The platform is now closed. To discuss submitting a late return, contact [email protected].
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About annual sales returns
Notifiable product sellers: All sellers of vaping and other notifiable products are required to submit an annual sales return under the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990 (SERPA).
This includes sales of all vaping products, smokeless tobacco products and herbal smoking products. It does not include smoked tobacco cigarettes or loose tobacco.
Distributors of smoked tobacco products: that is, a person engaged in the business of selling smoked tobacco products other than at retail, should email [email protected] to submit their annual sales return.
Failure to comply with the requirement to submit an annual return may result in a fine upon conviction of up to $10,000 for a body corporate or $5,000 in any other case.
How to complete an annual sales return
Annual sales returns cover sales between 1 January and 31 December each year. Submission must be provided to the Ministry of Health by 31 January each year. To discuss submitting a late return, email: [email protected].
User guide
The step-by-step instructions outline how to submit your annual sales return for each license type.
Download the Notifiable Products Annual Sales Return 2025: User guide.
Contact info
If you experience any issues using the platform, please provide a description and/or screenshot to [email protected].
Who needs to complete an annual sales return
All sellers of vaping and other notifiable products are required to submit a sales return if they are:
- a general retailer – must submit one return for each legal entity; this may include multiple stores
- a specialist vape retailer – must submit a separate return for each store, including for any online stores
- an importer or manufacturer (a ‘notifier’) – must submit one return of products manufactured or imported
- distributors of smoked tobacco products.
| Type of business | Return type | Code |
|---|---|---|
| General retailer eg, supermarket, petrol station, dairy – selling vaping, herbal smoking, and smokeless tobacco products | One return for the legal entity that holds the Regulated Product Seller (RPS) notification. If you as a legal entity operate multiple stores/online stores, you must include all the sales data under one return. | RPS |
| Specialist vaping stores | A separate return for each specialist vaping premises. | AVP |
| Internet sites | A separate return for each specialist vaping internet site. | AIS |
| Notifiers – importers and manufacturers | One return for each legal entity that imports and/or manufactures. If the same legal entity is also a specialist vape retailer (SVR), a separate return must be submitted for each AVP and AIS, if applicable. | No associated code |
| Distributors of smoked tobacco products | One return for each legal entity that distributes smoked tobacco products. This is not required for retailers of smoked tobacco products Email your return to [email protected] | No associated code |
Templates
The online platform provides options for entry. For businesses submitting more than 20 products, we recommend downloading and completing the return as a bulk entry in the platform.
For RPS license, download:
For AVP, AIS and notifier license, download:
For distributors of smoked tobacco products, download:
Document
Frequently asked questions
When is my annual sales return due?
The platform will remain open to accept returns until 11:59pm, 31 March 2026.
I have not received a unique link to complete my annual sales return.
The email containing the unique link was sent on 1 December 2025 and 1 January 2026.
If you have not received a link to complete your annual sales return, please do the following:
- check your inbox for mail from: [email protected]
- check your junk mailbox
- check the email address of anyone that currently has or previously had access to the business account in the HARP portal.
If you still cannot find the link, complete the following steps to get the link resent:
- Go to the Annual Sales Returns website.
- Enter your NZBN
- An error message will display; click on the link provided to receive a new email. The screen will display a message that the email sent successfully.
If your NZBN is not recognised in the system, please email [email protected] with the following information:
- RPS/AVP/BUS code
- business name
- email address confirmation.
What does my status mean?
| Status | What it means | Action required |
|---|---|---|
| Begin return | No action has been taken | Start annual sales return |
| Continue return | Manual entry: Some products have been added but not submitted Or Bulk entry: Validation is in progress | Manual entry: Continue adding products and proceed to submit Or Bulk entry: Wait to receive email once validation is complete |
| Error found | Upload completed. Error was found in your submission | Review and edit, then proceed to submit |
| Return completed | Your annual sales return has been submitted | No further action required |
| Nil return completed | You have declared that there is nothing to file for the 2025 calendar year | No further action required |
I am an SVR. Why do I need to provide total sales data for non-notifiable products sold (eg, drinks or food)?
As a condition of your SVR approval, you are required to maintain a sales threshold* for vaping products as stated in your approval. To ensure this condition is met, SVR’s must report their total sales for both vaping products and other products (such as drinks and food). This allows the Ministry to assess whether your store continues to comply with the required sales threshold.
* For most SVRs, sales of vaping products must make up at least 70% of sales from the store.
What is a vaping product?
A vaping product is a vaping device, a vaping substance, or one or more components of a vaping device.
I uploaded the wrong file and want to start my return again.
You can delete and restart your annual sales return submission through the online platform. The delete and restart button will appear under the status once you have begun the return.
We have not sold any notifiable products in 2025.
If an RPS license code is displayed, it means you have registered as a general retailer of notifiable products. If you did not sell any notifiable products in 2025, you will need to submit a ‘nil return’. This can be completed in the platform:
- select the license number
- choose nil return
- complete declaration.
We have sold the retail premises.
If you sold your retail premises in 2025, you are required to submit an annual sales return for any vaping or notifiable products (vaping, smokeless tobacco and herbal smoking products) sold during the period which you owned the premises.
Please ensure you follow the link provided on 1 January 2026 to ensure you meet your responsibilities under the Act.
We have sold our company, but still received the link.
Please send the company name and the new owners contact details to [email protected]
If you sold your retail premises in 2025, you are required to submit an annual sales return for any vaping or notifiable products (vaping, smokeless tobacco and herbal smoking products) sold during the period which you owned the premises.
Please ensure you follow the link provided on 1 January 2026 to ensure you meet your responsibilities under the Act.
My product does not have a barcode or Unique Product Code (UPC).
If the product you are trying to add does not have a barcode or Universal Product Code (UPC), you will need to add a 13-digit number instead, for example. 0000000000001.
UPC numbers are a requirement for all product notifications. Please check with your supplier to ensure they meet this requirement in future.
Please note that it is a requirement in legislation that notified products must have a Universal Product Code (UPC) to be notified. Please contact your supplier to ensure they are meeting the requirements of the SERPA.
The platform will not accept my return as a bulk entry.
If you cannot upload your file, please check:
- you are using the correct template. The system will not accept any other files. This template can be found above.
- you have not deleted the ‘enter annual returns here’ or ‘manual enter annual return’ tabs. If these tabs are missing, you will receive an error message upon upload.
If you need to reduce the file size, you can delete the ‘instructions’ tab or ‘product list’ tab.
Publishing annual sales returns
SERPA requires the Ministry of Health make annual sales returns and reports publicly available on the Ministry’s website. All previous returns can be viewed below.
In 2022, only retailers classed as specialist vape retailers (SVRs), manufacturers and importers (notifiers) were required to complete a return. Since 2023, all retailers have been required to complete a return.
