Registrations

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All businesses must register with  Inland Revenue for tax purposes, but companies also have to be incorporated with the Companies Office. The first step is to get an IRD number from Inland Revenue.

Sole traders and partnerships

If you’re carrying on business as a sole trader you should return your business income under your personal IRD number. Partnerships must have their own IRD number.

If you haven’t got a personal IRD number, you need to apply for one by filling out an  IRD number application – individual (IR595) or an IR595A for a partnership

Companies

If your business will be run through a company, you need to get an IRD number for it. However, rather than going through Inland Revenue, you can do this through the Companies Office when you register your company for incorporation.

Reserving a company name costs only $10.22, while registering a New Zealand company costs $150. Both can be done online with the Companies Office.

You must also register with Inland Revenue:

• For GST (Goods & Services Tax).

  Businesses must become registered for GST once they reach (or expect to reach in the next 12 months) an annual turnover of more than $60,000. Once registered, you collect GST for the government on the goods and services you sell and can claim GST back on the goods and services you buy for your business. If your turnover is under $60,000 you may choose to register voluntarily.

  Find out more about GST.

• To become an employer.

  When you start employing staff, you must register as an employer with Inland Revenue.

  You’ll also be asked whether you need to register for Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) and the Employer Superannuation Contribution Tax (ESCT). Find out more with Business tax and levies.

  Don’t register as an employer if you only hire contractors. Find out more about Employee types.

 

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