Full source list for What do I actually need to do to start a business in NZ — and in what order?
Five numbered references for /wayfinder/refs/what-to-start-in-what-order:
1. Consent-form deadline: under the Companies Act 1993 and Companies Office process rules, consent forms for directors and shareholders must be signed and returned within 20 working days of submitting the online application for incorporation. Failure to return signed forms within that window results in cancellation of the registration; fees are not refunded.
2. IRD number for companies: a company has its own IRD number, separate from any personal IRD number of its directors or shareholders. The company IRD number can be requested as part of the Companies Office incorporation flow (co-registration) or applied for separately through myIR after incorporation completes. Sole traders use their personal IRD number for all business activity.
3. GST registration threshold: $60,000 of taxable supplies in any 12-month period (rolling), per section 51 of the Goods and Services Tax Act 1985. The threshold operates on a rolling 12-month basis — it does not reset each financial year. Voluntary registration below the threshold is permitted. Detailed GST registration considerations are covered in the GST registration entry.
4. Bank account requirements: NZ banks require IRD numbers before opening business bank accounts. For sole traders, the personal IRD number is sufficient. For companies, the company IRD number is required, which means incorporation must be complete and the IRD number must have been issued. Banks also typically require certificate of incorporation, NZBN, and identification for all directors and signatories. This is bank policy rather than legislation, but is consistent across the major NZ banks.
5. NZBN (New Zealand Business Number): automatically assigned to companies, partnerships, sole traders with employees, and other registered business types at registration. Sole traders without employees may apply for an NZBN separately at nzbn.govt.nz. The NZBN is a 13-digit identifier used for business-to-business identification, government interactions, and supplier-onboarding processes. It is not a tax registration; it does not replace an IRD number or GST registration.