Deferred accounts for importers and brokers

1. Log in to the Business Connect website.
   If you are registering as a new user, you will be prompted to use a RealMe login. Select the option to create an unverified RealMe login if you don’t already have one.
2. Navigate to the Deferred Payment Account application form.
3. Complete the application form and upload required supporting documents.
4. A Customs revenue management officer will review your application and may contact you to request further information.
5. The outcome of your application will be notified via Business Connect. If we approve your application, please let us know if any of the details on the written confirmation we send you are wrong.

You will need to provide the following documents to support your application:

• NZCS 615: Direct debit authority (PDF, 176 KB)
• Evidence showing that you have authority to act on behalf of the business entity, if you are not the sole trader or officer of the business entity. This may be either of the following:
  • a completed NZCS 617: Letter of authorisation (PDF, 165 KB)
  • a letter on business letterhead signed by the owner or officer.
• A bank or equivalent guarantee, if you’re applying for a trust or overseas incorporated company. This may be either of the following:
  • a complete NZCS 608: Guarantee for payment of sums (PDF, 180 KB)
  • evidence of cash deposit to the value of the requested credit limit.
• A copy of your current balance sheet, signed by the officer, if you want a credit limit between $25,000 and $100,000.
• A copy of your current financial statement, signed by the officer, If the credit limit is $100,001 or over.

Note: The term ‘officer’ refers to an officer of the business entity, such as:

• a company director
• trustee of a trust
• committee member of an incorporated society. 

Guarantee your account

We will need you to give us a bank or equivalent guarantee if you’re:

• an overseas registered company
• a trust.

We may also request a bank or equivalent guarantee when your application is reviewed.

To guarantee your account, you must do either of the following:

• complete NZCS 608: Guarantee for payment of sums (PDF, 180 KB)
• make a cash deposit into our trust account.

The required security must match the value of your requested credit limit. This is normally what your deferred charges might be over a two-month period.

If using a guarantor, the guarantor must:

• be an appropriate New Zealand-based bank or finance company
• agree to cover every deferred payment up to an overall maximum amount.

If making a cash deposit for your guarantee, follow these payment instructions:

Account Number: 03-0251-0038337-21
Particulars: Leave it blank
Code: enter “DPA”
Reference: enter your Customs client code

For importers

If you lodge your own entries, you must select ‘client deferred’ in the payment method field.

If you use a broker to lodge your entries, advise your broker of your client code and that you have a deferred payment account.

For brokers

When you lodge your client’s import entry, you can place it on your account.

You must:

• record your broker code
• select “broker deferred” in the payment method field.

Once we’ve cleared the entry, you can’t change the payment status.

Note: If the importer is on a deferred payment scheme, you can’t use the Broker Deferred Account facility unless:

• the goods are supplied under DDP invoice terms
• “DDP” code is used as invoice terms in the entry.

We will email you a detailed account statement on the first calendar day of the month. You can also use MyCustoms Account (MCA) to view your account balance, available credit, and transaction history, and download past statements.

You can check your statement against the importer’s copy of import entries lodged. If you are an importer and you employ a customs broker to transact your import clearances, you'll need to arrange with the customs broker to supply you with the information.

Discrepancies may occur if an entry adjustment has been requested after a statement has been generated. The entry adjustment may raise a credit, which will appear on the next statement and is taken into account in the direct debit run. Partial payments made to top up your account before the direct debt run will also reduce the amount that will be direct debited. Your customs broker can provide you with details of any entry adjustments.

If you have questions about your statement after checking with your customs broker and MyCustoms Account, contact the Revenue Management Team at revenue@customs.govt.nz

You must pay by the 20th of the following month or the next working day if the 20th falls on a weekend or a public holiday.

We only accept payment by direct debit.

If you don’t pay in time, we may:

• charge penalty fees
• charge interest on the overdue payment
• enforce any charge, guarantee or other security, whether against the account holder or relevant guarantor
• take possession of and/or sell any goods relating to the overdue payment
• suspend or cancel the deferred payment account

See our terms and conditions for full details.

