IR625 Refund for a Deceased Person: Fill In Online

What is IR625 (refund for a deceased person)?

When someone dies, Inland Revenue may still owe them a tax refund, for example from their final income tax assessment. Normally the executor or administrator of the estate deals with it. But many small estates never go through probate. The IR625 is how a close family member or other entitled person claims the refund when there's no will, no probate and no letters of administration.

On the form you tick the category that entitles you to the refund, give your own details and the details of the person who died, and give a New Zealand bank account for the refund. You then sign a solemn declaration that, to the best of your knowledge, the person left no will and nobody else has applied to administer their estate. Inland Revenue says the form is only valid for amounts up to $40,000; for more, probate is needed.

FileIt fills in the October 2020 edition of the IR625 for you. It prints names with macrons and accents correctly, puts 8-digit IRD numbers in the right boxes, checks IRD numbers against Inland Revenue's check-digit rule, and splits the bank account number across the form's bank, branch, account and suffix boxes. The finished PDF is saved to your FileIt vault, ready to sign and post.

Who fills it: The spouse, partner, child or other entitled next of kin of the person who died
When: There's a tax refund owing and no will, probate or letters of administration
Limit: Valid for refunds up to $40,000; above that, apply for probate
Sent to: Inland Revenue, PO Box 39010, Wellington Mail Centre, Lower Hutt 5045
Attach: A copy of the death certificate if the person died outside New Zealand
Edition: IR625 October 2020

Who needs to fill out IR625 (refund for a deceased person)?

A widow, widower or child of the person who died.
A surviving civil union or de facto partner.
Someone entitled to the estate under intestacy (the rules that apply when there's no will).
Someone entitled to obtain administration of the estate.
A relative by blood or marriage who is maintaining the person's children.
The custodian of the person's children.

When to use IR625 (refund for a deceased person)

When Inland Revenue owes a refund to someone who has died and there's no will, probate or letters of administration.
Only when the refund is $40,000 or less. Inland Revenue says a larger refund needs probate.
Not when an executor or administrator has been appointed. They deal with the estate's tax affairs instead.
The form only lets you receive the refund. It doesn't authorise you to speak for the person or make changes on their behalf.

What you need before you start

Your full name, address, phone number and occupation, and your IRD number if you have one.
The full name, last address and IRD number (if known) of the person who died.
Where they died and the date of death.
A copy of the death certificate if they died outside New Zealand.
A New Zealand bank account number for the refund (bank, branch, account and suffix).

What’s on IR625 (refund for a deceased person)

The 2020 edition has 1 page. FileIt asks for it in 5 parts, and it is signed by Claimant (next of kin):

Why you're entitled to the refundClaimant (next of kin)
About youClaimant (next of kin)
The person who diedClaimant (next of kin)
Bank account for the refundClaimant (next of kin)
DeclarationClaimant (next of kin)

How to fill out IR625 (refund for a deceased person), step by step

1 Your entitlement

Tick the one category that entitles you to the refund: widow, widower or child; surviving civil union or de facto partner; entitled under intestacy; entitled to obtain administration of the estate; a relative maintaining the person's children; or the custodian of their children.

2 Your details

Write your full name, address, telephone and occupation, then your IRD number if you have one. The form notes that 8-digit IRD numbers start in the second box; FileIt places them there for you.

3 The person who died

Give their full name, their IRD number if you know it, their address, where they died and the date of death. If they died outside New Zealand, attach a copy of the death certificate.

4 The declaration

By signing, you solemnly and sincerely declare that, to the best of your knowledge and belief, the person left no will and no other person, solicitor or trustee has applied for a grant of registration of their estate.

5 Bank account for the refund

Enter the account the refund should be paid into. FileIt splits it into the form's four boxes: bank, branch, account number and suffix.

6 Sign and date

The form reminds you that it's an offence to knowingly give altered, false, incomplete or misleading information to get a refund, with fines of up to $25,000 for a first offence and up to $50,000 for any later one under the Tax Administration Act 1994. Sign and date it.

Common mistakes to avoid

Using the IR625 when there is a will, or when someone has applied for probate or letters of administration.
Using it for a refund over $40,000. Inland Revenue says probate is needed above that.
Forgetting the copy of the death certificate when the person died overseas.
Ticking more than one entitlement category. Tick the one that fits.
Giving a bank account number with missing digits. The suffix and account number have fixed boxes.
Forgetting to sign the declaration.

After you fill it out

Print the form, sign and date it, and post it with any death certificate copy to Inland Revenue, PO Box 39010, Wellington Mail Centre, Lower Hutt 5045.

If Inland Revenue accepts the declaration, the refund is paid into the account you gave.

Keep a copy in your FileIt vault with the rest of the person's papers. If you still need to tell Inland Revenue about the death or file a final return, those are separate steps.

Fill out IR625 (refund for a deceased person) online with FileIt

Pick the person. Choose someone from People and FileIt fills in their name, date of birth, address and other details it already knows.
Answer plain-language questions. One part of the form at a time, with the official help text beside each question — 21 fields in all. Your answers save as you go.
Check the live preview. Watch your answers land on the real Inland Revenue (Te Tari Taake) form, and let FileIt do any worksheet arithmetic.
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 IR625 (refund for a deceased person) now — it’s free

IR625 (refund for a deceased person): frequently asked questions

How do I claim a tax refund for someone who has died in New Zealand?

If there's no will, probate or letters of administration and the refund is $40,000 or less, an entitled family member can complete the IR625 declaration and post it to Inland Revenue with a bank account for the refund. If an executor or administrator has been appointed, they deal with it instead.

Who can sign the IR625?

Someone in one of the six categories on the form: the widow, widower or child; the surviving civil union or de facto partner; someone entitled under intestacy or entitled to obtain administration of the estate; a relative maintaining the person's children; or the custodian of their children.

Is there a limit on the refund?

Yes. Inland Revenue says the form is only valid for amounts up to $40,000. If the refund is more, you'll need to apply for probate.

Where do I send the IR625?

Post it to Inland Revenue, PO Box 39010, Wellington Mail Centre, Lower Hutt 5045.

Does the IR625 let me manage the person's tax affairs?

No. Inland Revenue says it doesn't authorise you to speak or make changes on behalf of the person who died. It only lets you request the refund.

Can I fill in the IR625 online?

Yes. FileIt's guided questions print your answers into Inland Revenue's official IR625 PDF, which is saved to your vault. You then sign it and post it.

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/ir600---ir699/ir625/ir625-2020.pdf
Official instructions and guidance: https://www.ird.govt.nz/situations/im-looking-after-the-affairs-of-someone-who-has-died/file-a-declaration-in-support-of-refund-for-deceased-persons-ir625
Edition shown on this page: IR625 October 2020 (checked 2026-09-28).

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.