The Week In Tax

This week more on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2025−26, Compliance Simplification, and Remedial Measures) Bill and last week’s NZLS Tax Conference, "Big Tech, Little Tax" a report on tax minimisation in the technology sector highlights the low income tax bills of companies such as Amazon and Google, and how do tax agents rate Inland Revenue's performance?

Tthe recently released Taxation (Annual Rates for 2025−26, Compliance Simplification, and Remedial Measures) Bill is noteworthy for as much as what’s not included and do we really need a comprehensive capital gains tax, a provocative highlight from the New Zealand Law Society’s 2025 tax Conference.

My guest this week is Casey Plunket formerly of Inland Revenue NZ after 25 years as a tax partner in major law firms. Casey is now off to Paris to work at the OECD.We discussed Casey's career, what prompted his move to Inland Revenue and his reflections on the state of the New Zealand system and the tax landscape here in New Zealand.

My guest this week is Angus Ogilvie, Managing Director of Auckland based Generate Accounting and also the chair of accounting body CPA Australia's New Zealand Tax Committee. Angus joins me to discuss Inland Revenue’s long-term insights briefing Stable bases and flexible rates: New Zealand’s tax system

This week rising overdue tax debt reveals inconsistencies in Inland Revenue’s management of the issue, could a capital gains tax help solve the house-price affordability crisis? And how many taxpayers are reporting overseas income?

This week how Australian capital gains tax can apply to the sale of a New Zealand property, CPA Australia suggests it’s time to consider a capital gains tax, more on effective marginal tax rates and the meaning of 'payment' for GST purposes.

How a family earning under $60,000 can face an effective marginal tax rate of 71.2%, the Green Party and the Taxpayer's Union agree on a tax change and Inland Revenue updates its guidance on when a taxpayer is carrying on a "business" for income tax purposes.

This week, Sir Roger Douglas enters the chat on the future shape of New Zealand’s tax system, the pros and cons of raising GST to 18%, the first ever sentencing for possession of tax evasion tools and a useful technical decision summary on payments to non-resident contractors.

The Finance Minister eyes up the major banks for a tax increase, announces changes to the FamilyBoost scheme, Inland Revenue releases submissions on the taxation of not-for-proftis and a major report on climate adaptation ducks a key issue.

This week, Inland Revenue’s draft long-term insights briefing goes out for consultation, have the G7 killed off Pillar Two and is it time for a major rethink of the Student Loan scheme?

John Cantin and I discuss Inland Revenue's recent trust disclosures post-implementation review and John's independent review of the trust disclosure regime. What are the purposes of such reviews and what John found surprising.

This week Inland Revenue reminds everyone that twin-cab utes are subject to FBT The results of a clampdown on the horticultural sector A damning new report from the IMF highlights New Zealand's low productivity growth is this a by-product of not taxing capital? And is the era of supply side economics over.

Why the Government backed away from charities taxation reform, the latest Rich List re-ignites the wealth tax debate, Inland Revenue’s new kilometre rates for the 2025 tax year have a surprise and how long does it take Inland Revenue to answer the phone?

This week more on the Budget announcements, including concerns from the former independent advisor to the last Tax Working Group about the efficacy of the Investment Boost initiative, how Inland Revenue will use its additional funding and the Digital Services Tax is dead but what takes its place?

This week Inland Revenue consults on the taxation of mutual transactions of associations, including clubs and societies. We discuss its latest update about n its crackdown on student loan debt. We look ahead to next week's Budget and the Green Party's alternative. Finally, it’s Tax Freedom Day and also a Happy Anniversary to me.

What has Mickey Mouse got to do with our tax system, Inland Revenue uncovers more than $150 million in undeclared income tax and GST from the property sector, and I have five suggestions to improve our tax system.

My guest this week is Matt Edwards, the (newish) CEO of tax pooling company Tax Management New Zealand. We discussed tax pooling, how his non-tax background offers interesting insights into the operation of tax pooling and the tax system, and the opportunities tax pooling offers for small businesses in particular.

This week Inland Revenue consults on FBT changes, reports on the results of its recent audit activity, and calls in Baycorp. Meanwhile, is GST a tariff and removing GST from fresh fruit and vegetables a well-meaning but inefficient policy?

This week the United Nations statement on tax policy concerns over rising GST debt, the Australian budget and an absurd VAT (GST) case from the UK involving Mega Marshmallows.

This week, get ready for tax year end - what needs to be done by 31st March, lessons from the largest known GST fraudster – could it happen again and corporate tax cuts – who benefits and what does the public think?

This week, the International Monetary Fund suggests a comprehensive capital gains tax, the Government will proceed with changes to the foreign investment fund regime and a novel proposal for helping fund New Zealand Superannuation.

My guest this week is Richard Abel, Chair of the Accountants and Tax Agents Institute of New Zealand (ATAINZ). We discuss the role of ATAINZ and tax agents generally and interacting with government. We also look ahead to ATAINZ's annual conference starting today which will be opened by the Minister of Finance Nicola Willis.

This week, the Finance and Expenditure Committee reports back on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2024−25, Emergency Response, and Remedial Measures) Bill, Inland Revenue releases its long-awaited consultation on the taxation of not-for profit organisations and an update on data-sharing with the United States and the nominee for the Internal Revenue Service Commissioner once proposed its abolishment...

This week as President Trump blows up the international tax order, could our Netflix tax be under threat of retaliation? Time running out for a potentially important GST election and notes from this year’s International Fiscal Association conference.

This week tax guru Robin Oliver on the pros and cons of a possible cut in the corporate tax rate, Netflix’s tiny tax bill and what it and Uber have in common, and Inland Revenue guidance on the treatment of repairs to newly acquired assets.