New Zealand is one of the most developed countries of the Pacific region. Currently, it is a parliamentary republic, however New Zealand was a dependency of the UK until 1947, and even to date it has a Governor-General appointed by the British Queen.
New Zealand is known as a jurisdiction with standard taxation level, hence its good image among businessmen and official institutions because it is not included in any "black" lists.
Any company incorporated in New Zealand is considered resident (liable to taxation) and obliged to file annual accounting reports, as well as a Company Tax Return (CTR), therefore normally activities of New Zealand's companies are based on an agent pattern.
Apart from that, New Zealand's legislation allows a resident company to act as a manager of any trust incorporated in New Zealand. The trust is not a subject to taxation, provided its founder (settlor) and beneficiaries are non-residents of New Zealand. A trustee resident company of New Zealand is not subject to taxation either, because in fact funds received thereby are owned by the trust rather than the company proper. With such pattern, a New Zealand company may gain tax-free income and manage it for further distribution of such return among the trust beneficiaries.
| GENERAL INFORMATION | Total area - 265,150 sq. km
Population - 3,470,000.
Location - click here to see the map of offshore jurisdictions
Political status - Commonwealth Nation
Capital - Wellington
Official language - English
Official currency - New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
Time zone - GMT +12 |
| Company type | Company Limited by Shares (Ltd.) |
| Directors/Officers | New Zealand Ltd. company requires a minimum of 1 Director, who must be a natural person from any legal jurisdiction.
Each New Zealand Ltd. company must file a Register of its Directors with the Register of Enterprises of New Zealand. There is no statutory requirement for a company Secretary to be appointed. |
| Shareholders | New Zealand Ltd. company requires a minimum of 1 Shareholder, who may be a natural person or a corporate body from any legal jurisdiction.
Each New Zealand Ltd. company must file a Register of its Shareholder/s with the Register of Enterprises of New Zealand. |
| Authorised share capital | Standard authorised capital = NZD 10.000.
Minimum capital, which must be paid on incorporation = 1 NZD. |
| Company Names | The name of a New Zealand Ltd. company must end with the word "Limited".
Company names containing restricted words such as "Bank", "Insurance", "Trust" etc. will not be permitted unless an appropriate national operating licence has been obtained by the company. |
| Beneficial Ownership information | Information with regard to ultimate beneficial ownership must be disclosed to the Registered Agent of the company and is held by the agent on a confidential basis. |
| Filing of Annual Return | An Annual Return must be submitted every 12 months after the date of registration. |
| Filing of Financial Statement | A Financial Statement (balance sheet) must be submitted every year. |
| Corporate Taxation | Tax rate for New Zealand resident companies is 30%. Usually, New Zealand companies are used in agency scheme, together with other, foreign (offshore) company. A company working as a Trustee on behalf of New Zealand trust is a subject to advantageous tax regime. |
| Tax Treaties | New Zealand has concluded double tax treaties with more than 25 countries. |
| Timeframe for incorporation | 5/6 working days. A complete set of company documents can be delivered in 4/5 weeks. |
| Takeover of management & secretarial services for an existing New Zealand Company Limited by Shares | Possible, following verification of Beneficial Ownership and agreement with and discharge of liabilities to previous corporate service provider in New Zealand. |
| Description of incorporation documents | Click here for itemised description of company documents. |
| "Ready-made"("Shelf") companies | Today we have 38 "Ready-made" companies available in this jurisdiction (click here for list of companies) |
| Price of New Zealand Company Limited by Shares | USD 2.070, including incorporation costs, full domiciliary (Registered Agent/Office) costs, Nominee services and legal support services for one year. The abovementioned price does not include creation of a New Zealand trust. |
| Cost of annual support services | USD 1.680 per year, including full domiciliary (Registered Agent/Office) costs, annual Government Duty, Nominee services and legal support services for each year. Also, there are additional fees for preparing of financial statement, depending on complicity of the statement. |
