Oceania · Limited Company
Register a company in New Zealand
Founders who want the fastest, cheapest, simplest incorporation in the developed world — provided they can line up an NZ-resident (or qualifying Australian) director.
- Government fee
- $83
- NZ$118.74 + GST (NZ$136.55 incl GST)
- Corporate tax
- 28%
- headline
- Min. capital
- ≈ none
- effectively none
- Setup time
- Often same-day to 1 business day
Deep dives
Everything on New Zealand, in depth
At a glance
How New Zealand scores for a non-resident
Relative edge
The fastest, simplest incorporation in the developed world — often done in hours.
Relative watch-out
A resident director is required and the flat 28% tax has no small-business break.
Scores are Lanzamo's editorial judgement (0–100, higher = better for a non-resident founder), built on the verified data on this page — guidance, not advice.
The essentials
For non-resident founders
Can you run it from abroad?
The headline fee rarely decides it — these are the things that actually trip up a founder forming New Zealand from another country.
100% foreign ownership
Non-residents can own 100%, but at least one director must 'live in New Zealand' — OR live in Australia AND be a director of an Australian company (Australia is NZ's only enforcement country). Most foreign founders without an Australian directorship appoint an NZ-resident director.
Fully remote setup
Incorporation is among the fastest and most digital in the world — frequently completed online within hours via RealMe. The main remote obstacle is the resident-director requirement.
Resident director required
At least one director must live in NZ (or in Australia plus hold an Australian directorship). The company must have a registered office and address for service in New Zealand (an agent/address service satisfies this).
Banking for non-residents: Hard
NZ banks (ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Westpac, Kiwibank) apply strict AML/CFT checks and are reluctant to onboard non-resident-controlled companies; in-person verification and a genuine NZ presence are commonly required. Fintech accounts (Wise, Airwallex) are common stopgaps.
Accounting burden: Low
Comparatively light: file an annual IRD income-tax return (IR4) and the Companies Office annual return, and keep records. Most small/medium companies aren't required to file audited statements. The flat 28% rate keeps things simple.
Why founders pick New Zealand
- Fastest and cheapest of the developed peers — often incorporated online within hours for ~NZ$137
- Flat, simple 28% company tax with no tiers and no state layer; low ongoing compliance
- Consistently top-ranked for ease of doing business; fully digital filing via RealMe
- Audited financial statements not required for most small private companies
Watch out for
- At least one director must live in NZ (or Australia with an Australian directorship) — usually a paid service
- Opening a bank account as a non-resident is hard; banks apply strict AML checks
- Flat 28% offers no small-business concession — higher than Australia's 25% base rate
- A pending 2025 MBIE fee/levy review may change government costs
Is New Zealand the right base for you?
Put New Zealand side by side with a U.S. LLC and 11 other jurisdictions — government fee, tax, capital and the resident-director catch — and decide with the full picture.
Official sources
Go straight to the authorities — these are the free, definitive sources for New Zealand.
Data reviewed June 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Can a non-resident register a company in New Zealand?
Non-residents can own 100%, but at least one director must 'live in New Zealand' — OR live in Australia AND be a director of an Australian company (Australia is NZ's only enforcement country). Most foreign founders without an Australian directorship appoint an NZ-resident director.
How much does it cost to register a Limited in New Zealand?
The government fee is about $83 (NZ$118.74 + GST (NZ$136.55 incl GST)). Companies Office online incorporation is NZ$118.74 excl GST (NZ$136.55 incl GST). Reserving a name first costs NZ$10 excl GST. A 2025 MBIE review proposed restructuring these fees, but the current schedule still applies. Budget roughly $35/yr in mandatory government filings. Every company files an Annual Return with the Companies Office: NZ$49.74 excl GST (NZ$57.20 incl GST). This confirms register details and is separate from the IRD income-tax return.
Do I need a resident director to form a company in New Zealand?
Yes. At least one director must live in NZ (or in Australia plus hold an Australian directorship). The company must have a registered office and address for service in New Zealand (an agent/address service satisfies this).
What is the corporate tax rate in New Zealand?
Flat 28% company income-tax rate on all taxable profit — no small-business band, no tiers, and no provincial/state corporate tax. New Zealand operates full dividend imputation, so resident shareholders get credit for company tax paid.
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