SECTIONS

Sharp as tax

BusinessMay 25

Investment Boost should improve business confidence

While the government has been focused in recent times on trying to reduce expenditure to balance the books, the announcement of the new Investment Boost in last week’s Budget should help improve business confidence.
Investment Boost should improve business confidence
Investment Boost should improve business confidence
BusinessApril 6

Inland Revenue seeks to reduce complexity of FBT regime

Inland Revenue (IR) released an issues paper on reform of the FBT regime on April 1, the 40th anniversary of the regime’s introduction.
Inland Revenue seeks to reduce complexity of FBT regime
Inland Revenue seeks to reduce complexity of FBT regime
BusinessMarch 14

Top tax rate increase needs attention

In the turmoil of temporary lockdowns and excitement of the America’s Cup racing, many people have lost sight of the fact that the promised lift of the top marginal tax rate for individuals earning over $180,000 will apply from April 1, 2021.
BusinessJanuary 3

Government’s Covid-related spending may drive tax appetite

What a year 2020 was; Australian wildfires, a new president of the United States, a Labour majority, and Covid-19.
OpinionDecember 20

Reasons to take a dim view of house sale ‘bright lines’

It has been a year whereby our vocabulary is now quite different from where we started; words like bubbles, social distancing, contact tracing and recently bright line have seeped into our vernacular.
BusinessOctober 23

How might Labour tinker with tax policy after big election win?

After Labour’s landslide victory a week ago, many New Zealanders may now be more seriously considering the impact of the proposed 39% tax rate to be imposed on personal income earned over $180,000.
How might Labour tinker with tax policy after big election win?
How might Labour tinker with tax policy after big election win?
OpinionAugust 16

Business recovery appears unsustainable without reopening our borders

Save for the latest Covid Alert Level increase, most businesses in Otago that I have talked to are actually quite busy, excluding the obviously devastated industries such as tourism and foreign student education.
Business recovery appears unsustainable without reopening our borders
Business recovery appears unsustainable without reopening our borders
BusinessJuly 12

Falls in short-term occupancy rates have tax implications

The short-term rental scene in NZ has exploded in recent years because of a booming tourism industry and the realisation by (holiday) home owners that they can rent out their properties for an extra buck or two while they're not using them.
Falls in short-term occupancy rates have tax implications
Falls in short-term occupancy rates have tax implications
BusinessJune 14

Tax implications for shares must be attended

Although the Financial Markets Authority warned do-it-yourself investors against diving into the stock market to take advantage of cheap share prices during Covid-19 lockdown without first doing their homework, NZX data has shown that New Zealand investors absolutely piled into the market during the lockdown period.
Tax implications for shares must be attended
Tax implications for shares must be attended
OpinionMay 18

Residential landlords left out from tax relief package

The Government introduced the Loss Carry-back Scheme as part of the recent Covid-19 tax relief package.
BusinessApril 12

Lockdown factors to consider when paying provisional tax

Business owners New Zealand-wide will be feeling the immense financial strain of the Level 4 lockdown response to the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly if they have large upcoming provisional tax payments that have been projected based on pre-lockdown profits.
BusinessFebruary 16

Donee status no done deal

Feeling generous and thinking of making a donation to a good cause in the knowledge that the Government will effectively fund 33% of it by way of that nice tax credit?
BusinessJanuary 12

Forestry investment far from straight forward venture

As forest fires, and climate change debate, rage across the Tasman (and our thoughts and best wishes go out to our Australian cousins), the topic of forestry in NZ has arisen over the Christmas break.
Forestry investment far from straight forward venture
Forestry investment far from straight forward venture
BusinessOctober 20

Property sellers and buyers: bear new IRD focus in mind

If you are selling or have sold property recently, you should be aware of the IRD's recent focus on, and review of, provisions dealing with the taxation of land.
Property sellers and buyers: bear new IRD focus in mind
Property sellers and buyers: bear new IRD focus in mind
BusinessSeptember 15

'Your action required': Managing IRD disclosure letters

Following the recent disclosure requirements in terms of Automatic Exchange of Information Agreement, we are now seeing the next wave of enforcement from Inland Revenue.
BusinessAugust 19

Adjustment pains of IRD's new system costs taxpayer trust

Even if you have a tax agent, you may have recently received a notice from the IRD regarding tax that you have already paid or containing an assessment of tax that doesn't seem quite right.
Adjustment pains of IRD's new system costs taxpayer trust
Adjustment pains of IRD's new system costs taxpayer trust
BusinessMay 19

Sloppy record-keeping can have expensive results

A recent Taxation Review Authority decision has highlighted the importance of clearly recording the nature of transactions between companies and their shareholders, and vice versa namely through resolution, correctly coding transactions in the relevant accounting system, and/or the timely documentation of agreements and payments/interactions.
BusinessApril 21

Tax advice has to be accurate

Tax is complex and, at times, not totally logical or fair. Sometimes the combination of legislative changes and technological advancements can create a disconnect between "common knowledge" shared in pubs and clubs, and the technical tax reality.
BusinessFebruary 17

Money laundering regulations proving cumbersome

The Financial Intelligence Unit has estimated that more than $1billion dollars a year is generated through drug dealing and fraud in New Zealand.
Money laundering regulations proving cumbersome
Money laundering regulations proving cumbersome
BusinessJune 19

Dunedin's start-ups box above weight by world comparison

Scott Mason's passion is promoting and supporting early stage businesses in Dunedin.
Dunedin's start-ups box above weight by world comparison
Dunedin's start-ups box above weight by world comparison
BusinessJune 18

New IRD mileage rate

The Inland Revenue Department reviews its published mileage rate annually.
BusinessApril 16

Capital gains tax may require non-partisan approach

It is almost sad that following the 2014 David Cunliffe capital gains tax (CGT) PR debacle, Labour has taken CGT off the table as a policy platform.
Capital gains tax may require non-partisan approach
Capital gains tax may require non-partisan approach
BusinessMarch 15

Non-profit groups can overpay tax

Many clubs or societies operate within our community, Scott Mason writes.
Non-profit groups can overpay tax
Non-profit groups can overpay tax
BusinessOctober 20

Opinion: Grey areas in share trading and tax

Investing in shares is a little like being at the races.
BusinessSeptember 19

Sharp as tax: Rules strict on gifting and rest-home subsidies

In October 2011, gift duty was abolished which meant that any amount of money could be given (or forgiven) to people/trusts for whom one has ''natural love and affection'' without paying gift duty.