Company formation in New Zealand
What a foreigner needs for a New Zealand company in 2026: director, fees, taxes and reporting.
A company in New Zealand is registered online by the Companies Register, usually within one or two working days. It is a private limited company under the Companies Act 1993. The founder can be a foreigner, but at least one director must live in New Zealand or in Australia, and in the latter case must also be a director of an Australian company. A New Zealand company is transparent to banks and partners: director and shareholder details are public. US dollar amounts use the European Central Bank rate of 5 October 2026, about 1.79 New Zealand dollars per US dollar.
How much does it cost to register a company in New Zealand: government fees
| Payment | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation | NZD 10 plus GST, ~$10 | Online, before applying |
| Company registration | NZD 118.74 plus GST, ~$80 | Online via the Companies Register |
| Annual return | small fee | Yearly confirmation of company details |
| Tax number | no fee | Assigned at registration |
Registration is about $80, but without a New Zealand or Australian director there is no company
The law does not stop you from registering a New Zealand company online on your own. But mistakes cost more than the fees: no director living in New Zealand or Australia, an address without the owner's consent, a missed annual return that gets the company struck off, and a bank that will not open an account without a link to the country. Murblz specialists set up a structure with a director meeting the law, register the company and its tax number and support the account opening.
The cost of support depends on the company type, ownership structure and whether you need an account; a manager will calculate it in the chat.
Company requirements
- Director: at least one living in New Zealand, or living in Australia and also a director of an Australian company.
- Shareholder: at least one, of any nationality, can be a company.
- A registered office and address for service in New Zealand.
- Consents of directors and shareholders are filed with the application.
- A tax number for the company and employer registration if needed.
How registration works
- Checking and reserving the name.
- Finding a director who meets the residence requirement.
- Online application with director and shareholder consents.
- Certificate of incorporation and company number, usually within one or two working days.
- Tax number and GST registration if needed.
- A bank account for the New Zealand company.
Taxes and reporting
- Corporate income tax: 28%.
- GST: 15%. Registration is mandatory once 12-month turnover exceeds NZD 60,000, about $33,600.
- Annual return to the Companies Register in the month set at registration.
- The company tax return is filed yearly, with tax paid in instalments during the year.
- A foreign parent controlling the New Zealand company also follows its own country's tax rules.
An account for a New Zealand company
A company that is 25% or more foreign-owned receives its tax number only after it opens a New Zealand bank account, so the account comes first; banks look at the directors and real activity in the country. Since 1 July 2025 a government depositor compensation scheme has applied: up to NZD 100,000, about $55,900, per depositor per bank or other deposit taker.
Why problems arise
- No director resident in New Zealand or Australia: the application is rejected.
- A director in name only, with management from another country: a risk of tax residency there.
- The bank will not open an account without a clear business and link to New Zealand.
- A missed annual return: the company may be removed from the register.
What we do
Murblz specialists check and reserve the name, provide an address and a qualifying director, register the company, obtain the tax number and GST registration, and prepare the bank file. The basic package with registration, address, secretary, fees, apostille and nominee service for a year is $7,800; with bank account pre-approval $9,100.
Fees
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Base package | $7 800 |
| Package with nominee service | $7 800 |
| Package with bank pre-approval (incl. bank account pre-approval) | $9 100 |
We will calculate online the cost of registering and running your company for the first year.
See also
Business account · Personal account · Investment property · Country taxes · All country programs
FAQ
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Want to open a company in New Zealand?
We register your New Zealand company with a director living in New Zealand or Australia, obtain the tax number and help open a local bank account. The catalogue covers every country.
The Murblz consultant replies straight away in the chat on this page. Describe your situation and we will work it out together.
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