How To File An Annual Return With The Companies Office

How To File An Annual Return With The Companies Office

Accountants and lawyers charge you fees to file annual returns with the Companies Office that many company owners can do themselves for nothing.

I do not recommend this if the shareholders of the company are not mum-and-dad business owners or where shareholders are not amicable. In these situations an accountant or lawyer should be consulted.

What is “annual company filing”?

The Companies Office requires all companies to file an annual return updating the Companies Office register of any changes to the management, control, and/or addresses of your company. This is a legal requirement.

Failing to file will eventually lead to your company being struck off the Companies Office register. Although it is possible to restore a company, it is expensive to do so. Considering it is free to file your company return, it is a good idea to stay on top of this.

You can check when your company return is due to be filed. Visit http://www.business.govt.nz/companies/ and search the register for your company. You can check on the AR filing date in the first few lines of information.

No financial information needs to be provided when filing your company return – so there is no need to wait until your end of year tax is filed.

Here’s how to do it:

Set up an RealMe login.

1. If you don’t already have an RealMe login, you’ll need this to file an annual return. Otherwise move onto the next step.

2. Visit http://www.business.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/logon/register to get started.

Get authority over your company.

1. If you didn’t form this company yourself, you’ll need to get authority over the company to file your annual return. Otherwise move onto the next step.

2. You need to be a director or an authorised person to have authority over a company.

3. To get authority over a company visit http://www.business.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/requestAuthority

4. Search for the company, select authority for yourself and confirm you are a director or authorised person.

5. Request authority either from

- Another director or authorised person (if this option is offered). Your request will be emailed to the director or authorised person. They will need to respond to the request. You will be notified when this takes place.

- The Registrar of Companies. Enter the details as requested. You will be emailed within three working days confirming your authority request.

- By providing the company key (if you have this)

- By faxing your request to the Companies Office

If all else fails, visit http://www.business.govt.nz/companies/learn-about/company-authority/template-letter-of-authorisation.pdf. Fill out the form and fax to 0508 288 467

File your annual return

1. Visit http://www.business.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/fileAnnualReturn

2. Confirm as correct each of the items in the list or edit and update where necessary.

3. Provide a date of the company’s most recent annual meeting or provide a date in lieu of that meeting. Many companies don’t have official annual meetings and instead resolve not to have an annual meeting. Just remember to note this and make sure everyone signs the note. Store this with your company documents.

3. Submit.

Congratulations. You just filed your own annual return and it only took about ten minutes. Now you know what you are doing, next time it will be even quicker!

Further Information

For more help, visit http://www.business.govt.nz/companies/help-support/videos/filing-annual-return.

http://www.nzaccounting.nz

ENDS

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