The New Zealand Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has begun a review of financing transactions made by a tobacco firm. On May 6th British American Tobacco (New Zealand) Ltd (BAT) revealed that it is currently under investigation by the IRD for a set of financing transactions. Although both parties refused to disclose complete details on the investigation, industry analysts believe that the alleged discretion is similar to the tax evasion through structured financing charges laid against several New Zealand banks recently. The BTA has ... Read More

The New Zealand Revenue Department (IRD) has issued a warning to customers regarding hoax emails they might receive with offers of tax refunds. In a media statement released March 10th, the IRD revealed that it has received multiple customer-reports of a suspicious email being circulated to its clients. The email allegedly bears the IRD logo and informs recipients that they are entitled to a tax refund. It later directs readers to visit a website which requests an array personal details, including usernames and ... Read More

An Upper Hut resident who defrauded the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) for NZD 41 000 by using a system fake church donations has been sentenced to seven months home detention and 120 hours of community service. James Talaga Toala, received sentencing at the Wellington District Court on February 26th, after pleading guilty to six charges of using documents to defraud or receive monetary gain. It was alleged by the IRD that in the period between April 2002 and March 2008 James Toala ... Read More

The upcoming Double Taxation Agreement (DTA) between New Zealand and Australia has taken one step towards to coming into effect after a Governmental signing of an Order of Council for the document. The New Zealand Government has begun to incorporate the DTA into the country's law system through a signing of an Order in Council on February 17th, according to Peter Dunne, New Zealand Revenue Minister. Once the legal incorporation is complete for both nations the DTA will come into full effect. Australia ... Read More