IR595 — IRD Number Application (Individual Currently in New Zealand)

What is IR595 (IRD number application)?

An IRD number is your personal tax number in New Zealand. You need one to be taxed correctly at work, to open KiwiSaver, apply for a student loan or Working for Families, and to deal with Inland Revenue. The IR595 is the paper application for anyone who is currently in New Zealand — new arrivals, school leavers, and parents applying for a child. If you're overseas, Inland Revenue uses a different form, the IR742.

The IR595 is not posted. You fill it in, sign it in ink, and take it with your original identity documents and a photocopy of each to an Automobile Association (AA) Driver Licensing agent for an 'In person verification'. The agent checks your documents, keeps the form and forwards it to Inland Revenue. You can also use it to ask Inland Revenue to confirm an IRD number you think you already have.

FileIt helps you fill in the October 2025 edition of the IR595 accurately. The form uses one capital letter per box, and its suburb, town, country and postcode share a single row of boxes — FileIt lays each part out under its caption, and puts 8-digit IRD numbers in the right boxes. Names, dates of birth and addresses can be pre-filled from your People records, and the finished PDF is saved to your FileIt vault. You then print it, sign it by hand and take it to the agent yourself.

Who needs to fill out IR595 (IRD number application)?

• People who have arrived in New Zealand and need an IRD number before they start work.
• New Zealanders who never got an IRD number — for example school leavers starting their first job.
• Parents or caregivers applying for an IRD number for a child under 16 in their care.
• People who think they already have an IRD number but can't find it, and want Inland Revenue to confirm it.
• New arrivals who will keep receiving overseas income and may qualify for the temporary tax exemption on foreign income.
• Non-resident contractors and non-resident seasonal workers who are in New Zealand.

When to use IR595 (IRD number application)

• As soon as you know you'll be earning income in New Zealand — employers need your IRD number for your IR330 tax code declaration.
• Before you apply for KiwiSaver, a student loan or Working for Families, which all rely on an IRD number.
• When you want a child to have their own IRD number, for example for savings or Working for Families.
• If you're the parent of a new baby whose birth isn't registered yet, you don't need this form — you can apply for the baby's IRD number with the birth registration form.
• If you're outside New Zealand, use the IR742 offshore application instead.

What you need before you start

• 1 original primary (Category A) ID — for example a New Zealand passport, an overseas passport with a visa granted by Immigration New Zealand (not needed for Australian, Cook Islands, Niue or Tokelau passports), a full NZ birth certificate issued after 1 January 1998, or an NZ citizenship certificate.
• 1 original secondary (Category B) ID — for example a New Zealand driver licence (both sides), an overseas driver licence, a Kiwi Access Card, NZ student photo ID or an International Driving Permit.
• A legible photocopy of each document you bring.
• If your documents are in a different name, the original marriage, civil union or name change certificate plus a copy.
• For a child under 16: your own Category A and B ID, plus the child's NZ passport, full NZ birth certificate, NZ citizenship certificate or NZ student photo ID (or overseas passport with its NZ visa).
• Linking documents if your ID doesn't show your relationship to the child — such as adoption papers, parenting or guardianship orders, an overseas birth certificate, or a Statutory declaration (IR595D).
• Your residential address in New Zealand (not a PO box), and a postal address if different.
• Your date of arrival in New Zealand, if you're claiming the temporary tax exemption on foreign income.
• A mobile number and email address if you'd like the number sent by text or email.

What’s on IR595 (IRD number application)

The 2025 edition has 4 pages. FileIt asks for it in 10 parts:

1. What you're asking forApplicant
2. Children under 16Parent or caregiver
3. Applicant informationApplicant
4. Address informationApplicant
5. Current postal addressApplicant
6. Tax exemption on foreign incomeApplicant
7. Non-resident contractor or seasonal workerApplicant
8. Contact informationApplicant
9. Applicant's checklistApplicant
10. DeclarationApplicant

How to fill out IR595 (IRD number application), step by step

1 Applying or confirming, and previous address

Tick whether you're applying for an IRD number or asking Inland Revenue to confirm your existing IRD number. Fill in the form in capital letters, one letter per box, and don't abbreviate — write STREET, not ST.

The previous address section is only for confirmation requests: it helps Inland Revenue check whether a number has already been issued to you.

