Annual returns for overseas companies

Filing an annual return if your company isn't incorporated in NZ

All companies on the New Zealand Companies Register, including companies on the Overseas Register, must file an annual return. This is not a tax return — more a confirmation of your company’s details. The charge for filing an annual return is $49.74 (plus GST).

When to file your annual return

We’ll tell you which month you need to file your annual return. We send reminders to the email address you've given us around the time your annual return is due.

How to file your annual return

File your annual return online.

1. Log in to your online account

To file an annual return, you must have:

  • a RealMe® login
  • an online services account with the Companies Register
  • confirmed authority to act for your company.

RealMe logins and your online services account

Confirming company authority to update records

There are 3 ways to access your company's account to file your annual return.

  1. Use the link in the reminder email.
  2. Use the link to File an annual return.
  3. Search the Companies Register for the company using the company name, company number or New Zealand Business Number (NZBN). From the results, select your company. You are then taken to the File annual return screen.

2. File your annual return

To file an overseas company's annual return, you must confirm or update your company's details including:

  • the address of the place of business or the principal place of business in New Zealand
  • the people in New Zealand who can receive documents on behalf of the company — including a physical address for each
  • the company's address for communication — this is the address we'll use to contact you
  • the full legal name and residential address of each director — email addresses are optional.

If you need to, you can also:

  • change the filing month for future annual returns, or
  • if your company isn't incorporated in Australia:
    • add new directors
    • remove directors who are no longer on your board.

To complete the return, you'll need to:

  • enter your name as the person filing the annual return
  • choose your role from a drop-down list, for example director or authorised person
  • confirm your email address so we can send you annual return reminders in the future, and
  • give us your mobile phone number, if you want to.

If your company is incorporated in Australia

You can update all your details in the New Zealand Companies Register except details about your company directors. To update these details, contact the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC). They notify us of the changes.

ASIC — online services Austalian Securities & Investments Commission

3. Pay the fee for filing an annual return

The fee to file an annual return is $49.74 (plus GST).

Choose a payment option:

  • credit card
  • debit card, or
  • direct debit.

Managing payments on the Companies Register

When your transaction is complete, select Continue.

4. After you've filed your annual return

We send you an email confirming that your annual return has been filed.

You can check the information in your annual return by selecting:

  • View company details on the screen that confirms you've completed your annual return
  • Company summary, then
  • Documents tab.
File an annual return

All help topics

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Get an overview of how companies are structured, find out about the company records you need to keep, and what's involved when you incorporate with and report to the Companies Office.

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Find out about filing an annual return — the information you need to update, how to change your filing month or request a time extension — and what happens if you don't file your annual return by the due date.

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Creating an account with the Companies Office allows you to complete the majority of your transactions online. It's free to set up, but fees apply for some transactions, such as filing annual returns.

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