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Snippets: Paying for flu vaccinations
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: Schedular tax activity by Inland Revenue
The schedular tax regime falls under the PAYE rules and typically applies to require tax to be withheld from self-employed individuals if they perform certain types of work, such as modelling or shearing. On its website Inland Revenue have noted non-compliance has been identified within the horticulture industry in relation to contractors not meeting their
When is a motor vehicle subject to Fringe Benefit Tax?
A common complaint about Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) is that it is too complex, particularly when it comes to motor vehicles, which becomes a point of frustration given it is one of the most commonly provided benefits. This is borne out by how common it is for mistakes to be identified during an Inland Revenue
PAYE and personal grievances
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
Effective decision making
In today’s business environment, effective decision-making is key to navigating change and achieving sustainable growth. For small to medium sized enterprises where there can be fewer individuals at a senior decision-making level, there is arguably a greater need to have a strong decision-making process to ensure decisions are not made in a vacuum. However, how
When errors are made
Tax compliance can be complex, between income tax, GST, PAYE there is often a lot to manage and get right. It is therefore inevitable that from time-to-time mistakes will happen. When these moments occur the question then becomes “what do we do?”. The Inland Revenue requires taxpayers to make a correct assessment of their tax
From my desk: Feb – April 2025
Welcome 2025! The ‘Survive til 25’ slogan had us all anticipating a grand recovery this year. To date it’s still very tough out here. Costs are still high and interest rates drops have still got a way to glow through. On the plus side we might get some rain this week and ease the water
Snippets; FBT and home to work travel
A common complaint made by employers is that the amount of time it takes to meet their FBT obligations is disproportionate to the amount of tax it actually generates. This frustration is arguably borne out in the number of mistakes that are often made when calculating the amount of FBT payable. A good example is
Snippets: Trusts – The big picture
For some, the increase in the trust tax rate from 33% to 39% has prompted them to ask the question – should we wind up our trust? Rather than looking at the purpose of having a trust with a narrow tax lens, it may be of benefit to consider your circumstances more broadly and ask
Protect your reputation
Over the last 18 months there have been a number of businesses fall over – which in and of itself has not been surprising given the recent economic climate. However, one element that serves as a warning for us all is the flow on effect of those failures. Not just in a tangible sense, where
The LTC option
If a company sells a capital asset (e.g. commercial land) and derives a non-taxable capital gain, it’s reasonable to expect the shareholders to want access to the cash. However, the problem often arises that in order for a capital gain to be distributed tax-free, the company needs to be wound up. This is a result
Amalgamation could be the solution
As businesses expand, a common decision is whether to create new companies to accommodate new ventures, risks, products and/or acquisitions. A well-designed group structure enables a ‘parent’ company to create distinct entities that operate independently. This approach has several benefits – it provides flexibility as it allows control and visibility over each entity’s direction, policies,
