How to get NZBN for your business?
NZBN is New Zealand Business Number and its for all Kiwi businesses - whether you’re self-employed or a major corporation, there’s an NZBN for you.
To get an NZBN, you need to know what type of business you have (if you are unsure about the type of your business, contact us and we will help you out).
Please note: If you’re a sole trader, partnership or trust, you are only eligible to get an NZBN if you are currently in business in New Zealand (that is: if you acquire or supply goods or services, or acquire or dispose of land (but not if you do this as a consumer, employee, or as an individual member of an unincorporated entity). A business can be non-profit and can also be carried out free-of-charge.)
Definitions:
Sole trader or self-employed: Sole traders (also called self-employed) have set up their business without registering as a company. Sole traders don’t have business partners or other shareholders, but they might have staff.
Partnership: Two or more people can form a business partnership, setting out how they’ll share profits, debts and work in a partnership agreement. This is a popular structure with professionals (for example, architects, lawyers and accountants).
Trust: A trust is an entity that holds money or property for the benefit of its beneficiaries or for legal purposes.
An NZBN can be issued to the trustee(s) of a trust. If you’re a trustee of more than one trust, you’ll need to get a separate NZBN for each trust.
Registered company: In New Zealand, a company is a legal entity in its own right, registered with the New Zealand Companies Office. There are three types of companies, each with different areas of liability. If your business is a registered company it will have been assigned an NZBN.
Limited liability companies are a popular form of business ownership in New Zealand which you can often recognise because they have Limited, Ltd or Tapui (Limited) at the end of their name.
Co-operative companies sometimes called co-ops, are limited liability companies that are owned and controlled by the members.
Unlimited companies are quite rare, as they don't limit a shareholder’s liability for company debts.
You can read more about companies on the Companies Register website.
Applying for NZBN for your business:
Sole Traders/Self Employed:
Click here to start your Sole Trader NZBN Application
You will need to login through your RealMe account to start your application (use an existing login or create one at this point)
Next, you will need to set up a user account unless you’ve previously logged in or had a user account on the Companies Register (which will be duplicated on the NZBN website).
Information you might want to keep handy while application:
IRD number - IRD number used by the business – this may be your personal IRD number.
Proof of identity - NZ Drivers License/NZ passport or (NZ birth certificate/ NZ citizenship certificate/overseas passport).
If you’re not a New Zealand citizen, but are living in New Zealand and running a business here, you may need to provide additional documentation to show you’re able to work in New Zealand.
Partnership:
Click here to start your Partnership NZBN Application
Again, you will need to login through your RealMe account to start your application (use an existing login or create one at this point)
Next, you will need to set up a user account unless you’ve previously logged in or had a user account on the Companies Register (which will be duplicated on the NZBN website).
Information you might want to keep handy while application:
IRD number - IRD number of the partnership.
Proof of identity - Partner details – their full names and the date they were appointed partner. A copy of an identity document for one of the partners either NZ Drivers License/NZ passport or a copy of a similar ‘identity’ document.
Proof of Partnership - either a copy of the partnership agreement or minutes from a partnership meeting or a letter to the NZBN Registrar will be acceptable. The proof of Partnership will need to include the name of the partnership and the full legal names of each of the partners. It must be signed by each partner.
Trust:
Click here to start your Trust NZBN Application
Login through your RealMe account to start your application, set up a user account.
An NZBN can be issued to the trustee(s) of a trust. If you’re a trustee of more than one trust, you’ll need a separate NZBN for each trust.
Information you might want to keep handy while application:
IRD number - You need the IRD number of the trust. We only use the IRD number to check that your trust hasn’t already been allocated an NZBN.
Proof of identity - Trustee details - full names and the date they were appointed trustee, a copy of an identity document for one of the trustees - either NZ Drivers License/NZ passport or a copy of a similar ‘identity’ document.
Proof of trustee status - a copy of the trust deed with names of all current trustees or a trust deed + document that lists the current trustees. This document must be signed by each trustee.
