For individuals & families: As a parent
Nominate someone to act on your behalf
Did you know that you can authorise another person to act with us on your behalf to help you with your tax affairs? However child support customers must authorise us in writing to release information from their child support records. An authorised person can discuss your child support affairs, but cannot authorise forms or take other actions on your behalf. For further information about this please call us on 0800 221 221
Please note: Only individuals can be set up as a nominated person on your behalf, you cannot set up a non-individual such as a company or a partnership in this role.
To nominate someone to act on your behalf, you can:
- complete an Elect someone to act on your behalf (IR597) form, which you can complete online or request by phoning INFOexpress (remember to have your IRD number handy), or
- phone us on one of these toll-free numbers:
Customer Freephone Personal tax customers 0800 227 774 Business tax customers 0800 377 774 Employers 0800 377 772 Student loan customers 0800 377 778
If you are overseas, call one of these numbers:
Overseas customers Phone Personal tax customers 64 4 801 9973 Business tax customers 64 4 801 9973 Student loan customers (resident) 64 4 801 9973 Student loan customers (non-resident) 64 3 467 7020
We will ask you for the following details (so please have them handy to speed up the process):
- the full name of the nominated person
- the tax types you want the nominated person to act on
- the period for which the nominated person is to have authority to act
- the nominated person's IRD number (if you have it).
Why should you have a nominated person?
A nominated person is useful when you:
- know you're going overseas for an extended period
- would like someone other than a tax agent to look after your tax affairs
- aren't able to contact us during work hours due to personal circumstances
- just find it easier to have a friend or relative deal with Inland Revenue
- have a wage clerk or inhouse accountant dealing with your tax affairs.
Who can set up a nominated person?
- For personal records, only you can choose the person who will act on your behalf.
- For non-individuals (for example, a company), a nominated person can be set up by a company director or shareholder, a trustee or estate administrator, an executive officer, or a partner of a partnership.
A nominated person can't be set up by email for security reasons.
What does a nominated person have access to?
You can have a nominated person for just one tax type (for example, income tax) or, if you're running a business, you can nominate someone to have access to several (or even all) of your tax types. A nominated person can also receive all your statements, refunds and other correspondence.
Validating a nominated person
When the nominated person rings us, we will confirm their identity by getting them to tell us details about themselves. Once this screening process is completed, we can discuss your tax affairs with them.
Cancelling a nominated person
If you no longer want a nominated person to have access to your records, you can cancel their authority at any time.
Your responsibilities
Having a nominated person doesn't change your responsibilities. By law you're still personally responsible for your tax obligations.
Remember: your nominated person will have access to your personal information and can act on your behalf, so you will need to make sure they are someone you trust.
Other pages in: As a parent
- Common questions and answers about child support for paying parents
- Tax credits (formerly rebates) for working parents
- Paid parental leave
- Common questions and answers on Working for Families Tax Credits
- What are Working for Families Tax Credits?
- Common questions and answers about child support for custodians
- Young children
- Parental tax credit
Date published: 31 Jan 2005
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