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IR administers the tax and social policy system. We are responsible for the system’s integrity and the Commissioner of Inland Revenue is charged with its care and management. This includes: 

  • collecting the highest net revenue over time 
  • advising the Government on tax policy and the social policies that we administer
  • administering social policy 
  • interpreting tax law 
  • making decisions about where our resources should be focused, and 
  • our performance.

Our strategy

In 2022, we completed a business transformation to make tax and social policy entitlements simpler and more certain.  

We are now focused on how to leverage the new capabilities to continue to improve the tax and social policy system over time. This includes bringing a long-term perspective to the choices that current and future Governments will face. This is outlined in our refreshed strategy on the opposite page. 

IR’s customer base is both growing and continually changing. Customers are on a journey with us throughout their lives—as students, employees, parents, business owners and retirees.  

We will stay attuned to the services they need through good times and in downturns.

How we monitor performance

IR uses a performance measurement framework (below) to help monitor progress on our strategy. To achieve long-term outcomes, there are key areas where we need to make a difference, from improving the voluntary compliance of customers to delivering more value through collaborating with others, to proactively managing risks and opportunities that will impact on the tax system.

In this section

Read about the progress we're making on the 4 outcomes of our strategy.

Our performance measurement framework
Services we'll deliver for customers The difference we'll make The outcomes we'll achieve
To ensure customers find it easy to meet their tax and social policy obligations and receive the payments they are entitled to, we:
  • help and inform them about their entitlements and obligations
  • process entitlements and obligations
  • undertake enforcement actions when necessary, and
  • provide policy advice.
  • Most customers do the right thing voluntarily and there are consequences for those who choose not to.
  • It's easy for customers to do what they need to do.
  • Customers are willing to comply and have the knowledge and understanding to do so.
  • The work we do with others delivers value for customers and government.
  • Proactively managing opportunities and risks ensures we meet current and future needs.
  • Revenue is available to fund government programmes and services.
  • People receive their entitlements.
  • Oranga increases when we work with other organisations.
  • The intergenerational oranga of the people of New Zealand is supported by our active stewardship.
Last updated: 19 Nov 2025
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