The end-of-year scramble in March is what happens when no one kept the books tidy through the year. If we work together monthly, end-of-year is just another month - books already reconciled, returns already current, no last-minute panic.
Sole trader returns
IR3 prepared and filed - or prepared for you to file. Income, expenses, depreciation, and any adjustments handled correctly.
Books ready for the accountant
If you're a Ltd company, your books arrive at your accountant clean - reconciled, coded, with notes on anything unusual.
Catch-up work
Behind by a month or behind by a year - we work back through the gaps and get you current. Hourly billing, scoped before we start.
Annual review
Once the return is done, we sit down with the year's numbers. What changed, what to claim next year, what to plan for.
I'm a bookkeeper, not an accountant. For Ltd companies, the year-end financial statements, tax calculation, and IR4 filing are accountant work - they have the qualifications and the professional indemnity insurance for it.
What I do is make their job easier. Books arrive at the accountant in clean shape, with notes on the things that need a decision. That cuts the accountant's time, which cuts your fee. And during the year, I'm the day-to-day point of contact - so questions get answered fast, not when the accountant has a window.
If you don't have an accountant yet, I work with a network of NZ accountants and I'll point you to a couple whose style fits how you like to work. You choose. No referral fee, no commission - just a recommendation.
End-of-year work for sole traders is included in the Starter and Plus monthly packages from $315/month. Hourly is $70/hr for one-off preparation work. Ltd company end-of-year is referred to an accountant - I'll help you find the right one.
31 March for most businesses. A small number have a different balance date if they've agreed it with the IRD - usually seasonal businesses where 31 March is a bad cut-off. If you're not sure which yours is, we can check.
Individuals and sole traders generally have until 7 July to file the previous year's return - unless you're with a tax agent, in which case you get an extension to 31 March the following year. Either way, the books need to be ready before the return can be filed.
Bank accounts reconciled to the year-end, all income coded, expenses categorised correctly, fixed assets recorded with depreciation, GST returns matching the books, any inter-account transfers cleaned up, and a clean trial balance. If you're on a monthly package, this state is the baseline - we're ready when March hits, not scrambling.
I'll have your books in a state your accountant can pick up cleanly - reconciled, coded, with the right notes attached. I'll work alongside your accountant during the year-end process so questions get answered fast. The actual Ltd return (financial statements, tax calculation, filing) is your accountant's job.
Yes - I work with a network of NZ accountants who handle Ltd company end-of-year well. I'll point you toward a couple whose style fits how you like to work, and you can choose. No kickback to me, no awkward referral fee - just a recommendation.
Yes. Catch-up work is one of the things I do most often. We'll get a clear picture of where you are, work back through the gaps, get GST current, and have your books in shape to file. Catch-up work is hourly ($70/hr) and we'll scope it together so there's no surprise on the bill.
Whether you're a sole trader needing your return done, a Ltd company wanting books ready for an accountant, or just behind and needing to catch up - tell me where you are and I'll come back within a working day.
Or call me on 027 283 5312