Yes you can!

Here are some of the benefits of registering as both:

• You can hold both registered bookkeeper and tax agent status simultaneously.
• If you have bookkeeping clients who have a different tax agent, you can both be linked to the same tax types e.g., GST, Payroll and Income Tax without removing each other from your clients’ account.
• It allows you to keep separate clients lists.  This means you can have one list for your tax agent clients and one list for your bookkeeping clients.
• You no longer need multiple logons to access clients, they will all be in one place saving you a lot of time.
• If you employ staff, you can control their access across both your tax agent and bookkeeping client lists. This means they can access what they need to, to fulfill their role while keeping access controlled for the clients they don’t work with.
• You will receive all the benefits of being a registered intermediary across both your bookkeeper and tax agent clients e.g., tax preparer tab with additional access and reports

• You can have one single logon to access all clients– this is a driver for wanting to register with Inland Revenue.
• Ability to link clients and get automatic access without them having to take any action.
• Access to the Agents 0800 line.
• Once registered you will receive a set up appointment to show you all the navigation and functions avaliable.
• If you have staff, you can allow different access and logon roles to fit your needs from full account access through to read only.
• More targeted in the way Inland Revenue engage with you – ensure you receive relevant communications.
• Opportunity to test products and services.
• Can easily identify when your clients are included in work campaigns – this allows Inland Revenue to contact you first.
• Access to the ‘Intermediary Centre’ also gives you alot more functionality and ways to manage your clients easier:
  • Bulk upload employer information and Kiwisaver enrolments from one place instead of navigation into each clients payroll account in myIR.
  • Access to a wide range of reports; client list report, agency activity reports.
  • There is an agency activity report which gives you a summary of bank account and linking actions that have taken place across your agency.
  • Easily register clients for new accounts with automatic linking to agency
  • File Donations tax credit claims without having to attach receipts.
  • All client mail service to view all client mail including mail direct to other intermediaries (for accounts linked too).
  • Ability to tailor your account by managing subscriptions and favourites.

To be eligible to register, you must:

• have a myIR account;
• be in the business of offering bookkeeper services (Section 124D of the Tax Administration Act 1994); and
• have signed authorities to act for 10 or more clients (who you charge a fee too) in relation to their tax affairs and/or social policy entitlements.  This is 10 separate IRD numbers and cannot include your own.

Ref: Bookkeepers (ird.govt.nz)

Application Process

The process is simple!! An individual or non-individual registering as a bookkeeper must have a myIR logon to register.  If you don’t have a myIR logon, you can create one by visiting our website Inland Revenue - Te Tari Taake (ird.govt.nz)

What you will need

If you apply as an individual:

• A completed and signed ‘Declaration for an intermediary (IR768)’ to upload to myIR.
• Full name and IRD number for 10 clients.
• Your authority to act template.

If you are applying as a non-individual, you will also need:

• The names and positions of all key office holders and a completed and signed declaration (IR768) for each key office holder (KOH) and then 1 for the entity itself. ‘Declaration for an intermediary (IR768)’.
• The IR768 shows who is considered a KOH. With bookkeepers we find that they are usually closely held companies with only 1 or 2 shareholders. If we use this as an example - we would require 3 declarations (IR768) - one for each of the shareholders and then one for the entity.

How to apply

Apply to become an intermediary

• Login to myIR (if you have access to more than 1 IRD number, navigate into the IRD number that you are registering as a bookkeeper)
• Select ‘I want to….’
• Scroll to find ‘Apply to be an intermediary’ or simply type intermediary in the search bar
• Select ‘Bookkeeper application’
• You will then come to a page ‘What to expect’ this provides you with a list of what you’ll need to go through the registration process. Ensure you have everything you need and click next once you’re ready to progress with your application.

Ending voluntarily

If you want to be removed as a Registered Bookkeeper, you will need to contact Inland Revenue and provide:

• your name and IRD number;
• the date you want to stop being an intermediary from; and
• the reason why you want to be removed.

Losing your intermediary status

There are some situations that might result in Inland Revenue removing your status as a registered intermediary. This could happen if:

• you or a key office holder no longer meet the requirements to be a registered intermediary;
• you have less than 10 clients; and
• you are a tax agent that fails to meet our agreed filing requirements.

Inland Revenue will try to resolve any issues that affect your ability to be an intermediary. A formal review and assessment may take place when an issue is found.

What will happen

Once your intermediary status has been removed, Inland Revenue will:

• let all of your clients know that you are no longer a registered intermediary;
• remove all intermediary links between you and your clients; and
• remove any access you had to your clients accounts.