We heard you: Enhanced payroll flexibility is coming to Aotearoa New Zealand

Last year, we made some updates to Xero payroll in our New Zealand plans. Since then, some of you have let us know that the changes didn’t quite meet your needs. We’ve listened to your feedback and are taking action.

One thing you told us was that you want to have more flexibility in how you pay yourselves or your employees. So, soon, you’ll be able to pay up to 200 employees on any of our business plans.

Here’s how payroll will work within each plan:

• On the Ignite plan, which currently doesn’t include payroll, you’ll be able to add payroll for NZ$4 per person, per month
• On the Grow plan, which currently includes payroll for just one person, you’ll be able to add additional employees for NZ$4 per person, per month
• On the Comprehensive plan, which currently includes payroll for up to five people, you’ll be able to add additional employees for NZ$4 per person, per month
• The Ultimate plan isn’t changing: payroll for 10 people is included and you’ll still be able to add employees for NZ$1 per person, per month

What does this mean for you? 

If you’re currently using a Xero business plan, you might find our upcoming changes helpful for paying more people.

If you’ve already moved, or are moving,* to the Xero Ignite, Grow, Comprehensive or Ultimate plan and would like to stay on it, there’s nothing you need to do.

If the enhanced Xero Ignite, Grow or Comprehensive plan is a better option for you than moving up a plan, please switch plans when we alert you that the payroll changes to the plans are live. The flexibility is yours.

*Note: Our previously announced migration plans for you stay in place and will take effect in September 2025. The payroll changes to the Xero Ignite, Grow and Comprehensive plans will come into effect before then.

There’s more on the way

Over the coming months we’ll be delivering even more valuable functionality. Discover everything that was delivered this past year and what’s coming on our new innovations webpage, The long and short of it.

Here are a couple of key highlights: 

• Later this year, Analytics powered by Syft will provide valuable insights to help you better understand your business performance and make more confident, data-driven decisions.
• Tap to Pay on mobile, powered by Stripe, will be available soon in the Xero Accounting app. With Tap to Pay, you can accept in-person payments on your mobile with no extra hardware needed, helping  your customers pay you instantly and helping improve your cash flow. 

Thanks for your feedback

We appreciate you choosing Xero and sharing your feedback with us. It helps us shape Xero to better meet your needs, so keep it coming! We hope these improvements will better support you in getting paid, making payments, and running payroll.