What is ESCT?

Employer superannuation contribution tax (ESCT) is the tax taken from your employer's KiwiSaver contributions before they reach your account.

The rate depends on your salary plus employer contributions in the previous tax year: 10.5% up to $18,720, 17.5% to $64,200, 30% to $93,720, 33% to $216,000 and 39% above that.

So a 3.5% employer contribution adds less than 3.5% of your pay to your balance.