Employers may be to blame for more than 500,000 KiwiSaver members missing out on $270 million

More than 500,000 KiwiSaver members missed out on $270 million last year. Photo / 123RF

Last year, more than half a million KiwiSaver members missed out on $270 million in government contributions, and their employers may be partly to blame.

A Commission for Financial Capability (CFFC) survey in May of 500 companies showed only 55 per cent of employers paid the 3 per cent on top of wages, 10 per cent paid it out of their employees' salaries, 20 per cent were 'not sure', 10 per cent said 'it varied' and 5 per cent offered other pension schemes.

David Boyle, education manager at the Commission for Financial Capability, said employers need to be more aware of fulfilling their legal obligation to pay the required 3 per cent employer contribution to KiwiSaver on top of their employees' wages.

"I think employers need to be more aware of their obligations to their staff. Legislation requires them to pay their 3 per cent on top of wages, and if they want to negotiate to include it in an employee's package, then in good faith they should increase that person's salary by 3 per cent," Boyle said.

"If an employee thinks their employer is not meeting their legal obligations, they can complain anonymously to IRD."

Other KiwiSaver members are missing out on the $521 Member Tax Credit contribution from the government by not contributing the minimum amount each year.

If a KiwiSaver member does not contribute at least $1042 to their account by June 30 each year, they are not eligible for the full government contribution of $521.

By the end of June 2017, more than 520,000 KiwiSaver members had not contributed anything to their accounts, missing out on $270 million in Member Tax Credit contributions.

Boyle says the $521 is "practically free money" to encourage KiwiSaver members to contribute at least $20 a week.

"That's less than the price of a couple of beers, or four lattes per week," Boyle said.

Boyle believes responsible employers should revisit KiwiSaver with their staff each July to make sure they are contributing at least $20 a week so they are eligible for the Member Tax Credit on June 30 the following year.

"It's money the Government is happy to give us to encourage us to save – let's not leave it sitting on the table," Boyle said.