The 20% Tax Incentive: Why Smart Arborist Businesses Are Upgrading Equipment Now

If your chipper is working hard every day, there’s never really a “good” time for downtime.

That’s why smart arborist businesses don’t just look at the purchase price of equipment — they look at productivity, reliability, crew efficiency and long-term operating costs.

Now, with the Government’s 20% tax incentive, there’s another reason to invest in new equipment sooner rather than later.

So, What Is the 20% Tax Incentive?

In simple terms, eligible businesses can now claim an additional 20% tax deduction on new asset purchases in the year the equipment is bought.

That’s on top of normal depreciation.

For arborist businesses, that means investing in new equipment like a HANSA chipper could deliver a meaningful upfront tax benefit while also improving day-to-day productivity.

You can read more about the scheme here:

• New Zealand Government – Investment Boost Overview
• Inland Revenue – Investment Boost Guidance

The goal of the incentive is simple:
Encourage Kiwi businesses to invest in productive equipment now instead of putting upgrades off for another season.

What Does That Actually Mean?

Let’s say your business purchases a new HANSA chipper for $60,000 + GST.

Under the tax incentive:

• You can immediately deduct 20% of the asset value in the current financial year
• That’s a $12,000 deduction
• Standard depreciation will still apply to the remaining balance

Of course, every business is different, so it’s important to speak with your accountant about your individual situation.

But for many arborist operators, this incentive makes upgrading equipment significantly more attractive than continuing to pour money into repairs, breakdowns or ongoing hire costs.

Why Arborist Businesses Are Taking a Closer Look

Every crew knows the pain points:

• Time lost dragging branches
• Machines too big for tight-access jobs
• Hiring equipment week after week
• Old gear chewing through maintenance budgets
• Downtime killing productivity

The right machine changes that.

That’s why HANSA machines are built around practical productivity:
Wide infeed openings. Simple feeding. Reliable engines. Low-maintenance design. No unnecessary drama.

Whether it’s a compact machine for smaller crews and residential work or a larger-capacity unit for serious removals, the goal is always the same:

Make the work easier. Faster. More profitable.

Talk to the HANSA Team

Whether you’re looking at:

• Finance options
• Trade-ins
• Fleet upgrades
• Expanding your equipment lineup
• Replacing ageing gear

The HANSA team can help you find the right machine setup for the way your crew actually works.

No cookie-cutter packages.
Just practical solutions that make sense.

Disclaimer: Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances. Please seek independent accounting or financial advice regarding eligibility and how the incentive applies to your business.