Getting support to use the Companies Register
- Uploading documents to the Companies Register Find out what file types and sizes you can upload when you use our online services.
- Filing documents with electronic signatures What you need to know about submitting documents using an electronic signature.
- Forgotten your RealMe® username or password How to access your online services account if you've forgotten your RealMe® username or password.
- Searching the Companies Register Find out about your search options and the information we hold about NZ and overseas companies.
- Searching the PPSR from the Companies Register Find out about a company's secured property by searching the PPSR from the Companies Register.
- Searching using other applications Search for NZ and Australian companies on mobile using NZAUConnect, and find out about our APIs.
- NZBN and the Companies Register What the New Zealand Business Number (NZBN) is and how the Companies and NZBN Registers are connected.
- Suppressing a residential address on the register A company director or shareholder who has a protection order granted by the NZ Family Court can apply to have their residential address suppressed on the register.
Other help topics
Before you start a company
3 guides
Get an overview of how companies are structured, find out about the company records you need to keep, and what's involved when you incorporate with and report to the Companies Office.
Starting a company
11 guides
You need to comply with New Zealand laws when you incorporate your company with the Companies Office, including reserving a company name, appointing directors, issuing shares and registering for tax.
- Incorporating a company
- Reserving a name for a new company
- Company addresses
- Tax registration
- Registering the appointment of a director
- Registering a shareholder
- Filing director and shareholder consent forms
- Issuing shares in a company
- Incorporating with a company constitution
- How overseas companies set up as a NZ business
- Ultimate holding companies
Keeping company details up to date
13 guides
Once your company is registered with the Companies Office, nominate who will have authority to file your annual returns, and update your name, address, constitution, director and shareholder details.
- Confirming your authority
- How to file an annual return
- Getting a copy of your company information
- Updating company addresses
- Updating a director's details
- Registering the appointment of a director
- Updating a shareholder's details
- Managing share allocations
- Changing the name of a company
- Adding, amending or removing a company constitution
- Changing your financial reporting month
- Adding or updating additional NZBN information
Shares and shareholders
7 guides
When you incorporate, you must provide details of all company shares and shareholders. As changes occur, you must update this information on your own share register and in your company's annual return.
Company directors
7 guides
Directors have responsibilities to their company and shareholders, and under the Companies Act 1993. You must register all your directors with the Companies Office and they must sign a consent form.
Filing annual returns
7 guides
Find out about filing an annual return — the information you need to update, how to change your filing month or request a time extension — and what happens if you don't file your annual return by the due date.
Complying with the law
12 guides
Find out how New Zealand law affects the directors and shareholders of your company, and your responsibility to create and maintain accurate company records, report to us and file financial statements.
- Keeping company records
- Reporting to the Companies Office
- Company meetings
- Keeping company records
- How to file an annual return
- Reporting to the Companies Office
- Who needs to submit financial statements
- What it means to be a director
- Banned directors
- What it means to be a shareholder
- How we enforce the law
- Making a complaint
Financial reporting
7 guides
Some large New Zealand and overseas companies, and all FMC reporting entities must submit audited annual financial statements to the Companies Office.
Managing an overseas company in New Zealand
11 guides
Before they can carry out some business activities, companies incorporated in other countries, including Australia, must register with the Companies Office and then keep their company details up to date.
- Registering your company to do business in NZ
- How overseas companies set up as a NZ business
- How to transfer incorporation to NZ
- Financial reporting for overseas companies
- Reporting for NZ companies registered in Australia
- Annual returns for overseas companies
- Updating directors' details
- Updating addresses of overseas companies
- Changing the name of an overseas company
- Updating the constitution of an overseas company
- How to remove a company from the Overseas Register
Closing a company
10 guides
When your company closes down you need to remove it from the register. Your company can be removed if it amalgamates with another company or doesn't file its annual return.
- Before you close your company
- Removing your company from the register
- When the Registrar removes your company
- Objecting to the removal of a company
- Withdrawing an objection
- How companies amalgamate
- Before you apply for amalgamation
- Preparing documents for a short-form amalgamation
- Preparing documents for a long-form amalgamation
- Applying for company amalgamations
Restoring a company to the register
4 guides
Only some companies can be reinstated to the Companies Register once they've been removed. Find out who can apply, what evidence to provide and if you should apply to the Registrar or the High Court.
When your company fails
9 guides
Find out about voluntary administration, receivership and liquidation (external administration), and the roles and responsibilities of those appointed to manage your company's affairs.
- What happens during voluntary administration
- Appointment and responsibilities of administrators
- What happens after a watershed meeting
- What happens during receivership
- Appointment and responsibilities of receivers
- What happens during liquidation
- Appointment and responsibilities of liquidators
- Filing by administrators, liquidators or receivers
- Holding creditors' meetings
Managing your online account
8 guides
Creating an account with the Companies Office allows you to complete the majority of your transactions online. It's free to set up, but fees apply for some transactions, such as filing annual returns.