Online Tax Form

Sole Trader Business Questionnaire & Checklist

THIS QUESTIONAIRE MUST BE COMPLETED ALONG WITH YOUR INDIVIDUAL (IR3) QUESTIONAIRE

Complete this secure online questionnaire to help Guardian Accounting prepare your sole trader tax return, business income details, expenses, GST information, and supporting records.

Before you start: Please have your business income records, expense details, GST information, vehicle expenses, home office details, bank records, and supporting documents ready before completing the form.
Business Income Provide sales, invoices, deposits, and other business income records.
Business Expenses Include claimable costs, GST details, vehicle use, and home office expenses.
Tax Preparation Share the information needed for accurate sole trader tax return support.
About This Form

What This Sole Trader Questionnaire Is For

Sole trader tax in New Zealand works differently from being an employee. There is no PAYE coming out along the way, so your business income and expenses for the year need to be pulled together and reported in your own tax return. This questionnaire is how Guardian Accounting gathers that information, so your sole trader tax return is accurate and you claim everything you are entitled to.

Most sole traders are not accountants, and they should not have to be. The form walks through income, expenses, vehicle use, home office costs, and GST if it applies, in plain questions rather than accounting language. If something does not apply to you, answer no and move on.

Who Should Complete It

This form is for anyone running a business in their own name rather than through a company. That includes people who:

  • Work as a contractor or freelancer
  • Run a trade, service, or small business on their own
  • Sell goods or services and invoice clients directly
  • Earn self-employed income alongside a salaried job
  • Have registered for GST as a sole trader
  • Started or closed a business during the year

What To Have Ready

The form goes faster if you gather these before you start:

  • Your IRD number and bank account details
  • Total business income for the year, or your invoicing records
  • Business expense records and receipts
  • Vehicle logbook or business kilometres travelled
  • Home office details if you work from home
  • GST returns for the year, if you are registered

What Happens After You Submit

01 We Review Your Answers Bruce checks what you have provided and identifies anything that may need clarifying before the return is prepared.
02 We Prepare The Return Your business income and expenses are worked through and included in your tax return for the year.
03 You Review And Sign The completed return is sent for review and digital signing before anything is filed with Inland Revenue.
Unsure whether something counts as a business expense, or how much of a shared cost you can claim? These are the questions sole traders ask most often, and there is usually a straightforward answer. If you use a vehicle for work, our mileage rate calculator may help you work out the claim before you start. Add a note in the additional information field, or get in touch with Bruce before you submit.