Before filing your annual confirmation

What you need to know before you begin filing

As a financial service provider (FSP), you’re required to confirm your registration details with us each year, in the month you selected when you registered.

This means:

  • letting us know the financial services you currently offer,
  • confirming that your FSP details are correct and up to date,
  • demonstrating that you're operating legally, and
  • if applicable, meeting minimum business threshold requirements.

On this page:

Why it’s important to file an annual confirmation

If you don't file an annual confirmation, we may assume that you're no longer in the business of providing a financial service, and may commence the process to deregister your FSP registration.

When the Registrar deregisters an FSP

When you need to file

When you apply to register as an FSP, you’re assigned a month in which to file your annual confirmation.

  • If you’re an entity with an NZBN , the filing month in the online application form will default to the filing month in the source register.
  • If you’re not an NZBN-registered entity, the filing month will default to the month you apply for registration as an FSP.

If you wish, you can select another month to file your annual confirmation, but it can't be December or January.

You can also change your filing month at a later date.

Changing your annual confirmation filing month

Filing your first annual confirmation

There’s no need to file an annual confirmation for your FSP in the calendar year of its registration. For example, if your FSP was registered in 2022, its first annual confirmation would be due in 2023, in the month you were allocated or chose.

We'll send you reminder emails

On the first working day of the month that your annual confirmation is due, we’ll email you a reminder, and send another reminder in the third week of the month. If you still haven't filed your annual confirmation at the beginning of the following month, we’ll send a final reminder to tell you that it's overdue.

These reminders will be sent to the email address you’ve provided as the 'address for communication' on your registration, and to anyone that has confirmed authority to update your registration details.

We'll add reminders to your online dashboard

Whenever we send you an email reminder to file an annual confirmation, you should also see a reminder in your online dashboard. Select the reminder link from your dashboard when you’re ready to file your annual confirmation.

We'll add these reminders to the dashboard for everyone who has authority to update your registration details. Once the annual confirmation is filed, we’ll remove the reminders.

Check your details before you start

When you file your annual confirmation, you’ll be asked to confirm that the details held on the register about your FSP are correct and up to date. If changes are necessary, you cannot ‘save and exit’ you would need to update your details and start again. So, it’s a good idea to check before you begin filing.

You’ll need to log in to your online services account to review your details, and make any corrections. This may also mean refreshing information on another register, for example, the Companies Register.

Reviewing and updating your FSP details

The fees and levies you'll need to pay

There is a fee of $75 (plus GST) to file an annual confirmation, and $11.30 (plus GST) for each criminal history check that's required.

You’ll also need to pay any levies that apply to your FSP and the services you offer, for example, the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) levy. To view the FMA levies that apply to each category of FSP, please refer to our schedule of fees and levies.

Schedule of FSPR fees and levies

FMA levies we collect

FMA levies – financial advisers and financial advice providers

To illustrate the levies that apply to financial advisers and financial advice providers when filing an annual confirmation, we’ve created the following examples of common real-life scenarios. Note minor changes have been made to the relevant annual confirmation section for financial advice providers.

If you are still unsure of the levies you should be paying, we recommend that you speak to your employer, if you have one, or seek independent legal advice. 

Example 1 — Company with single adviser

J Smith Limited is the licensee.

Joan Smith is the only financial adviser engaged by J Smith Limited.

  • In J Smith Limited’s annual confirmation:
    • select Class 6H (financial advice provider) and tick the box 'engages one or more financial advisers'.
    • The levy will be $340 (plus GST).  
  • In Joan Smith’s annual confirmation:
    • select Class 6G (financial adviser) for a levy of $400 (plus GST).

Example 2 — Sole trader

Fred Jones holds a licence in his own name.

  • In Fred Jones’ annual confirmation:
    • select Class 6H (financial advice provider) and tick the box confirming that Fred Jones gives advice directly on own account.
    • The total levy will be $1,520 (plus GST) - the base amount of $340 + $1,180 for Fred giving advice on own account.

