2008 media releases
Tax authorities work together to stop international tax evasion
27 February 2008
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. All are member countries of the OECD's Forum on Tax Administration (FTA).
Inland Revenue is getting more and better information than ever before through a network of tax treaties, says Commissioner Robert Russell.
"We are aware that some offshore activities and investments of New Zealand taxpayers are operated on the assumption that Inland Revenue may not be able to obtain information from sources in other countries. These assumptions are no longer safe in today's environment of international co-operation."
People who have undeclared offshore income, who contact Inland Revenue before they are the subject of an audit, and make a full and true disclosure, may be entitled to reductions in shortfall penalties under voluntary disclosure rules.
All the countries now working together were represented at the OECD's FTA September 2006 meeting in Seoul, Korea when Tax Commissioners from more than 30 countries identified the use of tax haven bank accounts as a major threat to successful tax administration.
Other media releases this year
- Accountant sentenced for tax evasion
- Invercargill accountant jailed for tax evasion
- Dairy owner sentenced for hiding half a million
- Tauranga court jails man for tax evasion
- Most Working for Families recipients not charged interest for overpayments
- Former Kaikohe farm manager jailed for tax evasion
- Auckland plasterer jailed for tax evasion
- New callback service rolled out across Call Centre
- Former employee sentenced
- KiwiSaver report released
- Inland Revenue expands e-services
- Do-it-yourself tax refunds
- Employers reminded about new tax rates
- Former Inland Revenue employee pleads guilty to corruption
- Sentencing strong message for contractors
- Accountant jailed for defrauding clients and Inland Revenue
- Inland Revenue pilots callback system to help customers
- Inland Revenue proposes changes to company tax return
- Agricultural contractor sentenced
- Jail for horticultural student
- Tax fraud results in jail term
- Thousands apply for student loan amnesty
- Early Working for Families Tax Credits payments
- Inland Revenue wins People's Choice NetGuide web award for second time
- Waikato couple sentenced for tax evasion
- Inland Revenue warns about income diversion
- Report of investigation of an error in tax revenue numbers
- Tax credits for people made redundant
- R&D tax credit goes live
- Student Loan amnesty - last chance to apply
- Revised financial statements
- Tax advice for investors in failed finance companies
- Tax advice for property investors
- Provisional tax gets easier
- Early Working for Families Tax Credits payments
- IRD numbers about to get longer
- Inland Revenue helps drought-affected farmers
- IRD numbers available at NZ Post and AA
- Inland Revenue warns against divulging personal details
- Second jail term for major tax scam
- Welcome surprise for owners of forgotten money
- End-of-year tax date fast approaching
- Time running out for student loan amnesty
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: 27 Feb 2008
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