A comprehensive Sharesies NZ review covering fees, investment options, tax obligations, account login, and how it compares to alternatives. Everything NZ investors need to know.
If you’ve researched how to start investing in New Zealand, you’ve almost certainly come across Sharesies — the country’s most widely used retail investment platform. This guide sets out, factually, how it works, what it currently costs, the tax you need to understand, and how it sits against the alternatives. It’s general information, not financial advice or a recommendation to invest.
Sharesies lets everyday Kiwis buy shares, ETFs and managed funds across the NZX (New Zealand), ASX (Australia) and US markets, all from one app or browser. Its defining feature is fractional investing — you can put in as little as $0.01, so you don’t need to save up the full price of a share first.
Your rate is locked on the day you open it and won’t change if the OCR moves; the bank must return your full principal at maturity.
Commonly 30 days to 5 years. The longest term isn’t always the best rate — in a falling-rate market, shorter terms can pay more.
Breaking early usually cuts your interest, and many banks require at least 31 days’ notice to release funds early.
Often $1,000–$5,000; some providers ask for more, and a few offer premium rates on large balances.
Paid at maturity, monthly or annually. If you need income during the term, check this before committing.
Many banks auto-roll at maturity into a new term at the going rate — diarise your maturity date so you can choose.
Rates change frequently. Confirm the current rate, minimum and terms directly with the institution before investing.
One structural point matters. Sharesies uses a custodial model: you don’t hold shares directly on the share register in your own name. Instead they’re held on your behalf by Sharesies Nominee Limited, legally separate from Sharesies’ own business — so your investments would be protected if Sharesies itself became insolvent. But Sharesies isn’t a bank, and there’s no capital guarantee: values rise and fall with the market. For the wider context of how NZ regulates different products, our tax rates guide touches on the tax side, covered in detail below.
Understanding the fees is the most important part of evaluating any platform — and Sharesies has repriced several times, so it’s worth being current.
Dividends from NZ and Australian companies are taxable income. NZ dividends often carry imputation credits that reduce the tax owed. Sharesies gives you an annual tax report to help with your return.
Managed funds structured as Portfolio Investment Entities are taxed at your Prescribed Investor Rate (PIR), capped at 28% — which can beat a marginal rate of up to 39% for higher earners. Enter the correct PIR.
Once the cost of your offshore shares and funds passes NZ$50,000, FIF rules generally apply. You may be taxed on a deemed return (commonly 5% of the opening market value) even if you haven’t sold or received income. This area is complex and has changed recently — get advice.
NZ has no general capital gains tax, but if Inland Revenue considers you’re trading for profit rather than investing long-term, those gains can be taxable. Frequent traders should seek advice.
Sharesies provides tax reports but not tax advice. For anything complex — especially near the $50,000 FIF threshold — talk to an accountant familiar with NZ investment tax.
The practical takeaway: for regular US or Australian investing, the 1.9% transaction fee (up to the cap) plus the 0.5% currency fee is real friction that compounds over time, and it’s where Sharesies is least competitive against US-focused specialists. For NZX investing, the monthly plans can make frequent trading very cost-effective once you’re triggering enough in transaction fees to cover the plan cost. The right choice depends entirely on your order sizes, how often you invest, and which markets you use — so it pays to work out your own likely annual cost rather than rely on a headline rate.
Sharesies offers one of the broadest menus of any NZ retail platform — over 6,500 shares, ETFs and managed funds across the NZX, ASX and US markets, all available fractionally from a $0.01 minimum. The fractional capability is genuinely useful: a single share in some large US companies costs hundreds or thousands of NZ dollars, so fractions let you get diversified exposure without a large lump sum. Sharesies has also expanded beyond shares into a KiwiSaver scheme, a Save account, a debit card, and crypto.
New Zealand’s tax rules for share investors are more complex than many beginners expect, and Sharesies doesn’t handle all of it for you.
Compare on the after-tax return for your situation, not just the headline rate.
The area that catches people out is the Foreign Investment Fund (FIF) threshold: once the cost of your offshore holdings passes NZ$50,000, you can be taxed on a deemed return even in a year your portfolio fell. If you’re approaching that level, plan for it and get advice. Sharesies provides annual tax reports to help with your IRD return, but not tax advice.
There are two dimensions here. On regulatory safety, Sharesies is licensed by the FMA and must comply with the Financial Markets Conduct Act, and client assets sit in a custodial trust separate from Sharesies’ own balance sheet — so a business failure at Sharesies wouldn’t put your investments among its creditors’ assets. On investment risk, your returns depend entirely on the underlying investments; prices fall as well as rise, and there’s no capital guarantee. That’s true of every platform. Note that Sharesies is not a bank and is not covered by the Reserve Bank’s Depositor Compensation Scheme, which protects bank deposits up to $100,000 — a different kind of product with different protection.
