Tax Commentary

Owens Tax Advisors regularly present and provide public comment on topical tax matters.

Our principal, Jeff Owens is also an accomplished and popular public speaker on tax matters. If you would like to arrange for Jeff to comment on or prepare and present a lively discussion on topical tax matters, please contact us.

Beware: IRD’s going Phishing with a Bright Line

Just when we thought you’d seen enough to be able to tell a Nigerian Scam letter from the real thing, IRD have decided to really test us.

In “How to Recognise a Scam” the Ministry Business Innovation and Employment tells us something is very likely to be a scam if:

  • Somebody contacts us unexpectedly
  • You are being pressured to make a quick decision that will cost you
  • Ask you for money or personal information
  • You are asked to click on a link

and the link below IS genuine!

www.consumerprotection.govt.nz/general-help/scamwatch/fraud-awareness-week-2020/#how-to-recognise-a-scam

MBIE recommend you listen to your instincts – if something feels wrong then it generally is.

So, what exactly is IRD doing?

As the bright-line rules are becoming more established, and following the recent extension to a ten year time frame, IRD are increasingly and understandably relying on the legislation to include proceeds from land sales within income.

However, what is less understandable is IRD’s use of public land records to embark on ill researched and unprepared phishing expeditions. 

Read on “Beware: IRD’s going Phishing with a Bright Line”

IRD swiping right! – collecting info for tax reviews and audits

The dating world sure has changed over the years.  Technology is playing an ever increasing part in the process with prospective partners undertaken significant data matching and compatibility testing.

It may not seem overly romantic for some but there appears little doubt the algorithms are viewed by many as at least partially and initially effective.

It is not only the dating world where data and algorithms are becoming commonplace.  Increasing we are also seeing IRD ‘swiping right’ and applying a technological driven approach.  Ever been stalked?

IRD is happy to “date locally” and has been reviewing land transaction records within New Zealand.  IRD picks up property transaction data and often assumes a change in a title means a purchase or acquisition – this includes change in trustees, change in name (eg from marriage or divorce), even subdivision and issuing a new title.  We will be publishing an expanded item later this year.

We have seen clients receive specific investigative/please explain correspondence from IRD in relation to application of Brightline provisions to land they appear to only have owned for a few months based on a certificate of title received after a subdivision, notwithstanding that the underlying undivided land had been held by the same taxpayer for more than 25 years.

Double Tax Agreements have recently been amended to include exchange of information provisions.  Where no Double Tax Agreement exists, IRD is also entering into separate exchange of information provisions.  As a result, the New Zealand IRD enjoys an unprecedented level of cooperation and information gathering with other revenue authorities from around the world. 

We have also seen frequent IRD reviews where existing NZ taxpayers have a foreign banking service provided such as a credit card or similar and IRD proactively seek explanation and confirmation that all foreign income has in fact been returned in New Zealand.

While IRD may have a little way to go yet on the use of technology, we all need to remain cognizant that technology is being used to an ever increasing degree.  It is currently being used to drive audit and review selection and at least initial queries.  Be sure to practice safe tax and engage an expert chaperone!!

Death, taxes and COVID 19

 

In 1789 Benjamin Franklin wrote “….in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes”.  Since early 2020 the Covid 19 pandemic has turned our world upside down – creating uncertainty at a level most of us have never seen and providing a sobering reminder of just how accurate Franklin was all those years ago.

Since New Zealand’s first (and to date only) national lockdown was mandated in March 2020 we have had many enquiries from prospective clients wanting to return to or immigrate to New Zealand, physically in New Zealand and unable or unwilling to return to their home country, and on rare occasions wanting to leave New Zealand.

Such arrivals and departures often have implications for tax residence, and Covid 19 modifications to residence rules applying sometimes introduces additional complexities.

In the following article we discuss some of the interesting situations on which we have advised.

Read on “Death, taxes and COVID 19”

Ready fire aim – IRD bombarding our clients with duplicated and incorrect information

 “do we really believe the Commissioner isn’t doing this on purpose”

I am sure we are all pleased about the automation of many tax matters. A number of boring aspects of a tax agent’s job have disappeared. Many tasks of yesteryear added little value for clients.

However since the advent of IRD’s new $1.7 billion computer system “START”, IRD has been promulgating a myth that tax is automatic and that instead of engaging an agent or tax expert, taxpayers are better to deal directly with IRD.

Where income is all from paye or NZ interest and dividends, tax can be automated. Those taxpayers don’t have and don’t need a tax agent or other expert.  However other taxpayers’ affairs are more complex and they do need expert assistance. Suggesting everything is automatic is disingenuous and naïve.

Read on “Ready fire aim – IRD bombarding our clients with duplicated and incorrect information”

Critical errors on IRD MyIR website

IRD continues to encourage clients of tax agents to contact IRD direct and in particular to view their MYIR website.  The content is often misleading or incorrect.

We have alerted IRD to three critical fixes required:

  1. In respect of Covid-19 and impact on tax obligations, IRD must tell taxpayers to contact their agent in the first instance, and only if that is not available (Eg they don’t have an agent) to contact IRD
  2. Remove the obviously incorrect statement that 2020 returns are due and must be filed NOW. [2 April update:  IRD appear to have removed this]
  3. Fix the longstanding issue of stating that tax is payable when it actually relates to a future obligation

Read on “Critical errors on IRD MyIR website”

Business operation during COVID-19 lock down

Owens Tax Advisors Limited operates from a small office away from the CBD, we practice strict health procedures to avoid COVID-19 and largely work online.

While all staff are working from home offices, there are very few changes to processes and no business interruption.

Bottom line: we are open for business!

I’m sure we won’t be your first port of call for COVID-19 information, however here are some useful links

Take care out there!

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