2 Children under 16

If you're applying for a child in your care, enter your own IRD number here and fill in the rest of the form with the child's details. The IRD number must belong to the person providing the documents that identify the child and show the relationship. For a Working for Families application, it must belong to the principal caregiver.

The form notes that 8-digit IRD numbers start in the second box; FileIt places them there for you.

3 Applicant information

Enter the applicant's name exactly as shown on their identity documents — first name, middle names and last name. If you have a single name, enter it as both first and last name. Tick a title, and give any previous name (maiden name, known as, or a name before a change of name), then the date of birth.

If your ID documents are in a previous name, bring the document that shows the change.

4 Address information

Give your residential address — not a PO box or private bag number. Add a current postal address only if it's different from your home address.

On the paper form, the suburb or RD, town or city, country and postcode share one row of 33 boxes with a caption under each. FileIt lays each part out under its caption; for a New Zealand address, the country may be left off if it doesn't fit, since the postcode shows it's in New Zealand.

5 Tax exemption

Answer this only if you'll continue to receive income from overseas. The form explains that you qualify for a temporary tax exemption on certain foreign income for 4 calendar years (up to 49 months) if you haven't been a New Zealand tax resident at any time in the 10 years before your arrival date.

If you answer Yes, give your date of arrival in New Zealand. The exemption can only be claimed once, and you can't receive Working for Families while your foreign income is tax exempt.

6 Non-resident contractor or seasonal worker information

Tick whether you're a non-resident contractor, a non-resident seasonal worker using the NSW tax code, or neither. You're a non-resident contractor for the first 183 days (in any 12-month period) of being in New Zealand if you've come to work as an independent contractor.

You're not a contractor if you'll be an employee earning salary or wages. If you're unsure, the form suggests asking your employer.

7 Contact information

Give a mobile number, home phone and email. You can tick the consent box to receive your IRD number by email or text message. The form explains Inland Revenue can't guarantee emails won't be intercepted in transit; if you don't consent, your number is posted to you.

8 Applicant's checklist

Tick each item as you complete it: current primary ID and photocopy, current secondary ID and photocopy, photocopies of any additional documents such as a visa letter, linking documents for a child, your part of the form, and your signature.

9 Declaration

Sign and date the declaration in ink. By signing, you declare the information is true and correct, authorise Inland Revenue to contact any agency that issued a document you used to verify its details, and confirm you've read the privacy statement.

The 'Verifier use only' box at the bottom is for the agent — leave it blank.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Posting the form to Inland Revenue. The form says in capitals: DO NOT post your application — take it to an AA Driver Licensing agent.
• Bringing only photocopies. You need the original documents as well as a legible photocopy of each.
• Bringing two documents from the same category — you need one primary (Category A) and one secondary (Category B).
• Using a nickname or a name that doesn't match your ID. Use the name exactly as it appears on your identity documents.
• Writing a PO box as your residential address.
• Abbreviating words such as STREET to ST — the form asks for capital letters and no abbreviations.
• Forgetting to sign in ink before going to the agent.
• Using the IR595 while you're overseas — the IR742 is the offshore form.

After you fill it out

Print the completed form and sign and date it by hand. Then take it, with your original identity documents and a photocopy of each, to an Automobile Association (AA) Driver Licensing agent for an 'In person verification'. The agent keeps the form and forwards it to Inland Revenue.

The form says Inland Revenue aims to process applications within 8-10 working days of receiving them, and will text, email or post your IRD number; a posted number can take 12 working days to arrive.

Keep the filled-in copy in your FileIt vault, and when your IRD number arrives, record it with your other tax documents. You'll need it straight away for your IR330 tax code declaration and, if you're joining KiwiSaver through work, your KS2.

IR595 (IRD number application): frequently asked questions

Official sources

• Blank form (PDF), published by Inland Revenue (Te Tari Taake): https://www.ird.govt.nz/-/media/project/ir/home/documents/forms-and-guides/ir500---ir599/ir595/ir595-6-oct-2025.pdf
• Official instructions and guidance: https://www.ird.govt.nz/managing-my-tax/ird-numbers/ird-numbers-for-individuals/living-and-new-zealand-and-not-a-new-arrival---ird-number-application
• Edition shown on this page: IR595 October 2025 (checked 2026-09-25).

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 2026-09-25.

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