Sharesies doesn’t operate in a vacuum, and the “best” platform depends on your style rather than a single winner. In broad terms: US-focused platforms (such as Hatch, Stake and Tiger) can be cheaper for regular US share and ETF investing; fund-focused platforms (such as InvestNow and Kernel) suit low-cost managed-fund and index investing, often with no transaction fee; and full-service brokers (such as Craigs Investment Partners and Forsyth Barr) offer personalised advice for larger portfolios at higher cost. Because every provider prices differently and changes its fees over time, compare the current cost for your typical order size before deciding — many experienced investors use Sharesies for NZX and a specialist elsewhere for US ETFs. For one named alternative in depth, see our Hatch Invest review.
Sharesies has invested heavily in accessibility — its “Money School” content is genuinely useful for people starting out, the interface is clean, and the $0.01 minimum removes the “I need a big lump sum first” barrier. A few practical pointers: start with NZX ETFs or managed funds to keep fee drag low while you learn; understand the $50,000 FIF threshold before your offshore holdings grow into it; use auto-invest to make regular contributions (dollar-cost averaging smooths out market timing); and don’t neglect KiwiSaver — for most Kiwis, capturing employer and government contributions should come before direct share investing, and our KiwiSaver guide explains why. Sharesies complements KiwiSaver rather than replacing it.
For breadth of access, ease of use, and starting small, Sharesies is a well-regulated, structurally sound platform that’s hard to beat as a first step. If you’re focused specifically on cheap US investing or low-cost managed funds, a specialist may serve you better on cost. As with any platform, the risks are investment risks — so match your fund choices to your timeframe, understand the fees you’ll actually trigger, and get tax advice as your offshore holdings grow.
Disclaimer: This article is general information about Sharesies and investing in New Zealand, not financial or tax advice, and not a recommendation to invest in any platform or product. Investing carries risk, including the risk of loss, and past performance doesn’t predict future returns. Fees, features and tax rules change — the details here reflect 2026 and should be confirmed with Sharesies and Inland Revenue before you act. Consider advice from a licensed financial adviser or an accountant for your own situation. For independent guidance see Sorted (sorted.org.nz).
Pick the rate that matches your income so the right amount is withheld.
| Annual income | RWT rate to choose |
|---|---|
| Up to $15,600 | 10.5% |
| $15,601 – $53,500 | 17.5% |
| $53,501 – $78,100 | 30% |
| $78,101 – $180,000 | 33% |
| Over $180,000 | 39% |
Higher earner? A PIE term deposit is taxed at your Prescribed Investor Rate, capped at 28% — which can beat a 33% or 39% RWT rate. Ask your bank whether a PIE version is available.
Transaction fees are 1.9% per order with a cap per market (about NZ$25 / AU$15 / US$5), plus a 0.5% currency exchange fee on US and Australian trades. Optional monthly plans ($3, $7 or $15) buy down transaction fees for frequent investors, and there’s a $1 kids plan. There’s no account or withdrawal fee. Always check Sharesies’ pricing page, as fees change.
Sharesies is FMA-licensed and holds your investments in a custodial structure (via Sharesies Nominee Limited), legally separate from its own business, so a failure at Sharesies wouldn’t put your investments among its creditors’ assets. But it isn’t a bank and carries no capital guarantee — investment values rise and fall with the market.
Yes, in several ways. Dividends are taxable income; PIE funds are taxed at your PIR (capped at 28%); and if the cost of your offshore holdings exceeds NZ$50,000, the Foreign Investment Fund rules can tax you on a deemed return. NZ has no general capital gains tax, but active trading can be taxable. Sharesies gives you tax reports but not tax advice.
Over 6,500 shares, ETFs and managed funds across the NZX, ASX and US markets, all available fractionally from $0.01. Sharesies also offers a KiwiSaver scheme, a Save account, a debit card and crypto.
Sharesies is open to New Zealanders aged 16 and over. For children under 18, an adult can set up and manage a Kids Account, which transfers to the child when they reach adulthood.
It depends on your style. Sharesies is strong for breadth and ease across NZ, Australian and US markets; US-focused platforms can be cheaper for regular US investing; and fund-focused platforms like InvestNow and Kernel suit low-cost managed funds. Compare the current cost for your typical order size before choosing.
Related guides: Trade Me NZ, Yahoo Finance for New Zealand Investors and What Are the Big 4 Companies in New Zealand?.
Get approved fast with Finance Now. Personal loans, car finance & retail purchases – made easy for everyday Kiwis.
Shop now, pay later with Farmers Finance. Flexible payment options at Farmers stores across NZ – online and in-store.
