A free, plain-English checklist that walks a brand-new New Zealand sole trader through the handful of tax things that actually matter in year one, so nothing important slips through the cracks.

What's in the checklist

The checklist is a single, scannable page covering the tax basics every new sole trader needs to get right early. It is organised as plain yes/no actions rather than jargon, and it includes:

  • IRD number and registration - making sure you are set up to be taxed as a sole trader.
  • The GST decision - whether you are near the $60,000 turnover line and need to register, or might choose to voluntarily.
  • Provisional tax awareness - the $5,000 residual-income-tax trigger and why a good year creates next year's instalments.
  • ACC levies - the separate invoice that surprises a lot of first-year sole traders.
  • Records to keep - what to hold onto, for how long (generally seven years), and how to keep it painless.
  • Key deadlines - the 7 July IR3 date and how a tax-agent link can extend it.
Hand-drawn illustration: What's in the checklist — NZ sole-trader tax starter checklist

Who it's for

It is written for people who have just started, or are about to start, working for themselves in New Zealand: tradespeople, freelancers, consultants, creatives, gig and contract workers, and anyone turning a side hustle into real income. If you have never filed an IR3 as a self-employed person, or you are not sure whether GST applies to you yet, this is the page to start with. It assumes no tax knowledge and explains the why, not just the what.

How to use it

Work down it once when you start, then keep it handy for the first year.

  • Tick off the setup items first (IRD number, GST decision) so your foundations are right.
  • Set aside tax as you earn using the simple percentage rule on the list, so provisional tax and ACC are never a scramble.
  • Diarise the deadlines from the checklist so the 7 July date does not creep up.
  • Revisit it at the GST line - if your turnover approaches $60,000, the registration threshold section tells you what to do next.

Download it free

The checklist is free. Pop your email into the form on this page and we will send it straight over, along with the occasional plain-English NZ tax tip you can unsubscribe from any time. There is no cost and no obligation; it is simply the head start we wish every new sole trader had on day one.

This checklist is general information only, current at the time of writing, and not personalised tax advice. Your situation may differ, so confirm the detail with us or check ird.govt.nz.

Where to go next

Once you have the checklist, the natural next steps are our sole-trader returns service if you would rather hand the IR3 over, our first year in business guide for the wider picture, and the full services overview. When you are ready for a human, book a free 20-minute review and we will quote a fixed fee.

In plain English: grab the free checklist, tick off the basics, set tax aside as you earn, and your first year as a sole trader stops being a guessing game.

This is general information, not personalised tax advice.See our full disclaimer.