Mr's short answer
Expect photo ID for everyone signing, recent business bank statements (often six months), your business details such as NZBN or IRD number, and an IRD statement of account. Larger or bank-style loans add GST returns, financial statements and tax returns. Property-secured loans add title, rates, insurance and mortgage statements. Trusts and partnerships add their deed or agreement.
Key points
- Almost every loan: photo ID, business bank statements, business details.
- IRD statement of account from myIR shows your tax position quickly.
- Bigger loans add GST returns, financial statements and tax returns.
- Property loans add title, rates, insurance and mortgage statements.
Mr’s least glamorous but most useful advice: gather your documents before you apply. Most loans that drag on aren’t stuck on a decision — they’re stuck waiting for a bank statement, a trust deed or a rates notice. Here’s what to have ready, sorted by situation.
What does almost every lender ask for?
The core pack:
- Photo ID for each person signing — driver licence or passport.
- Business bank statements, commonly the last six months.
- Business details — legal name, trading name, NZBN or IRD number, structure, address.
- What the money is for and how it’ll be repaid, in a few clear sentences.
- IRD statement of account from myIR for GST, PAYE and income tax.
That’s often enough to start a conversation, and for smaller unsecured amounts, sometimes enough to get to a decision.
What extra is needed for larger or bank-style loans?
| Document | Why it’s asked for |
|---|---|
| GST returns (last few periods) | Confirms turnover matches the bank statements |
| Financial statements (last one or two years) | Profit, assets and liabilities |
| Income tax returns | Confirms the tax position matches the accounts |
| Management accounts (year to date) | Shows current trading since the last annual accounts |
| Cash flow forecast | Shows how repayments fit the year ahead |
| Aged debtors and creditors lists | Shows who owes you and who you owe |
| Existing loan and lease statements | Shows current commitments |
Business.govt.nz suggests having financial records, a cash flow forecast and a business plan ready when approaching lenders. Our twelve-month cash flow forecast guide helps with the forecast.
What does my structure add?
| Structure | Extra documents |
|---|---|
| Sole trader | IR3 returns; personal and business account details |
| Partnership | Partnership agreement; IDs for all partners; IR7 returns |
| Company | Companies Office extract (directors, shareholders); IR4 returns; director IDs |
| Trust | Trust deed and variations; current trustees; trustee IDs; IR6 returns |
More on this on do I need a registered company to get a business loan?
What about property?
If property is part of the security, add:
- title reference or record of title;
- current rates notice;
- insurance certificate;
- latest statement for any existing mortgage;
- any recent valuation;
- for commercial property, leases and building or seismic reports.
The full list is on what does a lender check on my property?
Want a list tailored to you? The funding readiness check builds one from your answers. Or send a quick enquiry and a specialist will tell you exactly what’s needed for your situation.
What if some documents aren’t ready?
Don’t let that stop you asking. Tell the lender what’s missing and when it’ll be ready:
- Accounts behind? A letter from your accountant with a filing timeline helps. See do I need my tax returns filed?
- Business money in a personal account? Provide both, and explain.
- Trust deed lost? Your lawyer or the firm that set up the trust may hold a copy.
- IRD debt? Include the statement anyway — honesty beats discovery.
Mr’s tips for a smooth document process
- Name files clearly — “BankStatements_Apr-Sep2026.pdf” beats “scan0043.pdf”.
- Send full statements, every page, not screenshots.
- Explain big one-off transactions before you’re asked.
- Keep one folder you can add to as the lender asks for more.
- Respond quickly — a lender’s interest cools while waiting.
- Check names match — the business name on statements, invoices and the Companies Office should line up, or come with a short note explaining why not.
An illustrative example: one owner, three document packs
This example is made up to show how the list grows with the loan.
A Napier café company borrows three times over a few years:
- A small unsecured facility for a new oven. Documents: director IDs, six months of business bank statements, Companies Office details, an IRD statement from myIR, and a quote for the oven. Decision in days.
- A property-secured loan to fit out a second site. The same as above, plus the title, rates notice, insurance and mortgage statement for the director’s home, a valuation, the new premises lease, and the fit-out quotes.
- A bank refinance once both sites are established. Two years of financial statements, income tax returns, year-to-date management accounts, a cash flow forecast and aged debtors and creditors.
Each pack built on the last. Because the owner kept a single folder and updated it as she went, the third application took a fraction of the time the first one did.
The one-page summary that helps every application
Alongside the documents, Mr suggests a one-page summary covering:
- Who you are — business name, structure, years trading, what you do.
- What you need — the amount and exactly what it’s for.
- How it’ll be repaid — trading, refinance, sale or contract payment, with timing.
- Security — any property, with rough value and what’s owed.
- Anything to explain — tax arrears, a past default, a dip in trading, and what changed.
It’s the document lenders most often say they wish every applicant sent. It frames everything else and answers the first round of questions before they’re asked.
Ask Mr what you’ll need
Tell us your business structure, what you need and whether property is involved, and we’ll tell you exactly which documents matter. There’s no credit check to ask, your enquiry isn’t distributed to a list of lenders, and a real person will guide you through it.
The more accurately you fill in the form, the shorter your document list will be — because we’ll only ask for what your situation needs. See if your business qualifies.
Frequently asked questions
What ID do I need?
Usually a New Zealand driver licence or passport for each person signing, and sometimes a second form of ID or proof of address. Lenders must verify identity before lending.
How do I get an IRD statement of account?
Log into myIR and download a statement for each tax type (GST, PAYE, income tax). It shows balances, payments and any arrangements in place.
Do I need a business plan?
For banks and start-ups, often yes. For short-term or property-secured lending, a clear one-page summary of what the money is for and how it'll be repaid is usually more useful than a long plan.
Can I send documents electronically?
Yes. Most lenders accept PDFs and many use secure bank-statement retrieval with your permission, which saves time.