Inland Revenue (Te Tari Taake) Edition IR359 June 2026 2 pages

IR359 IR56 Worker Registration — Inland Revenue

The form to register with Inland Revenue as an IR56 worker — someone who works for a household or a foreign employer and pays their own PAYE.

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IR359 IR56 worker registration · IR56 worker registration
The official Inland Revenue (Te Tari Taake) form, edition IR359 June 2026 — blank
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IR359 IR56 worker registration (2026) IR56 worker registration — page 1 of 2
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Fill this form online Blank PDF from Inland Revenue (Te Tari Taake)

What is IR359 IR56 worker registration?

Some workers in New Zealand deduct and pay their own PAYE instead of their employer doing it. Inland Revenue calls them IR56 workers. Examples are embassy staff, New Zealand-based employees of an overseas employer, United States Antarctic Program workers, and part-time private domestic workers such as home helpers, caregivers, nannies or childminders, cleaners and gardeners. You can't be an IR56 worker if you're self-employed.

The IR359 is the paper registration form (you can also register in myIR). It asks for your IRD number, name and addresses, a contact number, when your IR56 work starts, the type of work you do, whether you'd like an invitation to a workshop or business seminar, an optional contact person, and a signed declaration.

FileIt fills in Inland Revenue's own IR359 PDF from a guided form. An 8-digit IRD number is placed from the second box, names with macrons or accents print correctly, and the completed form is saved to your FileIt vault, ready to sign and post.

Who fills it
The worker registering as an IR56 worker
Sent to
Inland Revenue, PO Box 39010, Wellington Mail Centre, Lower Hutt 5045 (or register in myIR)
Every month after
File employment information within 10 working days of month-end; pay PAYE by the 20th of the following month
Signatures
The worker signs and dates the declaration
Edition
IR359 June 2026

Who needs to fill out IR359 IR56 worker registration?

  • Part-time private domestic workers — home helpers, caregivers, nannies or childminders, cleaners and gardeners — who work in the employer's home, not for their business, are paid directly by the employer, and work less than 30 hours a week on average for any one employer.
  • Embassy staff.
  • New Zealand-based employees of an overseas employer.
  • United States Antarctic Program personnel.
  • It isn't for self-employed people — they can't be IR56 workers.

When to use IR359 IR56 worker registration

  • Before or when you start work where you'll pay your own PAYE — question 6 asks when your IR56 work starts.
  • Instead of the paper form, you can register in myIR under registration, application and enrolment, then register for new tax accounts and choose employer (EMP) and IR56 worker registration.

What you need before you start

  • Your IRD number.
  • Your name, street address and a postal address if it's different.
  • A contact phone number.
  • The date your IR56 work starts.
  • The type of work you do, from the form's list — or a description if none fits — and your BIC (business industry classification) code if one applies.
  • Optionally, the name and phone number of a contact person who deals with your employment information.

What’s on IR359 IR56 worker registration

The 2026 edition has 2 pages. FileIt asks for it in 4 parts, and it is signed by Employee:

  1. About you (questions 1–5)Employee
  2. Your IR56 work (questions 6–8)Employee
  3. 9. Contact personEmployee
  4. 10. DeclarationEmployee

How to fill out IR359 IR56 worker registration, step by step

1 About you (questions 1–5)

Enter your IRD number — an 8-digit number starts in the second box — your first names and surname, your street address, a postal address if it's different, and a contact number.

2 Your IR56 work (questions 6–8)

Give the date your IR56 work starts and pick the work that best describes what you do: community and non-residential care service, a New Zealand-based employee of an overseas employer, child minding in the home, United States Antarctic Program personnel, gardening, lawnmowing, personal services or embassy staff. If none fits, describe what you do. A BIC code isn't needed for overseas-employer or embassy work. At question 8, choose Yes if you'd like an invitation to a workshop or business seminar.

3 Contact person and declaration (questions 9–10)

If someone else deals with your employment information, add their name and number. Then sign and date the declaration that the information is true and correct.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Registering when you're self-employed — IR56 status is for employees who pay their own PAYE.
  • Registering as a private domestic worker when you work 30 or more hours a week on average for one employer.
  • Starting the 8-digit IRD number in the first box.
  • Forgetting the monthly obligations: employment information within 10 working days of month-end and PAYE payment by the 20th of the following month.
  • Not telling Inland Revenue when you have no IR56 income in a month — failing to let them know may result in a late filing penalty.

After you fill it out

Sign and date the declaration and post the form to Inland Revenue, PO Box 39010, Wellington Mail Centre, Lower Hutt 5045.

Inland Revenue sends you employment information returns every month. File them in myIR or on paper within 10 working days after the end of the month, and pay your PAYE and other deductions — such as KiwiSaver, student loan repayments and child support if they apply — by the 20th of the following month.

The IR56 worker guide (IR356) has more on what to do once you're registered. If you stop IR56 work, cancel your registration in your myIR payroll account. FileIt keeps the completed PDF in your vault.

Fill out IR359 IR56 worker registration online with FileIt

  1. Pick the person. Choose someone from People and FileIt fills in their name, date of birth, address and other details it already knows.
  2. Answer plain-language questions. One part of the form at a time, with the official help text beside each question — 24 fields in all. Your answers save as you go.
  3. Check the live preview. Watch your answers land on the real Inland Revenue (Te Tari Taake) form, and let FileIt do any worksheet arithmetic.
  4. Generate the official PDF. FileIt prints your answers into the agency’s own PDF and files it in that person’s folder in your vault. Sign it, or send it for e-signature.

FileIt fills the form — it never files or submits anything for you. Deliver the finished form to whoever asked for it, the way the form’s instructions say.

Start IR359 IR56 worker registration now — it’s free

IR359 IR56 worker registration: frequently asked questions

What is an IR56 worker?

Someone who is responsible for paying their own PAYE and other deductions — for example embassy staff, a New Zealand-based employee of an overseas employer, a United States Antarctic Program worker, or a part-time private domestic worker such as a nanny, caregiver, home helper, cleaner or gardener.

What is the IR359 form?

The IR359 is Inland Revenue's IR56 worker registration form. You use it to register as an IR56 worker on paper; you can also register in myIR.

Am I a private domestic worker?

Inland Revenue says you are if you work in your employer's home, the work isn't related to the employer's business, you're paid direct by the employer, and you don't work full-time for any one employer (less than 30 hours a week on average).

Where do I send the IR359?

To Inland Revenue, PO Box 39010, Wellington Mail Centre, Lower Hutt 5045.

What do I have to do every month as an IR56 worker?

Keep records of the income you earn, work out how much PAYE to deduct, file employment information within 10 working days after the end of the month, and pay the deductions by the 20th of the following month.

Can I join KiwiSaver as an IR56 worker?

Yes, if you're not already enrolled — contact a KiwiSaver scheme provider. If you join, you can't opt out from paying deductions.

Can I fill in the IR359 online?

Yes. FileIt guides you through the questions and prints your answers into Inland Revenue's official IR359 PDF, ready to sign and post.

Official sources

FileIt is not affiliated with or endorsed by Inland Revenue (Te Tari Taake) or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-09-28.

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