IRD To Focus on Taxpayers with Overseas Incomes

The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has just released its Offshore Tax Transparency guide that will help tax agents to comply with international rules. According to IRD spokesperson John Nash, New Zealand’s tax residents are obligated to pay tax on their worldwide income. This applies even where withholding tax has been…

Government Announces Draft Plan To Tax Agricultural Emissions

New Zealand’s Ministries of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment have released a draft plan that will guide pricing on agriculture emissions that come from belching cattle and sheep. This plan will see New Zealand become the first country in the world to have farmers pay for the emissions that come…

Government Resists Calls for Sugar Tax

According to recently published research from a World Health Organisation (WHO) funded study conducted across a dozen countries and several US states, taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages do work on reducing the demand for said beverages by causing their prices to increase. The research reviewed 86 studies that found that with…

Highlights from Budget 2022

Budget 2022 is unlikely to elicit much excitement from the tax community as no new taxes or amendments to the income tax thresholds were announced despite some calls to do so. Rather, the government has opted to provide Kiwis with a temporary stimulus targeted at low to middle-income households. This…

Combating Financial Crimes in New Zealand

In a move targeted at unveiling corporate secrecy that has seen companies and trusts act on behalf of shadowy foreign figures, the New Zealand government has committed to the establishment of a public beneficial ownership register. The register had been earlier proposed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment…

Buy Now, Pay Later Services Come Under Fire

Consumer NZ is advocating for better credit regulation of the buy now pay later (BNPL) sector to avoid vulnerable consumers becoming at risk of falling into a spiral of debt. Head of campaigns, Gemma Rasmussen, has said that sensible regulation was needed to protect users from irresponsible lending. Her sentiments…

Research Shows Cash Hoarding On the Rise in New Zealand

According to research done by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) – Te Pūtea Matua, there has been a significant dip in the number of people using cash for everyday purchases. The survey found that just two-thirds of Kiwis were actively using cash daily, compared with nearly the entire…

Strong Tax Take And Low Expenses Cut Budget Deficit Forecasts

The government appears cautiously optimistic following the release of official figures that indicate the budget deficit has been kept lower than anticipated. The operating balance before gains and losses was sustained at $3.6 billion for the 11 months ending in May 2021. This is more than 40% less than what…