IRD forms, explained
Inland Revenue publishes hundreds of forms. Most people only ever meet a handful of them — usually at a bad moment, like the first day of a new job. These are those forms, in plain English, with the field-by-field guidance the form itself assumes you already have.
The forms
IR330 — Tax code declaration
Tells your employer which tax code to use so the right amount of PAYE comes out of each pay.
IR330C — Tax rate notification for contractors
Tells the payer what withholding rate to deduct from schedular payments to a contractor.
KS2 — KiwiSaver deduction form
Tells your employer which KiwiSaver contribution rate to deduct from your pay.
IR526 — Tax credit claim form (donations)
Claims the donation tax credit for gifts of money made to approved donee organisations.
IR3R — Rental income schedule
The rental property schedule that attaches to an IR3 return, setting out income and expenses per property.
IR334 — Employer registration
Registers a business as an employer so it can file payday returns and pay PAYE.
Who you actually give it to
Half the forms below never go near Inland Revenue. Getting this wrong is the difference between being taxed correctly from your first pay and being taxed at a penalty rate for months.
| Form | Goes to | When |
|---|---|---|
| IR330 | Your employer | Before your first pay |
| IR330C | Each payer you contract for | Before the first invoice is paid |
| KS2 | Your employer | Whenever you change contribution rate |
| IR526 | Inland Revenue | After the tax year ends, within four years |
| IR3R | Inland Revenue, with your IR3 | By 7 July, unless you have an agent |
| IR334 | Inland Revenue | As soon as you start employing |
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Where can I download IRD forms?
Every form links straight to its current PDF on ird.govt.nz from the cards above. Inland Revenue also publishes a complete A–Z index of forms and guides. Be careful with search results and third-party PDF sites — IRD reissues forms and an old edition can ask for information the current one doesn't, or miss a field your employer needs.
Do I send these forms to Inland Revenue?
Mostly no, and this is the single most common misunderstanding. The IR330, IR330C and KS2 all go to your employer or payer, who keeps them on file. The IR526 and IR3R go to Inland Revenue, and the IR334 registers you with Inland Revenue. Sending a tax code declaration to IRD achieves nothing — your employer still has no rate to deduct at.
Can I fill these in online instead?
Increasingly yes. Most payroll onboarding now collects IR330 and KS2 information electronically, which counts as the declaration. Donation claims (IR526) are largely done in myIR with uploaded receipts, and rental details (IR3R) can be entered directly in the myIR return. The paper forms remain valid in every case.
What happens if I don't file the form at all?
It depends on the form. Missing an IR330 or IR330C means the payer must withhold at a punitive default rate until you hand one in — you get it back eventually, but you fund the gap all year. Missing an IR526 just means you forfeit the credit once the four-year window closes. Missing an IR334 means you are filing employment returns late from your first payday.