Over the last six to twelve months Inland Revenue (IRD) has been taking a firmer stance when it comes to collecting overdue tax. This is in the form of increased liquidation action and enforced withdrawals directly from a taxpayer’s bank account. Given the potential for IRD to take action it is more important than ever […]
Inland Revenue is taking a tougher stance on debt Read More »
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 »
In 2013 the law commission was asked to review the Trustees Act 1956 and NZ Trust law generally. Following this initial review, nearly eight years later, the long-awaited “Trusts Act 2019” will finally come into effect on 31 January 2021, replacing the entire 1956 Act. One of the most significant changes in the new Act
New Trustee disclosure obligations Read More »
Family Trusts are used widely in New Zealand; often being viewed as beneficial for asset protection and to keep assets in the family for future generations. A reason for their popularity has been the relative simplicity of the legal and tax regime. However, the rules are evolving. In addition to the widely publicised re-write of
Is a Trust beneficiary also a settlor? Read More »
Various tax concessions exist that can save significant time and money, but they are often overlooked. You may want to save this article as a handy reminder to take advantage of these options whenever possible. Business-related legal fees are tax deductible irrespective of whether they are capital in nature, provided the total amount for the
Saving time and cost with tax Read More »
It is common for disagreements to arise between taxpayers and Inland Revenue on the GST treatment of land transactions, but less common for these disputes to arise between a vendor and purchaser. However, this was the case in a recent High Court case, Holdaway v Ellwood (2019). The case highlights the importance of completing the
GST on land – Holdaway v Ellwood Read More »
The Income Tax Act 2007 has long contained provisions to tax the sale of property (or other assets) acquired with the intention of disposal. However, ‘intention’ is a subjective concept and has been difficult for Inland Revenue to police. Hence, the brightline test, (section CB 6A) was introduced as a means to tax profits made
Residential Bright-line Read More »
The way employers report payroll information to Inland Revenue (IRD) is changing. From 1 April 2018, IRD introduced a new electronic reporting system, providing employers the option of filing payroll information every payday. From 1 April 2019, the new system will be compulsory for most employers, so it is imperative business owners get to grips
If a company does not file its annual return with the Companies Office, it may be struck off from the Companies Register. This is sometimes used as a ‘short-cut’ method, rather than completing the short-form company liquidation process. However, this approach comes with some risks, for example, if a company is struck off the register
Winding up a Company Read More »
If an individual pays “…a monetary gift of $5 or more…” to a charity they are able to claim 1/3rd of it back from Inland Revenue (IRD). Prior to 1 April 2008, individuals could only claim donations of up to $1,890, i.e. a refund of $630. The coalition Government at the time removed this limit
When is a gift not a donation? Read More »