Small business
Small business accounting
Accounts, tax and practical advice for sole traders, start-ups and growing businesses across New Zealand.
How we help
From your first return to your next stage
- Getting set upBusiness structure, GST registration and Xero set up properly from day one
- Bookkeeping and XeroReconciled books you can read, kept up to date
- Income tax and GST returnsFiled on time, for sole traders, companies and partnerships
- Provisional tax planningKnow what to set aside, and when each payment is due
- Payroll and PAYEWhen you take on staff, paying them correctly and filing on time
- Cash flow and adviceForecasts and plain-English advice on what to do next
Worth knowing
Key rules for small businesses
- GST registration
- You must register for GST if your turnover was, or is expected to be, $60,000 or more over 12 months. GST is charged at 15%.
- GST filing options
- Monthly or two-monthly filing is open to most businesses. Six-monthly filing is available if your sales are under $500,000 in any 12 months.
- Provisional tax
- If your tax to pay at the end of the year was more than $5,000, you will usually pay provisional tax. Under the standard option with a March balance date, it is due in three instalments: 28 August, 15 January and 7 May.
- Using a tax agent
- Individual income tax returns are due by 7 July, unless you have a tax agent or an extension of time.
Based on Inland Revenue guidance, checked November 2026. Tax rules change, and every situation is different, so please talk to us before acting on it. Sources: registering for GST, GST filing frequency, provisional tax, provisional tax dates, individual tax returns.
Questions
Small business questions
Should I be a sole trader or a company?
It depends on your income, your risk and your plans for the business. We will talk through the options with you in your free consultation.
I have just started. When should I talk to an accountant?
As early as you can. Getting GST, records and Xero set up properly from the start saves time and tax later.
I am behind on my returns. Can you help?
Yes. Catching up is common. We will file what is outstanding, talk to IRD for you and, where needed, help arrange an instalment plan.
Free consultation
Let's talk about where your business is heading
Sixty minutes, free, with a fixed quote before any work starts.