The New Zealand Crown accounts for the five months to November 30th saw a marginal improvement over earlier estimates, following a better than expected New Zealand Super Fund, ACC and EQC investment performance. According to a New Zealand Government press release, published on January 29th, the Crown’s operating deficit before gains and losses for the time period was NZD3.7 billion. The figure is NZD700 million better than previously forecast in the 2009 Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. The operating deficits including gains ... Read More

Double taxation agreements are tax treaties between two countries. These agreements come into effect when a person is a tax-resident of both New Zealand and another country. Double Taxation agreements prevent the situation of taxation on one income by two countries, through coming to an agreement as to what incomes will be taxed in the country of residence and exempt in the country of occurrence. It also deals with the opposite case where the income will be taxed at the country of ... Read More

The New Zealand Government has released discussion documents which call for comment on the current system, proposal for change, and invitation for system suggestions. Current imputation credit regulation allows for New Zealand shareholders to offset their income tax obligation with imputation credits attached to the dividends they receive from a New Zealand income tax paying company. These rules do not currently extend to tax-exempt entities or charities, as they have no income tax obligation which needs to be offset. As this means that ... Read More