Example 3 — Company with multiple advisers

XYZ Advice Limited is the licensee and engages 5 financial advisers.

  • In XYZ Advice’s annual confirmation:
    • select Class 6H (financial advice provider) and tick the box 'engages one or more financial advisers'.
    • The levy will be $340 (plus GST).
  • For each of the annual confirmations of XYZ Advice’s 5 financial advisers:
    • select Class 6G (financial adviser) for a levy of $400 (plus GST) for each adviser.

Example 4 — Company with nominated representatives

123Bank Limited is the licensee and engages 100 nominated representatives.

  • In 123Bank’s annual confirmation:
    • select Class 6H (financial advice provider) and tick the box confirming that 123Bank engages nominated representatives.
    • Enter 100 to confirm the number of nominated representatives.
    • The total levy will be $30,340 (plus GST) - the base amount of $340 + $300 for each of its 100 nominated representatives. 

Example 5 — Company with authorised bodies

NZWide Advice is the licensee. NZWide Advice engages 3 financial advisers.

There are 2 authorised bodies (NZWide North and NZWide South) authorised to give advice under NZWide Advice’s licence.

NZWide North engages 2 financial advisers and 10 nominated representatives.

NZWide South engages 1 financial adviser only.

  • In NZWide Advice’s annual confirmation:
    • select Class 6H (financial advice provider) and tick the box confirming that NZWide Advice engages one or more financial advisers and the box confirming that it engages nominated representatives.
    • Enter 10 to confirm the number of nominated representatives.
    • The total levy will be $3,340 (plus GST) - the base amount of $340 + $300 for each of its 10 nominated representatives.
  • In each of NZWide North and NZWide South’s annual confirmations:
    • select Class 6F (authorised bodies) for a levy of $880 (plus GST) each.
  • For each of the annual confirmations of NZWide Advice’s 3 financial advisers, NZWide North’s 2 financial advisers and NZWide South’s 1 financial adviser:
    • select Class 6G (financial adviser) for a levy of $400 (plus GST) for each adviser.

Example 6 — Digital advice firm

wwwadvice Limited gives advice through its digital advice tool only.

  • In wwwadvice’s annual confirmation:
    • select Class 6H (financial advice provider) and tick the box confirming that it gives advice directly on own account.
    • The total levy will be $1,520 (plus GST) - the base amount of $340 + $1,180 for wwwadvice Limited giving advice on own account.

Example 7 — Multiple advice channels

Everything Advice Limited is the licensee and engages 20 financial advisers, 50 nominated representatives, and gives advice via its digital advice tool.

  • In Everything Advice’s annual confirmation:
    • select Class 6H (financial advice provider) and tick the boxes confirming that:
      • Everything Advice engages one or more financial advisers; and
      • Everything Advice engages nominated representatives. Enter 50 to confirm the number of nominated representatives; and
      • Everything Advice gives advice directly on its own account.
    • The total levy will be $16,520 (plus GST) - the base amount of $340 + $300 for each of its 50 nominated representatives + $1,180 for giving advice on own account. 
  • For each of the annual confirmations of Everything Advice’s 20 financial advisers:
    • select Class 6G (financial adviser) for a levy of $400 (plus GST) for each adviser.

Other levies may apply

If financial advice providers also provide other financial services (for example, client money and property services), providers must also select any other applicable categories and pay a levy in relation to those services in addition to the relevant financial advice service levy.

Make sure you're set up online

Before you can file an annual confirmation, you must have:

  • a RealMe login
  • an online services account with the FSPR
  • authority to update information on the register for the FSP.

RealMe logins and setting up your online services account

Confirming your authority to update FSP information

Related help guides

Other guides in
Filing an annual confirmation

Other help topics

Getting started on the register

Registering a financial service provider (FSP)

Dispute resolution schemes (DRSs)

Providing licensed or certified services

Managing your registration as a financial service provider (FSP)

Deregistration and reregistration

Paying fees and levies

Managing your online services account

View all topics