2007 media releases
Customers urged to contact Inland Revenue
6 July 2007
Business and individual customers who missed making end-of-year, Student Loan or Working for Families Tax Credit payments earlier this year are urged to contact Inland Revenue immediately.
These payments for the year to 31 March 2006 were due on 7 February 2007, unless self-employed customers had arranged an extension of time through their tax agent to 7 April 2007. The 7 February date also applies to Student Loan repayments, and Working for Families Tax Credits overpayments.
"With the many bills and payments people make during the year, it is possible people may miss a tax payment or fall behind due to things that are out of their control," said Bryre Patchell, Inland Revenue's Assistance Manager, Individuals.
"We understand this can be stressful, so if you are one of these people we encourage you to contact us as soon as possible, so we can come to an arrangement with you that takes your circumstances into account."
Inland Revenue sent reminder notices in March to people who had not paid their end-of-year tax. Some people have since approached Inland Revenue to set up an arrangement to pay their debt.
''This is very encouraging, as is the fact that over 80% of debt cases are cleared within six months of customers receiving a reminder notice,'' said Mr Patchell.
"There are still people and businesses that haven't made contact with us to clear their debt," said Mr Patchell,"and we'll be taking firmer action with those who consistently choose not to work with us."
Inland Revenue follows up outstanding payments by contacting people about their debt, making repayment arrangements which can include compulsory deductions from employee's wages, or pursuing other enforcement options. "Legal action will be taken as a last resort," said Mr Patchell.
People who are finding it difficult to meet their tax obligations should contact Inland Revenue on 0800 227 771 immediately to avoid possible further interest or penalties, or visit Inland Revenue's website at http://www.ird.govt.nz/how-to/debt/ for more information.
Ends
For further information:
Adrienne Perry
Senior Media Advisor
04 890 1698
029 890 1698
Other media releases this year
- Draft guidelines released for new R&D tax credit
- Man extradited from Australia to face tax charges
- Working for Families Tax Credits to be made early
- Inland Revenue alerts tax professionals
- 'Money man' behind major tax scam jailed
- Third conviction in Rawleigh tax evasion case
- Samoan chief receives two years' home detention
- Early working for families tax credits scheduled
- Cash businesses are in the spotlight
- Inland Revenue transfers first KiwiSaver funds to scheme providers
- Late filers advised to contact Inland Revenue
- Wellington Inland Revenue staff to centralise
- Christchurch businessman fined $20,000 on tax charges
- Hamilton JP jailed for two years for $1.1 million tax evasion
- Businessman pleads guilty to $1.3 million in tax charges
- Jail term extended for Tauranga tax evader
- Inland Revenue offers Language Line
- Inland Revenue wins prestigious IT award
- Inland Revenue simplifies tax with Business Is Booming
- Inland Revenue reassures people affected by weather
- Inland Revenue issues GST statement on unconditional property sale agreements
- KiwiSaver information readily available from Inland Revenue
- Scott Anderson bankrupted for unpaid debt of $13 million
- Inland Revenue welcomes 'Trinity' court ruling
- Christchurch tourism operators' concern leads to community service for tax evader
- Inland Revenue welcomes prison sentence for GST fraud
- Levin man sent to jail over $45,000 in GST fraud
- Businessman who "undercut the opposition" jailed for tax fraud
- Accountant's low profits prompted tax audit
- "Not a lot" of effort to pay taxes results in jail term for tax evasion
- Tiler in court for keeping staff tax payments
- Northland flood victims should call if having problems with tax payments
- Tax agent fined $10,000 for refusing to cooperate with Inland Revenue
- Early Working for Families Tax Credits payments
- Nelson man in court for not passing on employees' tax payments
- Tax season underway
- Businesses foolish to try to suppress details of income
- Dairy owner in court for cheating on taxes over seven years
- Two years' prison for 146 tax offences
- Refusing to cooperate with Inland Revenue lands couple in court
- Prison sentence upholds integrity of tax system, says Inland Revenue
- Early family assistance payments
- Tax payments due on 7 February
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: 06 Jul 2007
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