2008 media releases

Date	Title and description
29 August 2008	Sentencing strong message for contractors
	Inland Revenue believes the sentencing of another agricultural contractor on tax evasion charges sends a strong message to others in the industry.
29 August 2008	Accountant jailed for defrauding clients and Inland Revenue
	An accountant who stole from clients and defrauded Inland Revenue has been jailed today by the Wellington District Court for four years and two months.
28 August 2008	Inland Revenue pilots callback system to help customers
	Inland Revenue?s Call Centre has introduced a new callback system to make it easier for customers to get the answers to their queries.
18 July 2008	Inland Revenue proposes changes to company tax return
	Inland Revenue is seeking public feedback on proposed changes to the company end-of-year income tax return.
2 July 2008	Agricultural contractor sentenced
	A Whangarei agricultural contractor has been sentenced to ten months home detention and 100 hours community service for tax fraud.
2 July 2008	Jail for horticultural student
	Horticultural student Gurpreet Singh was jailed for two and a half years by the Tauranga District Court today, after pleading guilty to 97 charges of tax evasion worth nearly $700,000.
6 June 2008	Tax fraud results in jail term
	The musical director of the Nelson Symphony Orchestra has been jailed for four years after being found guilty of nine charges of dishonestly using documents to fraudulently obtain tax refunds.
29 May 2008	Thousands apply for student loan amnesty
	The student loan amnesty has provided thousands of overseas borrowers with the opportunity to make a fresh start on their student loan. It was available to student loan borrowers who were living overseas, had fallen behind in their repayments and would have incurred late payment penalties on their loan without the amnesty.
23 May 2008	Early Working for Families Tax Credits payments
	Because of Queen's Birthday Weekend delaying banking procedures, Inland Revenue will bring forward the Working for Families Tax Credits payment scheduled for Tuesday, 3 June.
9 May 2008	Inland Revenue wins People's Choice NetGuide web award for second time
	Inland Revenue has been voted best government site in the annual People's Choice NetGuide Web Awards for the second time in three years.
1 May 2008	Waikato couple sentenced for tax evasion
	A Waikato man has been jailed and his wife given home detention after being found guilty of 94 charges each of tax evasion.
17 April 2008	Inland Revenue warns about income diversion
	Inland Revenue has issued a revenue alert about people who divert personal services income in an effort to pay less tax.
2 April 2008	Report of investigation of an error in tax revenue numbers
	Inland Revenue and Treasury have taken immediate steps to implement changes following the investigation into last month's error in tax revenue in the Crown accounts.
2 April 2008	Tax credits for people made redundant
	A simpler, fairer system of tax on redundancy payments takes effect this week.
31 March 2008	R&D tax credit goes live
	The new 15 per cent research and development (R&D) tax credit for businesses that will give eligible businesses back 15 cents in every dollar they spend on R&D that meets specific criteria, takes effect from April 1.
19 March 2008	Student Loan amnesty - last chance to apply
	Student Loan borrowers who haven't yet applied for the Student Loan amnesty need to get in quickly to avoid a one-off penalty on their loan.
18 March 2008	Revised financial statements
	Secretary to the Treasury John Whitehead today released revised Financial Statements for the seven months ended 31 January 2008.
17 March 2008	Tax advice for investors in failed finance companies
	Most investors in failed finance companies will not qualify for a tax write-off, said Inland Revenue Group Tax Counsel Graham Tubb today.
12 March 2008	Tax advice for property investors
	Inland Revenue has launched an information campaign to raise awareness of tax obligations amongst residential property investors.
6 March 2008	Provisional tax gets easier
	Inland Revenue will soon make it easier for businesses to cover their provisional tax payments.
6 March 2008	Early Working for Families Tax Credits payments
	Because of the Easter holiday, Inland Revenue will make Working for Families Tax Credits payments early.
3 March 2008	IRD numbers about to get longer
	Inland Revenue customers applying for a new IRD number this year may find that it has an extra digit.
27 February 2008	Tax authorities work together to stop international tax evasion
	Inland Revenue is working with tax administrations in Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, France, Italy, Sweden, and other countries concerning Liechtenstein bank accounts being used to avoid or evade tax.
15 February 2008	Inland Revenue helps drought-affected farmers
	Inland Revenue has put in place special measures to help ease the pressure on drought-affected farmers.
11 February 2008	IRD numbers available at NZ Post and AA
	From next Monday, people will be able to apply for a personal IRD number at hundreds of AA Centres and PostShops around New Zealand.
8 February 2008	Inland Revenue warns against divulging personal details
	Inland Revenue warns taxpayers not to freely divulge their personal details after an Auckland serial fraudster was sentenced today to five and a half years imprisonment for tax fraud thought to total over $2 million.
8 February 2008	Second jail term for major tax scam
	Inland Revenue is welcoming the jail term of two years and nine months handed down to Muhammad Hussain for his part in the biggest horticultural industry tax fraud ever prosecuted by Inland Revenue.
30 January 2008	Welcome surprise for owners of forgotten money
	Twelve thousand people may get a welcome surprise following publication on Inland Revenue's website of a list of owners of $11 million of unclaimed money.
18 January 2008	End-of-year tax date fast approaching
	Business and individual taxpayers are reminded that end-of-year tax payments are due on 7 February 2008.
10 January 2008	Time running out for student loan amnesty
	Inland Revenue is urging borrowers who are eligible for the student loan amnesty to apply by the deadline of 31 March 2008.