NZ Company First 90 Days Checklist: Everything You Need to Do After Registering

You Have Registered Your Company - Now What?

Congratulations on registering your NZ company. The Companies Office registration is just the first step. In the next 90 days, you will need to set up your tax obligations, bank accounts, insurance, and operating infrastructure.

Week 1: Immediate Priorities (Days 1-7)

IRD Registration

Your company needs a separate IRD number. Apply at myIR.ird.govt.nz. This takes 5-10 business days. You cannot pay employees, file GST, or claim deductions without it.

Business Bank Account

Open a business bank account immediately. Mixing personal and business funds creates accounting and tax problems. Most NZ banks allow online business account applications with approval in 3-5 business days.

Registered Office Address

Your Companies Register filing requires a physical NZ address. Many accountants offer a registered office address service for NZ$100-300 per year if you need an alternative to your home address.

Weeks 2-4: Tax Setup (Days 8-30)

GST Registration

If your annual turnover will exceed NZ$60,000, GST registration is mandatory. You have 21 days from the date you know your turnover will exceed the threshold to register. Register early to claim GST back on expenses from day one.

Provisional Tax

If you expect more than NZ$5,000 of residual income tax in your first year, you will need to pay provisional tax in three instalments. Talk to an accountant before your first filing year ends to avoid penalties.

Balance Date

New companies default to a 31 March balance date. You can apply to change this within the first year. Most companies keep 31 March.

Month 2: Employment and Insurance (Days 31-60)

ACC Employer Registration

If you hire employees, register as an employer with ACC. Levies are calculated on your industry classification and payroll. Consider CoverPlus Extra if you are a self-employed director taking a salary.

KiwiSaver Employer Setup

Enrol eligible employees in KiwiSaver and make a mandatory 3% employer contribution on top of their salary. Set this up through your payroll software or myIR before the first pay run.

Business Insurance

Your business should have at minimum: public liability (covers third-party injury or damage), professional indemnity (covers advice errors), and contents and equipment coverage. Key person insurance is also worth considering if the business depends on one director.

Month 3: Operations and Growth (Days 61-90)

Accounting Software

Set up cloud accounting software before your first GST return. Xero is the dominant NZ platform. Most new businesses integrate with their bank account for automated transaction import.

Annual Return Reminder

Every NZ company must file an annual return with the Companies Office and pay NZ$46 per year on the anniversary of registration. Missing the annual return leads to late fees and eventually company removal from the register.

Get Professional Help Early

Most new company directors try to handle their first few months of compliance themselves and end up engaging an accountant by month 3 after making costly mistakes. Engaging a chartered accountant in month 1 typically costs NZ$500-1,500 but saves multiples of that in avoided penalties.

FreshFirms connects service providers - accountants, payroll services, insurance brokers, web designers, IT support - with newly registered NZ companies at exactly the right moment. If you are a service provider looking to reach clients at the start of their business journey, start a free FreshFirms trial to see the new companies registering in your region this week.