US-listed · NYSE Arca · FIF-eligible (above NZ$50K)
State Street SPLG SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF
Tracks the S&P 500 Index. SPDR low-cost alternative to SPY (0.0945% TER).
Updated Reviewed quarterly
About this fund
What is SPLG?
SPLG is the US-listed ticker for SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF, issued by State Street. Tracks the S&P 500 Index. SPDR low-cost alternative to SPY (0.0945% TER). TER is 0.02% per year, with a trailing 12-month distribution yield of approximately 1.3%. Distributions are paid quarterly.
How to buy
Where can I buy SPLG from New Zealand?
Hatch NZ-built. US$3 flat per trade, ~0.5% FX.
Stake Commission-free US shares; ~0.7% FX.
Sharesies NZ + AU + US in one account; tiered subscription pricing.
Interactive Brokers Tiered commissions; FX margin ~0.002% (lowest published of platforms reviewed).
See the full platform comparison for fees, minimums, and supported markets across all 11 NZ-accessible brokers.
NZ tax
How is SPLG taxed for NZ investors?
SPLG is US-listed, so it sits in the Foreign Investment Fund (FIF) regime once your overseas-share holdings exceed NZ$50,000 cost basis. Below that threshold, the FIF regime does not apply and you pay tax on dividends only.
Above NZ$50K cost basis, most NZ retail investors use the Fair Dividend Rate (FDR) method — deemed income = 5% × opening market value × your marginal tax rate. FDR vs CV method →
US dividends carry 15% US withholding tax under the NZ–US tax treaty (file a W-8BEN with your broker; without it, the rate is 30%). The 15% can be claimed as a foreign tax credit on your IR3.
Tax outcomes depend on your portfolio size, marginal rate, and FDR-vs-CV election. See PIE vs FIF for the full comparison and consult a registered NZ tax adviser for personalised guidance.
FAQ
Common questions about SPLG
What is the SPLG ETF? ⌄
SPLG is the SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF — it tracks the S&P 500 Index, holding the same 500 large-cap US companies as SPY, VOO, and IVV. TER is 0.02% (one of the lowest in the S&P 500 ETF category), distributions paid quarterly. Yield ~1.3%. State Street's low-cost alternative to SPY (0.0945% TER).
SPLG vs SPY — why does State Street offer two S&P 500 ETFs? ⌄
SPY (the original, launched 1993) has higher TER (0.0945%) but vastly higher liquidity — it's the most-traded ETF globally, used heavily by institutional traders. SPLG (launched 2005, restructured 2017) has rock-bottom TER (0.02%) for buy-and-hold investors. Holdings are identical. SPY for traders; SPLG for long-term holds.
SPLG vs VOO vs IVV — which low-cost S&P 500 ETF? ⌄
SPLG (SPDR, 0.02% TER), VOO (Vanguard, 0.03% TER), IVV (iShares, 0.03% TER) are the three lowest-cost S&P 500 ETFs. SPLG edges out VOO and IVV on TER alone. All three track the same index with negligible tracking-error differences. The choice is operational (broker availability, AUM preference, tax-statement quality) — over a 30-year hold the cost difference is roughly NZ$300 on NZ$10,000 invested.
Can NZ residents buy SPLG? ⌄
Yes. SPLG is available via Hatch, Stake, Sharesies (US market), and Interactive Brokers. Above NZ$50,000 cost basis FIF rules apply (FDR method most common). 15% US dividend withholding under the NZ-US treaty (with a W-8BEN); claimable as a foreign tax credit on your IR3.
Related ETFs and resources
VOO — Vanguard S&P 500
Vanguard alternative at 0.03% TER.
SPY — SPDR S&P 500 (high-liquidity)
Original SPDR S&P 500 — for traders, higher TER.
VTI — Vanguard Total Stock Market
Broader US equity (~3,500 stocks) at 0.03% TER.
NZ-listed S&P 500 (PIE-tax)
NZX-listed Smartshares USF gives PIE-taxed S&P 500 — no FIF for NZ investors.