Starting January 2026, New Zealand will require mandatory e-invoicing for many businesses. Compliance isn’t just a legal necessity—it’s your chance to simplify operations, get paid faster, and stay ahead of competitors. This blog covers the key deadlines, benefits, and steps to prepare. Let’s make sure your business is ready.

New Zealand is introducing a mandatory system requiring businesses to issue, send, and receive invoices electronically. The rewriting of Rule 51 was announced on 5 November 2024 by Economic Development Minister Hon Melissa Lee and Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Hon Andrew Bayly.

Timeline:

From 1 January 2025: 135 government agencies must pay 90% of all domestic invoices within 10 business days.

From 1 January 2026: Mandatory e-invoicing applies to all agencies that issue or receive more than 2,000 domestic invoices per year.

Michael Alp commented:

“The more businesses who send and receive e-invoices, the more they’ll benefit from time-savings, no lost invoices, faster payment, and reduced risk of invoice fraud. Our economy will perform better.”

 

 

Why Should You Care?

Legal Compliance

Competitive Advantage

Get Paid Faster

 

 

2026

From 1 January 2026, agencies that issue or receive more than 2,000 domestic invoices a year must implement e-invoicing systems. This means you'll need e-invoicing software that not only supports your company’s processes but also complies with the regulations of the countries you operate in, including New Zealand. Given the lengthy implementation process and ever-changing regulations, it's best to rely on a third party invoicing provider, such as Space Invoices.

Additionally, starting 1 January 2026, e-invoicing will be the standard for transactions involving over 135 government agencies, including major entities like ACC, Waka Kotahi, Health NZ, and the NZ Police. These government agencies will also be required to pay 95% of domestic trade e-invoices within 5 business days.

 

 

What Do You Need to Do?

Here are some actionable steps for your business:

Assess Your Current Systems

Select a Certified Platform

Train Your Staff

Stay Informed

 

 

Present Regulations

Currently, only central government agencies have to be able to receive e-invoices in New Zealand. However, B2B and B2C e-invoicing remain voluntary, allowing businesses time to adapt and prepare for the upcoming mandates.

Click here for a complete Invoicing Guide for New Zealand.

 

 

Looking For Compliant New Zealand's E-invoicing Supplier?

With Space Invoices, you can rely on a single API for global invoicing compliance, including both current and future New Zealand's regulations. Our API simplifies e-invoicing processes, saving you time, cutting costs, and eliminating manual errors. Instead of spending valuable time on invoicing, let us handle it for you—while giving you the opportunity to earn invoicing revenue.

For more details on our API and compliance capabilities, click here or contact us.

 

This guide is for informational purposes only, as regulations and timelines can change frequently. While we strive to monitor updates and maintain the accuracy of our content, we recommend consulting with a tax professional or e-invoicing specialist for the most reliable and personalized advice. This content was last updated on January 17, 2025.