New fast-track filing system for financial statements

The Companies Office has introduced an improved system for filing financial statements under the Financial Reporting Act 1993.

The aim is to make filing easier with a checklist that highlights the components of a complete set of financial statements. Once the documents have been submitted, registration is complete within 24 hours.

From February 2004, all company annual returns must be submitted in one of two formats:

• on-line at www.companies.govt.nz; or
  
  
• on the paper annual return form that is posted to company managers by the Registrar.

Historical approvals under section 214(8) of the Companies Act to vary the prescribed form of annual return will be revoked, and replacement paper annual return forms will be available from the Companies Office on request.

The Companies Office has reported that 87% of all annual returns are now filed on-line which incurs significantly lower fees, allows real time updates to company information and receives confirmation of filing.

The new form is available via the Companies Office website - click here to link to the on-line form.

For assistance with filing on-line, you can call the Companies Office on 0508 266 726.

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