Parents registering the birth of their baby can now apply for their child's IRD number.
A new joint service from the department of Internal Affairs and Inland Revenue allows parents to tick a box and supply some extra information on the birth registration form to obtain the number.
Since July 1 more than 1000 applications have been received through the service, representing 94 per cent of newborns, Revenue Minister Todd McClay said.
"The advantage is that once parents have an IRD number they can immediately apply for Working for Families Tax credits, KiwiSaver or ... a bank account for the child."
Currently parents of about half the 60,000 children born each year apply for the child's IRD number within the first 12 months.
