Earlier this year, Inland Revenue (IRD) released an officials’ issues paper titled “Fringe Benefit Tax – Options for Change”. The paper sought feedback on potential reforms to the FBT regime. The most notable proposals related to the application of FBT to motor vehicles, particularly utes. In the May 2025 Budget, the Government signalled support for […]
Flu vaccinations are exempt from fringe benefit tax (FBT) if they are provided to employees either through a clinic set up on work premises, or where a voucher is given to the employee to use at their doctor or another clinic. This is because the vaccination falls under a specific exemption targeting a health and
Snippets: Paying for flu vaccinations Read More »
Although not desirable, it is not unusual for an employee to raise a personal grievance with their employer. Section 123 of the Employment Relations Act 2000 (ERA) provides for a number of remedies where an employee has a personal grievance. If an employee suffers humiliation, loss of dignity, or injury to feelings one remedy is
PAYE and personal grievances Read More »
For businesses that trade through a company, circumstances might arise in which the shareholders consider selling a minority stake in the company to a key employee or group of employees. This could be to ensure that key talent is ‘locked in’ for the long term, as a means of succession if the existing shareholders are
Employee Share Schemes Read More »
The call for action regarding climate change and mitigating man’s negative impact on the planet is not new. However, there has been a shift in the last few years. It has moved from being a focus of ‘greenies’ and the ‘young’ to being accepted by the mainstream population as something that can no longer be
Environmental correctness Read More »
A new year’s resolution to grow your business is likely to require growing your team. It’s fair to say that the labour market is tight at the moment and seems to be getting tighter with each passing month. Recruitment for staff is taking much longer, with a reduction in both the number and skills of
In today’s workplace environment, expectations around employee benefits are changing, with the norm shifting in the employee’s favour. For many, the days of a 9-5 workday and mandatory workplace attendance are a distant memory, to the point where flexible hours and working environments are considered a bare minimum. As the war for talent has evolved,
The employees’ market Read More »
In the middle of a pandemic, it can seem at times that the grass is greener elsewhere. Almost two years into a global health crisis that many could not have imagined in their lifetimes, the concept of lockdowns, working from home, a fading connection to the workplace, and the overwhelming feeling of burn-out is driving
Challenges and opportunities in a turbulent job market Read More »
There is a general need for a business to pay associated employees a fair market salary for their personal service. Given the implementation of a 39% personal marginal income tax rate on income over $180,000 from 1 April 2021, Inland Revenue’s scrutiny of such salaries is expected to increase. This has been confirmed through Inland
Fair market salary reminder Read More »
Over a year on from NZ’s level four lockdown, businesses and communities alike have experienced their fair share of highs and lows. Many have had to rapidly adapt to the Covid-19 induced restrictions. For some, they have benefited from unpredictable productivity gains, meanwhile others have struggled to regain pre-pandemic momentum. Employment levels slumped to an
Employment recovery Read More »