What Do The KiwiSaver Status Codes Mean And When Should I Use Each?

Each employee has a KiwiSaver status code that tells Inland Revenue how to treat their enrolment when an Employee Details submission is filed. Lightning Payroll uses the codes defined in the Inland Revenue file upload specification.

Status codes

• AE - Auto-enrol: use for a new employee who must be automatically enrolled in KiwiSaver. Employer contributions and ESCT apply from their start date.
• AK - Existing KiwiSaver member: use when the employee already held a KiwiSaver account before joining your organisation. They are not auto-enrolled because they are already a member.
• OK - Opting into KiwiSaver: use for an existing employee who is voluntarily opting in. This applies to employees who were previously not enrolled and are now choosing to join.
• NK - Not eligible for KiwiSaver: use when the employee is ineligible for KiwiSaver - for example, a temporary work-visa holder, or a person under 18.
• CT - Casual/Temporary employee: use for casual or temporary employees who are not subject to auto-enrolment. Employer contributions are not compulsory for employees on this status.

Where to set the status

In the desktop app: open the employee, go to the KiwiSaver Settings tab, then locate the KiwiSaver status (Employee Details) field and pick the appropriate code.

In the online (web/mobile) app: open the employee, go to KiwiSaver Settings under the Super section, then set the KiwiSaver status (Employee Details) field.

Things to check

• If the employee is an existing employee opting in or being auto-enrolled after hire, also set the Existing employee action (Employee Details) field to EE - Existing employee opt-in or EA - Existing employee auto-enrol as appropriate.
• The status code feeds the next Employee Details submission to Inland Revenue - update it before you trigger a new Employee Details filing.
• If an employee has submitted a KS10 opt-out form, tick Employee has opted out of KiwiSaver (KS10 submitted) and enter the opt-out signature date. See How Do I Record A KiwiSaver Opt-Out With The Correct Late Opt-Out Reason? for details.

For a broader overview of KiwiSaver settings in the Employee Details filing, see How Do KiwiSaver Settings And Opt-Outs Work In Employee Details?