If you reach your credit limit during the month, you can make additional payments via direct credit. To ensure your payment is processed properly and in a timely manner, please follow the specific banking instructions for either brokers or importers.

To request a change to your deferred payment account credit limit, email your request to revenue@customs.govt.nz

To change your bank account details, we need a completed NZCS 615: Direct debit authority (PDF, 176 KB) form at least 10 working days before your direct debit is due.

You can email this to revenue@customs.govt.nz

Customs Deferred Payment Account – Terms and Conditions

In addition to the relevant provisions of the Customs and Excise Act 2018 (Act), the following terms and conditions apply to Customs deferred payment accounts pursuant to section 123 of the Act:

1. Monthly Statements

Customs will email a detailed deferred account statement on the 1st day of each month, listing charges from the previous month. Any changes and payments made after the statement is issued will be reflected in the following month’s statement. Assessment notices issued by Customs cannot be paid via Deferred payment accounts, a separate direct credit payment is required.

2. MyCustoms Account

As well as sending monthly statements via email, Customs provides a self-service digital platform called MyCustoms Account (MCA) for deferred payment account holders to view information about their account, such as account balance, available credit, and transaction history, and download past statements.

3. Payment due dates

The due date for payment is set out in each statement. Payments are scheduled for direct debit on the 20th of each month. If the 20th falls on a weekend or public holiday, payments are processed the next working day. The account holder must pay all amounts by the applicable payment due date.

4. Direct Debit Authority

The account holder must provide a valid direct debit authority over a nominated New Zealand bank account.

5. Credit Limit and Top-Up

The account holder’s credit limit shall be displayed at the top of each statement. If the account balance exceeds the credit limit by 20%, Customs will reject subsequent import entries/lodgements placed on the account. If the account holder’s charges in a month exceed the credit limit, it can make additional payments via direct credit. Alternatively the account holder can apply for a credit limit increase via Business Connect. Please note that Customs’ accounts receivables system will automatically apply payments to the oldest debts first. Instructions for direct credit payments are available on the Customs website as follows:

1. Instructions for client deferred payment accounts
2. Instructions for broker deferred payment accounts

6. Term

These terms and conditions shall remain in effect until terminated by the account holder or Customs in accordance with these terms and conditions or the Act.

7. Default

If the account holder fails to pay any amount by the due date (Overdue Payment), or otherwise breaches these terms and conditions, Customs may exercise any one or more of the following options:

1. charge the penalty fees described in section 159 of the Act;
2. charge interest on the Overdue Payment as described in section 154 of the Act;
3. enforce any charge, guarantee or other security, whether against the account holder or relevant guarantor;
4. take possession of and/or sell any goods relating to the Overdue Payment;
5. suspend or cancel the deferred payment account;
6. take any other action available to Customs pursuant to these terms and conditions, the deferred payment account application form, guarantee for payment or applicable law,

and the account holder shall be liable to Customs for all costs and expenses (including legal costs on a solicitor client basis) incurred by Customs in exercising any such options.

More information about penalties, fines and fees

8. Cancellation

The account holder may also request to cancel the credit facility at any time by notifying Customs in writing. Cancellation of a deferred payment account or these terms and conditions shall be without prejudice to any rights and/or obligations of Customs and the account holder existing at the time of cancellation or expiry.

9. No Assignment

The account holder shall not assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations in relation to their deferred payment account except with Customs’ prior written consent.

10. Severability

Should any part or provision of these terms and conditions be held invalid or unenforceable, the invalid or unenforceable part or provision will be replaced with a provision which accomplishes, to such extent as possible, the original purpose of the part or provision in a valid and enforceable manner, and the remainder of these terms will remain binding on the parties.

11. Conflict

If these terms and conditions conflict or are inconsistent with the Act, the Act shall prevail to the extent of such conflict or inconsistency.