Industry Partnership: Why paying tax matters
Why paying tax matters
Inland Revenue collects taxes on behalf of the government.
Everyone who earns money in New Zealand must pay their share of tax. The government uses taxpayers' money to pay for services we all need - such as healthcare, eduction and roads to environmental protection and recreation.
Here's how the government spent our taxes in 2009-10
If people don't pay their fair share, everyone misses out.
- Essential government services could be underfunded.
- Honest taxpayers may have to pay more.
- There could be unfair competition within industries.
- A person who doesn't issue invoices may find other businesses refuse to trade with them and their customers may have no come back for shoddy work.
- A person who doesn't declare all their income may find it difficult to raise finance, sell their business for its true value, or get full accident compensation entitlements.
We work with people, their families, businesses and industries to inform them about their entitlements or the taxes they need to pay.
We will take a firm approach with those who deliberately flout the law in fairness to the majority of taxpayers who do the right thing in fully meeting their tax obligations.
If you have any queries about your tax please call us on the numbers listed under Contact us, see right hand navigation.
Date published: 05 Jul 2011
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