⚠️ Key point: You cannot claim the kilometre rate and separately claim charging electricity. The km rate already includes the energy cost. Claiming power back is the actual cost method — go that route and you track the electricity, not the per-km rate.
Why this matters for fleets & medium businesses
The kilometre rate is generally aimed at sole traders, the self-employed and small companies, and it’s capped: the higher Tier 1 rate applies only to the first 14,000 km of total travel each year, after which a much lower Tier 2 rate kicks in. For the 2025–26 income year, IRD set the EV rates at $1.22/km (Tier 1) and $0.23/km (Tier 2).
For a fleet running high annual mileage across many vehicles, the actual cost method is often more accurate and more valuable — but it only works if you have reliable energy data. Which is exactly what your chargers and Kiwi EV provide.
Summary: Low-mileage operators often do best on the per-kilometre rate. Fleets and higher-mileage businesses usually do better claiming actual costs — and that’s where accurate charging data pays for itself.
What about reimbursing employees?
If employees use their own vehicles for work and you reimburse them, IRD’s kilometre rates are a benchmark for a reasonable tax-free reimbursement. Where an employee charges a company vehicle at home, exportable data from a portable charger, wall charger or our Kiwi EV platform is the way to go.
