Payroll News - 2005

Payroll News Issue 73 April 2005

• Your views on Payroll News
• Our new look website has gone live
• Do you file your employer monthly schedule electronically?
• Future enhancements to ir-File
• The 2005 income tax timetable
• Do you know you can get Payroll News electronically?
• Changes in use-of-money interest (UOMI) rates

Welcome to Payroll News

In this issue we tell you about the results of our Payroll News survey which we ran in August 2004, and about the change in use-of-money interest (UOMI) rates. We also promote ournew look website.

If you have an employer topic you'd like to see covered in this newsletter, please write to the Editor, Payroll News, PO Box 2198, Wellington or email us at payroll.news@ird.govt.nz and we'll aim to cover the topic in a future edition.

Please pass this newsletter on to the person who deals with the payroll in your business.

Your views on Payroll News

In August 2004, we conducted a survey on Payroll News. We undertook this survey to find out how we could improve our service to you through this newsletter. We can now tell you about the findings from this survey.

We were very pleased with the level and substance of your responses. Generally, most of you who received Payroll News read it, with only 7% of the respondents saying they seldom or never read the newsletter. Readers described the newsletter as informative, clear and to the point. It is seen as offering up-to-date information and reminders of key payroll dates. Overall, the content, presentation, layout and tone of Payroll News are highly rated by a number of you, with the highest ratings amongst those with more than 10 employees at 86%, compared to 78% amongst thos/e with less than five employees.

Comments and feedback

Some of the areas where we will look to make improvements are:

• Considering ways to increase the relevance and usefulness of contents in assisting employers to meet their tax responsibilities, and increase the relevance of topics to employers with 10 or fewer employees.
• Considering layout and presentation changes to ensure that key information is highlighted and to maintain its brevity so that it is not seen to impact on workload.
• Incorporating some of the common issues and questions raised during the survey in future Payroll News articles.
• Actively promoting electronic delivery of Payroll News for those who would prefer this method.

We are interested in your comments and will keep them in mind for planning future topics of Payroll News. Thanks again to everyone who took part in this survey. We appreciate your feedback and the time you put into answering our questions. We hope you will notice some positive improvements in future editions of this newsletter.

Our new look website has gone live

As mentioned in our December 2004 issue, we have redesigned our website to make it easier to use. You were able to preview this site in December 2004 and January 2005. The new website went live on 21 February 2005.

The new website highlights key dates coming up and gives you access to the tax year calendars. We also provide detailed information about tax, social policy, newsletters, public rulings and a variety of interactive services. Other features on the homepage include quick and easy navigation from the toolbar on the right-hand side of the homepage to access:

• online registration as an employer, and a range of other tax types
• calculators for PAYE tax deductions on wages and salaries
• reminder of tax due dates
• relevant publications, forms and guides.

You can also file your employer monthly schedule (EMS) electronically using ir-File, look at account information and send and receive mail online.

All online services (including ir-File) have been moved to one convenient window under the heading "Services requiring login" for easy and quick access. You'll need to register for a user ID and password to use these services.

Note
We regularly add new services to our site. You can register to get updates about these by clicking on 'What's new' on the homepage. You can send us your views about our website by clicking on the link "Send us feedback" on the homepage.

Do you file your employer monthly schedule electronically?

Changes to registration process

In October last year, we made some changes to the ir-File registration process. This allows you to apply for other online services on our website when you register for ir-File. This also means you are able to use the same userID and password for all our online services.

If you already have an online services account, you can apply for additional services at a later time with your current userID and password.

If you have registered for ir-File prior to October and you require additional online services now, you can cancel your current ir-File registration online and re-register for a new online services account. You may then apply for all the services you require. This avoids the need for multiple userIDs and passwords to access our different online services.

Future enhancements to ir-File

We are progressively making improvements to this site. To provide you with better online experience, we're aiming to make the ir-File service consistent with our other online services' look. We are also taking this opportunity to make some enhancements based on improvements suggested by a number of you. We'd like to assure you however, that these enhancements will not change the business processes or requirements for filing your employer monthly schedule electronically. We will update you in future editions of Payroll News when these enhancements become available.

The 2005 income tax timetable

The new tax year has arrived. During this period we will be sending out donations, childcare and housekeeper rebate claim forms, as well as personal tax summaries, summary of earnings, forms and tax returns. Following is a timeline of when we'll be sending them out.

April

Rebate claim forms
We will automatically send a rebate claim form to anyone who claimed for donations, childcare or housekeeper rebates last year. Receipts must be attached when making a claim. If you or your employees haven't received a form by the end of April and want to make a claim, go to our website or phone INFOexpress on 0800 257 773. Remember to have your IRD number handy.

Individual tax return (IR 3)
If your employees also received income from self-employment, a rental property, withholding payments or a partnership, they will need to fill out an individual tax return. We will send these out during April and May.

May

Summary of earnings
If your employees need to file a tax return and also received salary, wages or withholding payments they will need a summary of earnings. These will be sent out during May.

June

Personal tax summaries
If an employee's only income is from salary and wages and we think they need an end-of-year tax square-up, we will automatically send them a personal tax summary during June.

July

Personal tax summary request
If your employees don't automatically receive a personal tax summary in June but think they may need an end-of-year tax square-up, they can go to our website or contact us for more information.

Do you know you can get Payroll News electronically?

Subscribe to get Payroll News electronically and we will send it to you automatically every month. To subscribe, please click on "Newsletters and bulletins" at the top of this page, then scroll down to Payroll News.

If you have an email address but not internet access, email us on payroll.news@ird.govt.nz and we will subscribe for you.

We'll still continue to send you printed version of Payroll News.

Changes in use-of-money interest (UOMI) rates

Interest rates on unpaid and overpaid tax increased from 8 March 2005 to align them with market interest rates. The interest rate on unpaid tax increased from 11.93% to 13.08% and the rate on overpaid tax increased from 4.83% to 5.71%. The new rates apply to all taxes and duties.

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Date published: 04 Apr 2005

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