How to apply for your IRD number in New Zealand

The processing time depends on the delivery option you chose:

• Email: 8 working days
• Text: 8 working days
• Post: 20 working days

If necessary, you may be contacted for further information. In this case, it may take longer to receive your IRD number.

If you don’t get your IRD number by the expected date, don’t worry and give it a few more days. Still no news? Grab your IRD number application number and go to this page.

And remember that you can still start working without your IRD number—you will have to give it to your employer as soon as you get it but it’s still legal for you to work in New Zealand.

New Zealand made it very easy to access all the information you need online. The myIR account you created as part of the IRD number application process is a real goldmine of information about your income in New Zealand. It contains all your personal info—for instance, you can find your income by month/year/tax year and employers.

This information can be very useful, especially if you apply for a WHV extension.
Finally, your IRDnumber will also be useful when you file your tax return in New Zealand and your home country.