Help: How to use this site
Online services - if you can't get through
Here we explain the most likely solutions if you are unable to access an online service on this website - such as a calculator or filing an online return.
Trusted sites
If your computer is part of a Local Area Network there is probably a firewall that may stop you from connecting to secure websites. This may also be the case if you use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) or an Integrated Subscriber Digital Network (ISDN).
The way in which your computer has been set up will determine which Internet sites you can use. To resolve this, your IT support, System Administrator or Account Manager (VPN and ISDN users) would need to add https://www.ird.govt.nz/ to the list of trusted sites. Once this has been done you will be able to use our online services.
128 bit encryption (MS Internet Explorer 5.01 and higher)
Microsoft acknowledges that there is a problem with Internet Explorer version 5.01 or later. If you get the error message "The page cannot be displayed" while trying to access the enhanced ir-File service, please refer to our related websites section of our site to go to the page on the Microsoft website.
If you have problems with the instructions, please contact Microsoft for assistance (you can access their website from our related websites section of our site.)
"Root certificate expired" message
From 7 January, if you have an older web browser you may get this message when you access a secure web page - page addresses that start with "https". This includes most of the online services and forms on Inland Revenue's website. The message occurs because your browser's root certificate has expired. The root certificate confirms to your browser that the website you're connecting to really is the site that it claims to be.
This message will appear with browsers before Internet Explorer 5.00.2614 or Netscape 4.6. To see which browser version you have:
- Internet Explorer: Open the Help menu and choose About Internet Explorer
- Netscape: Open the Help menu and choose About Communicator (or About Netscape).
If you have an older browser your options are:
- Simplest and safest: Upgrade your browser to a newer version which already has the current root certificate. You can download newer browsers from Netscape or Microsoft. (The very newest version may not be compatible if you have an older operating system such as Microsoft Windows 95.)
- Alternative: Download and install the current root certificate into your present browser. You can do this from the website of VeriSign Australia (website under the related websites sectin of our site), who supply the root certificates. This is more involved than upgrading your browser.
- Do nothing: If you simply choose "Continue" in the message box, you can still use https pages. The information you send to them will no longer be very secure, and your browser won't be able to positively identify the website that it is connecting to.
A more detailed explanation of root certificates is available on the VeriSign Australia website under our related websites section of our site.
Date published: 15 Oct 2004
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