribution | Eligible (from age 16) | Not eligible |
| Voluntary contributions | Allowed | Allowed |
| Withdrawal access | Restricted (specific events) | Unrestricted |
Can You Keep Contributing After 65?
Yes. You can still make KiwiSaver contributions after you turn 65. Your account stays open and invested, and you can keep paying in from your pay or directly to your provider.
Deductions from your pay don’t stop by themselves at 65. To stop them, give your employer a non-deduction notice (form KS51); your employer then stops deducting from your next pay and stops its own contributions. You can restart at any time with form KS2, choosing one of the usual KiwiSaver contribution rates. Voluntary contributions can be made at any time; see voluntary KiwiSaver contributions.
Contributions after 65 earn the fund’s return and are taxed inside the fund (at your PIR, in a PIE scheme), but they bring in no government contribution, and any employer contribution depends on your employer.
Employer Contributions After 65
Employers are not required to make KiwiSaver contributions for employees aged 65 and over. The compulsory employer contribution applies only to employees aged 16 and over and under 65.
Some employers keep contributing for older employees, as part of their employment policy or an individually negotiated agreement; your employment agreement or payroll team can confirm whether yours does. The full employer rules are in the KiwiSaver employer contributions guide.
The Government Contribution After 65
The government contribution is paid to members from age 16 until they turn 65, so from 65 you are no longer eligible, however much you contribute. If you turn 65 partway through a KiwiSaver year, IRD pro-rates it for the part of the year you were under 65; the KiwiSaver government contribution page has the details.
Joining KiwiSaver After 65
You can join KiwiSaver after 65, but:
- You won’t be auto-enrolled (auto-enrolment only applies to employees under the qualifying age)
- You enrol by choosing a provider and joining through it
- You won’t receive the government contribution, and employer contributions are at your employer’s discretion
- Your balance is accessible from the start, since you have already reached 65
A late joiner’s KiwiSaver account works like a PIE investment outside KiwiSaver in most respects: the same PIE tax treatment and no lock-in once you’re 65. The differences are the provider’s fund range and fees, which you can compare in the KiwiSaver providers section.
PIR After 65
Income often falls in retirement, which can lower your prescribed investor rate (PIR) and the tax on your fund’s returns. The provider applies the rate you give it, so a PIR left at 28% after your income has dropped means more tax is deducted than is due until IRD’s end-of-year PIE calculation credits or refunds the difference. The thresholds are in KiwiSaver PIR rates explained, and the steps to change your rate are in how to update your KiwiSaver PIR.
Withdrawals and Death Before 65
How to take money out from 65 (lump sum, partial withdrawals or regular drawdowns) is covered in KiwiSaver at 65 and the KiwiSaver drawdown guide. If a member dies before 65, the balance is paid to their estate; the KiwiSaver death benefit page sets out the process.
Summary: Contributions From 65
| Change | Detail |
|---|---|
| Employee payroll deductions | Continue until you give your employer a KS51 non-deduction notice |
| Employer contributions | No longer compulsory |
| Government contribution | No longer paid |
| Voluntary contributions | Still allowed |
| Joining for the first time | Allowed; no auto-enrolment, no lock-in |
| PIR | Worth reviewing if your income has changed |