ACC advice for self-employed Kiwis and rural businesses.

Most self-employed people set up their ACC once and never look at it again. But the standard ACC structure isn't always the right fit. For contractors, tradespeople, farmers, and rural business owners, getting it wrong can mean overpaying on levies or being underprotected when an accident happens.

EFS specialises in ACC restructuring for self-employed clients. We review your current levy structure, explain your options including ACC CoverPlus Extra, and help you find the setup that gives you proper coverage without paying more than you need to.

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What is ACC CoverPlus Extra, and do you need it?

Standard ACC covers self-employed people for work-related accidents, but the weekly compensation it pays is calculated from your previous year's tax returns, which can mean delays, disputes, and payouts that don't reflect your actual income, especially if your earnings vary year to year.

ACC CoverPlus Extra (CPX) is an optional product that lets you agree your weekly compensation amount upfront, in advance. That means if you're injured, ACC pays what you agreed, not what they calculate afterwards. For many self-employed people, this also results in lower annual levies.

Standard ACC vs ACC CoverPlus Extra at a glance:

	Standard ACC	ACC CoverPlus Extra
Compensation basis	Calculated from prior year's tax returns	Agreed in advance between you and ACC
Payment speed	Slower; requires income verification	Faster; amount is pre-agreed
Levy Cost	Based on taxable income	Often lower; based on agreed cover level
Income Variability	Can be problematic for variable income	Predictable regardless of income fluctuation
Who it suits	Employees and simple structures	Self-employed, contractors, shareholder-employees

CPX isn't the right fit for everyone, but for most self-employed clients, it's worth at least reviewing. The right answer depends on your income, your business structure, and what other income protection cover you have in place alongside ACC.

Get your ACC reviewed

Who we help

EFS works with a wide range of self-employed clients across New Zealand on ACC restructuring and CoverPlus Extra, including:

Tradespeople and contractors; builders, electricians, plumbers, and other trades
Farmers and rural business owners across the Waikato and beyond
Small business owners and shareholder-employees
Sole traders and freelancers in any industry
Professionals moving from employment to self-employment for the first time.

If you're self-employed and you're not sure whether your ACC is set up correctly, a free review with one of our advisers is the quickest way to find out.