Applying to remove your company from the register

In this guide:

• Before you begin
• The information you'll need to provide
• Completing your online application
  • Step by step
• What happens next — processing your application
• Relevant legislation

Before you begin

Before you can ask us to remove your company from the register, there are steps you need to take so the process goes smoothly.

The information you’ll need to provide

When you complete your application you’ll need to—

• Provide the name of the person the company authorised to make the request
  • If that person was authorised by a shareholders’ resolution, you also need to provide a signed copy of that resolution. Make sure the resolution—
    • Includes the date it was passed,
    • is signed by at least 75% of the shareholders in number that hold at least 75% of the voting shares, and
    • includes each signatory’s full name and signature.
• Confirm the grounds for applying for removal (see note below)
• Provide a copy of the Inland Revenue ‘no objection’ letter.
  • This letter must be no more than 6 months old when you apply.

There are no fees, it’s free to apply.

Completing your online application

To apply for a removal you must have:

• a RealMe® login
• an online services account for the Companies Register
• authority to act to update the register for this company.

Step by step

Log in to your online services account, enter the company’s name, company number or New Zealand Business Number (NZBN) and follow these steps.

1. Select the ‘My tools’ menu
2. Choose ‘Apply for removal from the Companies Register’
3. Complete the application form—
   • Provide the name of the person authorised to apply
   • Confirm the grounds for applying
     Upload copies of the shareholders resolution (if applicable), and the Inland Revenue ‘no objection’ letter.
   • Optional – Add any comments you’d like to include and upload other supporting documents.
4. Select ‘Submit’ to send us your application.

What happens next — processing your application

Within 5 working days we’ll send you an email letting you know the outcome of your application. If it's approved, this email will also tell you the date we'll publish a public notice advising of our intention to remove your company from the register.

We’ll publish a public notice

We must give public notice of any companies that have requested removal from the Companies Register. We do this by placing notices every 2 weeks in the—

• New Zealand Gazette — under Removals
• the News and notices section of our website.

News and notices

Wait for any objections (if any)

Once the notice has been published, the public have 20 working days to object to the removal of the company. Anyone can object during this time, as long as their objection is for a reason defined under Section 321 of the Companies Act 1993.

Remove the company from the Companies Register

If, after 20 working days, we've received no objections the company is removed from the Companies Register. The company’s details are still visible on the Companies Register, but it’s status will show as 'Removed'.

Relevant legislation

Related guides

If your company is registered on the Overseas Register 

The process for removing a company is different for overseas companies. If you're no longer intending to carry on business in NZ you must give public notice of your intention and then notify us after 3 months.

Other guides in

Closing a company

• Before you close your company
• When the Registrar removes your company
• Objecting to the removal of a company
• Withdrawing an objection

Other help topics