If it's not possible to get a New Zealand bank account or customer due diligence, we may still issue an IRD number if you can satisfy the Commissioner of your identity. The following examples provide general guidelines on how this would happen.
If you're an individual offshore person in New Zealand at the time of applying you'll generally still need to provide an active New Zealand bank account or letter from an approved entity stating that they have completed customer due diligence.
If you cannot provide proof of your active New Zealand bank account you can take the IR742 and supporting documents to an Inland Revenue office to verify. This means that you are not required to have an active New Zealand bank account to get an IRD number.
If you're an individual offshore person not in New Zealand at the time of applying, you'll need to provide:
- at least 2 forms of certified identification documentation, including at least one photo ID such as a passport. Other forms of ID may include a document confirming your Tax Identification Number (TIN) from your country of residence and/or personal identification number from your country of residence.
- certified proof of address, such as a utility statement.
- proof of your intended activity in New Zealand. For example, if your intended activity is buying and/or selling real estate, we need the property purchase agreement or a letter from your lawyer or real estate agent confirming activity.
- certified bank account details if you generally reside in a country New Zealand has a double tax agreement (DTA) or automatic exchange of information agreement (AEOI) with.
Note: a document cannot be used to prove your address if it has already been provided as form of photo identification.
Documents need to be certified by a person or entity authorised to certify them under the laws of the relevant country of residence. Examples may include a government, judicial or regulatory body, a lawyer, or a notary public. You will also need to provide a certified translation of any documentation that is not in English.
If you're a non-individual offshore person, you'll need to provide the following information. All documents must be certified.
Incorporated entities
You must provide:
- a copy of the certificate of incorporation
- the passport photo page of an executive office holder or director
- proof of residential address of an executive office holder or director
- bank account details if you're resident of a country New Zealand has a double tax agreement (DTA) or automatic exchange of information agreement (AEOI) with
- the stock exchange listing, if listed
- the names, addresses, and TIN numbers of all directors
- the names, addresses, and TIN numbers of all shareholders, if the company has 5 or fewer shareholders.
Unincorporated entities
You must provide:
- a copy of the certificate of registration, copy of trust deed or agreement (as applies)
- the passport photo page of an executive office holder, trustee, partner, executor or owner
- bank account details if you're resident of a country New Zealand has a double tax agreement (DTA) or automatic exchange of information agreement (AEOI) with.
- proof of residential address of an executive office holder, trustee, partner, executor or owner
- the names, addresses, TIN numbers of executive office holders, trustees, partners, executors or owners.
Documents need to be certified by a person or entity authorised to certify them under the laws of the relevant country of residence. Examples may include a government, judicial or regulatory body, a lawyer, or a notary public. You will also need to provide a certified translation of any documentation that is not in English.