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 […]
Snippets: Trusts – The big picture Read More »
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,
Amalgamation could be the solution Read More »
For the first time since 2010, personal tax rate thresholds will change from 31 July 2024. The change was announced as part of the 2024 budget. When personal tax thresholds are not regularly adjusted to take into account inflation or wage growth, individuals end up paying a higher percentage of their income in taxes over
Changes in marginal tax thresholds Read More »
Along with changes to the interest deductibility rules, legislation has been passed which repeals the current bright-line tests, replacing them with a new (or old) 2-year test. There were previously three separate bright-line tests which applied to the sale of residential land: Land acquired on or after 27 March 2021 that is not a ‘new
Snippets – Changes to bright-line rules Read More »
As increasing interest rates have bitten and with industry sectors such as retail and construction not performing as strongly, some businesses are struggling. As the end of the financial year approaches, now is a good time to assess whether any of your accounts receivable need to be written off as ‘bad’. This is because, in
Snippets: End of year write-offs Read More »
After the introduction of the Trust Disclosure rules in March 2022, in November 2023 Inland Revenue released a high-level summary (in the form of a 40-page report) of insights from the first year of reporting. While tax advisors and clients alike may have begrudgingly completed the disclosures initially, the statistics may prove to be interesting.
Trust Disclosure regime – Insights from the first year Read More »
The Working for Families Tax Credit (WFFTC) is a notoriously complex scheme when it comes to determining eligibility and quantifying entitlement. This leads you to wonder how well the scheme is policed by Inland Revenue, and whether fraud is able to ‘fly under the radar’. Accordingly, it was heartening to see a case brought before
De facto relationship or not? Read More »
For 99.9% of the time, New Zealand companies are incorporated to operate a business and derive income. On establishment, the focus tends to be on items such as: whether a company is the appropriate vehicle, e.g. does limited liability protection warrant it; who should own the shares, e.g. in personal names or in a Trust;
Extracting cash tax-free from a company Read More »
Given the necessity of providing fast relief, the wage subsidy scheme provided during COVID in NZ was largely based on trust. Today, MSD operates a Wage Subsidy Integrity and Fraud Programme aimed at ensuring the integrity of the payments and who received them. So far, 38 people have been brought before the courts in relation
Snippets: Covid fraud Read More »
Given the outcome of the general election, we expect to see legislation that will make the following tax changes. The ability to claim interest deductions on debt relating to some residential rental properties acquired before 27 March 2021 will be progressively phased out. National’s tax policy promises to retain a 50% allowable deduction in the
Snippets: National’s tax policies – property Read More »
