Australia services team

Australia services team

Many Australian businesses are interested in expanding their operations into New Zealand. Whether you want to establish a new retail branch, a service centre or any other type of business you will be faced with a range of tax and other issues. It's best to have a local advisor who can help you get set up and operating effectively.

Services for Australian tax agents

It is common for tax agents and service providers in Australia to have clients who are looking to expand into New Zealand or who have existing operations in New Zealand. It can be challenging to meet the needs of these clients if you do not have an office or representation in this country.

Baker Tilly Staples Rodway offers access to specialist expertise, without the concern of referring your valuable client on to another accounting firm. We provide your clients with the additional advice and assistance they are looking for, while preserving and reinforcing your existing relationship.

Benefits of engaging with Baker Tilly Staples Rodway

  • Skilled advisors experienced in helping Australian business expand into New Zealand and stay compliant.
  • No charge if the time to respond to the query takes 10 minutes or less.
  • Should the query require more than 10 minutes to respond, we will provide an estimate of the costs of approval and authorisation before proceeding with the engagement.
  • Happy to work “behind the scenes” so you maintain the relationship with your client.
  • Regular periodic news letters, technical updates and seminars, discussion groups and forum.

How does it work?

Email BusinessNZ@bakertillysr.nz with the assistance you require and we will contact you to discuss how best we can assist.

Our services

Setting up
  • Registering your company, branch or other entity
  • Liaising with your preferred bank to open a bank account
  • Obtaining Inland Revenue (IRD) numbers and getting registered for the right tax types
  • Registration with Customs if you are an importer
  • Setting up correctly with ACC
Structuring & tax matters

Our tax specialists have the knowledge and experience to provide you with practical, tailored solutions. We are familiar with structures that provide the best tax and operational outcomes for Australian business coming to New Zealand.

You will need to consider income taxes, GST, withholding taxes, customs procedures, non-resident withholding taxes, PAYE, non-resident and contractors taxes. We can help with all those and more.

If you are only going to be operating here for a short period, there can be issues you may not expect – we can let you know what they are, so you won't be taken by surprise.

Audit

Your subsidiary or branch may require a financial audit. We are licensed auditors who use a risk-based methodology to prepare effective and competitive audits.

If you are in the finance industry we can assist with advice and support to comply with Financial Markets Authority (FMA) regulations.

We can also assist with internal audits and fraud identification and prevention.

Business advice
  • Assistance and preparation of annual accounts.
  • Preparation and filing of income tax returns, including being on our Tax Agency list.
  • Assistance with preparation and filing of GST returns.
  • Preparation of monthly payroll returns and advising you of amounts payable to Inland Revenue and employees.
  • Acting as the registered office and filing annual returns.
Human Resources
  • Translating your employment agreements for New Zealand.
  • HR compliance.
  • Recruitment and selection.
  • Disputes and disciplinary procedures.
  • Internal HR management.
  • Providing access to seminars and training sessions, as well as bespoke training as needed.
Transaction assistance
  • Financial, tax and HR due diligence services.
  • Structuring advice for new trans-Tasman acquisitions.
  • We have close links with a business broker and can provide links into opportunities across many industries.

At Baker Tilly Staples Rodway we offer a customisable service with the flexibility to fit in with your internal resources and help out with set-up and ongoing work in a way that works best for you.

We have outlined here the usual services that we provide support for, and we are happy to roll our sleeves up to help in any new ways that may be specific to you. We also have an extensive network of connections and can put you in touch with the right people in other fields.

We have a close relationship with Pitcher Partners, the leading accounting firm for the mid-market in Australia, and with Baker Tilly's global operations in many countries across the globe. While we work closely with Pitchers, we have good relationships with other Australian accounting firms and have assisted many of their clients to set up in New Zealand.

Services

Choose your location for better results

Make an Enquiry

Find an Australia services team specialist

Our Baker Tilly Staples Rodway specialists provide expert advice to clients looking to expand their Australian business into New Zealand.

News articles

Charity audits 500x500
28 May 2025

To audit or not to audit: That is the question for registered charities

Every registered charity in New Zealand faces the question of whether they ought to be audited. Let’s look at the determining factors…

Wage theft 500x500
23 May 2025

News for employers: Wage theft is now a crime in New Zealand

New Zealand employers who intentionally withhold pay from employees could now face hefty penalties: Imprisonment for up to a year and a fine of up to $30,000.

Budget 2025 500x500
22 May 2025

Budget 2025: Investment Boost is welcome news for Kiwi businesses

Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, presented her second budget this afternoon.

David Searle, Audit, Mergers and Acquisitions, Managing Director at Baker Tilly Staples Rodway
20 May 2025

Hungry businesses will be looking for more than belt-tightening in Budget

Businesses like right-leaning governments. It’s no surprise that approval for the Government’s economic management has shot up since before the last election, when leaders’ approval ratings had plummeted almost to single figures in our Baker Tilly Staples Rodway polling.

Tax Freedom Day 500x500
16 May 2025

Tax Freedom Day 2025: Burden higher despite tax and spending cuts

A limp economy has brought little relief to New Zealanders despite a shift in tax brackets, according to this year’s Tax Freedom Day calculations.  Kiwis are set to spend 135 days paying tax this year, a day more than in 2024.

2025 Pre budget survey 500x500
15 May 2025

Pre-budget survey 2025: Businesses want action on tax, and more innovation

Our 2025 pre-budget survey has revealed a mixed business scorecard on the Government’s performance.  Business optimism ahead of this year’s Budget is markedly better than it was pre-election, but the overall report is "could do better".  

Tax talk not for profit 500x500
09 May 2025

Tax Talk: Proposal could lead to breaking point for small clubs and societies

Inland Revenue has released an exposure draft on not-for-profit (NFP) transactions – including a proposal that threatens the existence of some small clubs and societies across New Zealand…

Presenteeism 500x500
24 Apr 2025

Presenteeism: When workers are present but not wholly functioning

What happens when you have an employee who is physically “on the job”, but is unwell or emotionally or mentally preoccupied?

Trust beneficiaries 500x500
15 Apr 2025

Potential tax pitfalls for NZ trust beneficiaries living in Australia

Kiwi trusts increasingly include beneficiaries who have crossed the ditch and become Australian tax residents.  So, before providing any payments, distributions or benefits to them, the trustees need to be cautious about the potential Australian tax costs for those beneficiaries.

Farm advisory 1200x628
09 Apr 2025

How your farm could benefit from creation of an advisory board

In New Zealand’s dynamic agricultural sector, advisory boards are increasingly vital for farming businesses seeking to thrive amidst evolving challenges and opportunities.

Tax Talk 500x500 2
04 Apr 2025

Tax Talk: Inland Revenue proposals may not fix FBT’s mid-life crisis

After 18 months of waiting, Inland Revenue has released its "Fringe benefit tax – options for change" officials’ issues paper for public comment.

Working on your business 500x500
02 Apr 2025

Working on your business: Achieve goals by rising above the grind

Many will have heard the old saying, "are you working in your business or working on your business?”.

Our website uses cookies to help understand and improve your experience. Please let us know if that’s okay by you.

Cookies help us understand how you use our website, so we can serve up the right information here and in our other marketing.