The Week In Tax

This week tax reform moves front & centre in the run up to the election as scrutiny week highlights issues with global tech companies and a Green Party tax policy that might get adopted regardless of who forms the next Government.

This week does the new $100,000 threshold for the FIF regime mean FIF investors are wealthy, Inland Revenue's major consultation on GST and Ford Motors loses its battle with Inland Revenue over transfer pricing

More on the Budget as the detail emerges, including changes to FBT, foreign investment fund, thin capitalisation and more. Also a new double tax agreement with the United Kingdom is signed

More on the Australian Budget and changes to the taxation of discretionary trusts, is New Zealand a tax haven, Google’s 2025 results highlight the Big Tech, Little Tax problem and what might be in the Budget next week.

This week, the OECD suggests a major overhaul of our retirement savings system, the 2026 National Climate Change Risk Assessment identifies ten significant risk areas needing "focused action" (i.e. money) and controversial Australian Budget changes to Australia’s capital gains tax may have a silver lining for Kiwis.

This week, Inland Revenue consults on the roles and regulation of tax agents and other tax intermediaries, the capital gain problem for UK based beneficiaries of trusts and how migrants are an increasingly critical source of taxation.

This week, Inland Revenue “reminds” crypto-asset investors that they need to get tax compliant, a report for the Finance Minister reveals how much extra tax has been paid because of fiscal drag and the European Commission publishes a major report on Wealth Taxation

This week I'm joined by a team from Tax Justice Aotearoa including Glenn Barclay, the chair , Bill Rosenberg, a member of the last tax working group, Nick Miller a former Inland Revenue officer, and Kate Stone who is also campaign manager for the Better Taxes Campaign. We discuss Tax Justice Aotearoa's just released Tax Policy Statement.

Inland Revenue gains another tool for its crypto-asset activities, a useful case highlighting the hidden traps of the financial arrangements regime and Iran and the All Whites might have a bigger opponent in the US Internal Revenue Service

Government’s "timely, targeted and temporary" fuel relief package comes into effect but other changes effective from 1st April bite into that package and problem of low abatement thresholds remains. With terminal tax payments coming up new tax bill provides more options around tax pooling and Inland Revenue warns of cyber attacks.

Changes to thin capitalisation and student loan debt relief announced, Inland Revenue issues warning over employers failing to pass on tax deductions and some suggestions for providing timely targeted and temporary relief for those most affected by the surge in petrol prices.

The Finance and Expenditure Committee report on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2025–26, Compliance Simplification, and Remedial Measures) bill contains good news for holders of financial arrangements, meanwhile the controversial Inland Revenue shareholder loan proposals hit a major roadblock. And finally property flippers should beware.

This week more insights on Inland Revenue’s investigation priorities, how the Iranian Crisis is affecting tax exiles and a poll suggesting New Zealanders support more taxes on ultra-rich coincides with Tax Justice Aotearoa’s release of a Wealth Tax Policy Note on the high concentration of wealth in New Zealand

This week the new "scheme pays" option for UK pension scheme transfers to QROPS, Inland Revenue is consulting on banking taxation changes, and an interesting and useful Taxation Decision Review relating to foreign investment funds

It’s only February but the main tax drivers for the year seem already set, Inland Revenue’s crackdown on debt will continue as will its investigation activities with Crypto-assets under particular scrutiny, the US carves out special treatment for its multinationals, and finally it’s election year so expect plenty of politicking around tax.

This week, a potentially unwelcome consultation affecting the taxation of not-for-profits and a look back at the year that’s been, the surprises and big themes.

This week we discuss yesterday's bombshell proposals from Inland Revenue about changing the tax treatment of company loans to shareholders. One of the most significant changes to the taxation of small and medium enterprises in recent years.

My guest this week is Tony Morris from Inland Revenue who has key responsibility for managing tax debt. We discuss the nature of the $9.3 billion debt and what new initiatives Inland Revenue has introduced to maximise recovery.

This week we look at Inland Revenue’s annual report for the year ended 30th June 2025, how it is managing its responsibilities and tax debt and the results of additional funding. with Oracle New Zealand’s May 2025 results highlight the issues identified in Tax Justice Aotearoa's Big Tech, Little Tax report. An interesting Official Information Act request reveals how many taxpayers are reporting fo...

This week the Government releases a “refreshed” Tax and Social Policy Work Programme and Inland Revenue’s updated draft interpretation statement on the deductibility of repairs and maintenance expenditure has a controversial take on the treatment of leaky buildings.

My guest this week is David Tzimenakis co-founder of the US Tax Team, an Auckland-based firm providing American tax services primarily to American citizens living here in New Zealand. We discuss the complex issues involved with United States taxation of New Zealand residents and his initial thoughts on the proposed Foreign Investment Fund Revenue Account Method.

This week an important decision regarding the taxation of cryptoassets, Inland Revenue’s crackdown on debt continues., a new report from Tax Justice Aotearoa on the taxation of capital gains in the OECD and comparable nations and the Governments new job seekers policy results in an effective marginal tax rate of 1,394,200%

This week raising the rate of GST to 32% and the age of entitlement for New Zealand Superannuation to 72 are two of the more eye-catching suggestions in Treasury’s latest statement on the country’s long-term fiscal position, the income tax implications of providing sponsorship & changes to Family Boost take effect

My guest this week is John Cuthbertson FCA from Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) and head of CAANZ's tax team. We discussed CAANZ’s public advocacy role, the Generic Tax Policy Process, the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2025−26, Compliance Simplification, and Remedial Measures) Bill and how CAANZ would go about submitting on it.

This week the OECD releases its Tax Policy Reforms 2025 report, happy 40th Anniversary to Australia’s CGT, what does the public think about CGT and an international expert gives his view on the challenges facing our tax system.