IRD
Inland Revenue Department (IRD), commonly known as Inland Revenue or simply IRD, is the New Zealand government agency responsible for collecting taxes, distributing social support payments, and enforcing tax compliance. IRD administers income tax, GST, KiwiSaver, student loans, Working for Families, and child support.
You can manage most of your tax affairs through myIR, IRD's online portal. This includes filing tax returns, checking your income tax assessment, updating your tax code, viewing your student loan balance, and managing KiwiSaver details.
IRD issues each taxpayer a unique IRD number — an 8 or 9 digit identifier you need for employment, opening bank accounts, and investing. If you're new to New Zealand, applying for an IRD number should be one of your first steps.
How it works
Beyond income tax, Inland Revenue administers a wide range of government programmes through the same tax system — GST, KiwiSaver, student loans, Working for Families tax credits, and child support are all handled by IRD rather than separate agencies. This is why your IRD number ends up being relevant to so many different parts of your financial life, not just your income tax.
myIR is the practical face of IRD for most people — it's the account you log into to file returns, check your income tax assessment, update your tax code, view your student loan balance, manage your KiwiSaver details, and apply for Working for Families. Almost everything that used to require a phone call or a paper form can now be done inside myIR.
If you need to deal with IRD directly rather than through self-service, you can send a secure message through myIR or phone their contact centre. Having your IRD number ready — along with recent details like your address or income — helps IRD verify your identity quickly when you get in touch.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between IRD and myIR?
IRD (Inland Revenue) is the government agency itself, while myIR is the online portal it provides for you to manage your tax account, file returns, and update your details.
Do I need to contact IRD directly whenever my details change?
Usually not — most changes, like updating your address, bank account, or tax code, can be done yourself inside myIR without needing to phone or write to IRD.
How do I get an IRD number if I don't have one yet?
You apply through IRD's website or myIR, providing identity documents and (for new arrivals) visa details; IRD then issues you a unique 8 or 9 digit number for all your tax dealings.
Related Terms
PAYE
PAYE (Pay As You Earn) is the system that New Zealand employers use to deduct income tax from employees' wages and salaries.
GST
GST (Goods and Services Tax) is New Zealand's broad-based consumption tax, charged at a flat rate of 15% on most goods and services.
KiwiSaver
KiwiSaver is New Zealand's voluntary workplace savings scheme designed to help you build a retirement fund.
myIR
myIR is Inland Revenue's secure online portal where you can manage virtually all of your tax and social policy accounts.
IRD Number
Your IRD number is a unique 8 or 9 digit identifier assigned by Inland Revenue to every New Zealand taxpayer.