Overview of New Zealand trust confidentiality and reporting requirements.

New Zealand has minimal reporting requirements as to foreign settlor trusts. The identity of the settlor need not be disclosed and the trust deed is not registered with any tax or government authority.

All that is required is that the trustee notifies the formation of a trust, by reference to its name and date of formation, together with the identity of the trustee. If the trustee is a qualifying trustee (that is a trustee which has a professional person as trustee or manager), it will never be subject to tax in New Zealand on its overseas income.

There is no obligation to file any trust accounts with any person or institution or to have such accounts audited. The trust deed, details of beneficiaries and records of directly held trust assets must also be held in New Zealand.

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