Farm Focus customers have recovered more than $500,000 in fuel refunds through the our partnership with PR Claims, a specialist provider that manages fuel excise duty refund claims on behalf of eligible farming businesses.
The refunds come at a time when New Zealand farming businesses are facing sustained pressure on operating costs. Fuel remains one of the largest variable expenses for agricultural operations, and for many farmers, the opportunity to recover excise duty on off-road use goes unclaimed simply because the process feels too complex to pursue.
Since the partnership launched just over six months ago, our customers have collectively received over half a million dollars in refunds. For farmers and agricultural contractors, fuel is a significant operating cost, and in many cases a portion of the excise duty paid on fuel used off-road may be claimable.
Canterbury dairy, beef and cropping farmer Mike Smith recovered around $12,000 in a single year through the partnership.
"It's all set up digitally and it's easy to use. For farmers, we don't want something to be a hassle. I don't have time to struggle with things, otherwise I just won't do it. We ended up with around$12,000 back, just from one year's worth of fuel. We all pay a lot of tax in the farming industry, especially in dairy, so it's nice to get something back."
The partnership is designed to reduce the administrative burden on busy farming businesses. PR Claims manages the claim process end to end, and refund statements can be imported directly into Farm Focus, keeping records tidy without extra paperwork.
Farm Focus CEO Marie-Claire Andrews said the milestone reflects how much eligible money goes unclaimed each year.
"Farmers are under constant pressure to manage costs, and this partnership is helping put real money back into rural businesses. The fact that customers have already recovered more than half a million dollars in refunds shows the scale of the opportunity. By connecting PRClaims with Farm Focus, we're making it easier for farmers to access refunds they may be entitled to, without adding more to their plate."
PR Claims Founder and Director Oliver Powles said many eligible businesses either don't know they can claim, or find the process too time-consuming to manage on their own.
"Our job is to make claiming back these fuel refunds as simple as possible. Initial phone registration takes around 10 minutes on average. We know many operators stick with legacy providers out of habit, but when those services are taking up to a third of your refund, it directly impacts your bottom line. We didn't think that was fair, which is why we offer a heavily reduced fee. We want to show businesses using higher-priced alternatives that you can get a straightforward, hassle-free service while keeping significantly more of your own money."
Learn more about the partnership and find out if you're eligible at https://prclaims.co.nz/farm-focus/.
