2005 media releases

Inland Revenue reminding Marlborough agriculturalists
13 June 2005

Inland Revenue has identified a risk to New Zealand's revenue in the Marlborough agricultural and viticultural sectors and is reminding growers and contractors to ensure they understand and meet their tax requirements.

Inland Revenue South Island Service Centre Manager, Carson McNeill, says Inland Revenue is currently focusing on compliance among Marlborough's growers and contractors and is committed to bringing to account anyone who is not meeting their tax obligations.

Mr McNeill says Inland Revenue is timing visits to Marlborough vineyards and orchards to coincide with seasonal activities taking place. "We strongly advise growers and contractors to ensure their books are in order," he says.

"Anyone who has questions or concerns about their tax affairs is encouraged to contact Inland Revenue as early as possible. Those growers and contractors who have not met their tax obligations may substantially reduce penalties by making a voluntary disclosure to Inland Revenue," Mr McNeill says.

"While most growers and contractors do comply with the law, we are working to level the playing field by taking a firm approach with those who refuse to comply," he says.

There are a number of issues that agricultural and viticultural growers, contractors and workers need to be mindful of:

• All workers should ensure they have an IRD number before beginning work in New Zealand, as otherwise they will have the higher no-declaration rate of PAYE deducted from their wages.
• Growers and contractors need to be mindful of the rules about withholding tax. Those who need help with this are advised to contact their accountant, or call 0800 TAX TALK for more information.

Mr McNeill says Inland Revenue's compliance work is not simply about audits, verification and enforcement. The department is also keen to support people to meet their tax requirements and make it easy for them to comply.

He says that for the past three years, Inland Revenue has been working in partnership with the horticultural industry as part of its Industry Partnership initiative. The initiative sees Inland Revenue working alongside fruit growers and contractors to ensure they understand tax obligations and can get any assistance they need to comply.

Inland Revenue Industry Partnership Background

Inland Revenue's Industry Partnership has been operating since 2002. Industry Partnership members comprise the following industry groups: agricultural contractors, automotive repairers, carpenters, collision repairers, electricians, entrepreneurs, gardeners and landscapers, hairdressers, painters and decorators, plasterers, plumbers, long distance coach drivers and taxi drivers.

Inland Revenue has field teams around the country that work with Industry Partnership members. These teams combine staff from child support, return and debt collection, services and audit. Field team staff are available to help over the phone, and also conduct advisory visits to industry members.

Inland Revenue finds that many taxpayers need help with both tax and social policy obligations (such as Child Support and Family Assistance) so the co-ordinated approach can really help taxpayers get compliance issues sorted.

Other media releases this year

• Tip-off leads to jail sentence for dishonest tax agent
• Family assistance payments to be available early
• Inland Revenue releases new tax rules for people who host boarders
• GST fraud gets jail sentence for Auckland property developer
• Inland Revenue seeks owners of forgotten money
• Family Assistance Payments to be made early
• High Wealth programme brings in millions of extra tax dollars
• Identity theft, fraud lead to jail for Palmerston North man
• Reimbursement for the use of a private motor vehicle
• Hamilton man sentenced on tax fraud
• Auckland consultant gets 12 months in jail for GST fraud
• Inland Revenue signs Hewlett Packard to supply Notebook Computers
• Tauranga man jailed for horticultural tax evasion
• New Zealand and Australian tax help for business
• Salary and wage earners: are you entitled to a tax refund?
• Some seasonal workers entitled to tax refunds
• Auckland barrister jailed for tax evasion
• Inland Revenue Appoints Chief Information Officer (IT)
• Incident at Upper Hutt Processing Centre
• Forged GST claim leads to eight-month prison sentence
• Inland Revenue offers help to flood affected BOP businesses
• Auckland Man jailed for tax fraud
• Inland Revenue releases view on HHG capital reduction proposals
• Prison sentence for tax evasion
• Early Family Assistance Payments
• Nine years of tax evasion brings 18 month sentence for New Plymouth bricklayer
• Tax season now underway
• Are you eligible for a childcare rebate?
• Early Family Assistance Payments
• Inland Revenue signs agreement with TelstraClear
• Inland Revenue cautions against income splitting by professionals
• Inland Revenue welcomes sentence for Hamilton PAYE offence
• Cambridge students scoop national award for tax knowledge
• US, NZ agree on tax treatment of fiscally transparent entities
• 7 February payment deadline
• Theft of Westpac courier bag - advice to taxpayers and other Inland Revenue customers
• Inland Revenue not letting up on BoP tax evasion
• Inland Revenue outlines rebate claim process for tsunami donations
• Inland Revenue welcomes sentence in $40,000 evasion case

more media releases ›

Corporate Affairs
Inland Revenue

To make a media query:
Phone 04 890 1698 or email mediaqueries@ird.govt.nz
Please note, the email address is only for enquiries from the news media. It is monitored during normal business hours 8am - 5pm Monday to Friday.

P O Box 2198
Wellington 6140
New Zealand

Date published: 13 Jun 2005

Back to top