Filing a company tax return is an annual obligation for all incorporated businesses. The return reports your company's taxable income, deductions, tax offsets and the resulting tax payable. Accuracy is critical - errors can trigger audits and penalties. Having clean, well-organised books throughout the year is the single most important factor in making your company tax return straightforward and accurate.
Ensure all financial records are up to date and reconciled for the full year
Prepare financial statements - profit and loss statement and balance sheet
Calculate taxable income (accounting profit adjusted for tax differences)
Identify and calculate all available tax deductions and offsets
Complete the company tax return form for your jurisdiction
Lodge the return by the due date (or engage a tax agent for an extended deadline)
Pay any tax owing or note the refund amount
Keep all supporting documentation for the required retention period
Businesses in New Zealand operating under the GST system must meet these compliance requirements set by IRD:
Not reconciling all accounts before preparing the tax return
Missing deductions that could reduce taxable income
Confusing accounting profit with taxable income
Not making adequate tax provision payments throughout the year
Filing late and incurring penalties
Not engaging a tax professional for complex situations
SortBooks connects to your Xero account and handles GST compliance automatically. Every transaction is categorised with the correct tax treatment, bank feeds are reconciled in real-time and your IRD-ready reports are always up to date. No more last-minute scrambles or manual data entry.
Every transaction gets the correct GST code automatically - 97%+ accuracy from day one.
Generate compliant reports for IRD at any time - no reconciliation needed.
Never miss a filing deadline. SortBooks tracks your obligations and reminds you in advance.
Due dates vary by country. Australia: typically 28 February for companies (later if using a registered tax agent). UK: 12 months after the end of the accounting period. US: 15 April (calendar year) or 15th day of 4th month after year-end. Using a tax agent often extends your deadline.
Rates vary by country and sometimes by company size. Australia: 25% for base rate entities, 30% for others. UK: 25% (19% for small profits). US: 21% federal. Canada: varies by province. Singapore: 17%. Many countries offer reduced rates for small businesses.
SortBooks keeps your Xero books clean and reconciled year-round, so your accountant receives accurate financial data for tax return preparation. It correctly categorises deductible expenses, tracks asset depreciation and maintains audit-ready records.
Join thousands of New Zealand businesses using AI to handle their bookkeeping and tax compliance.