NZ's New Tax Working Group To Assist Government

by Mary Swire, Tax-News.com, Hong Kong

12 May 2009

New Zealand's Finance Minister Bill English and Revenue Minister Peter Dunne have welcomed the establishment of a Tax Working Group, which will assist the government in considering the key tax policy challenges facing New Zealand.

The Tax Working Group, co-ordinated by Victoria University's Centre for Accounting, Governance and Taxation Research, will bring together invited private sector and academic experts, as well as Treasury and Inland Revenue officials. It will also consider the medium-term direction of the tax system, including assessing policy options.

"A strategic review of the tax system is necessary - particularly in light of the challenges posed by the current economic and fiscal environment and our medium-term goal of a 30% top personal tax rate," Mr English commented.

Mr Dunne said there was an opportunity for the group to make a highly useful contribution, explaining:

"We look forward to considering the interesting ideas that will no doubt emerge from the Tax Working Group."

Between June and November, through a series of meetings and papers, the working group will provide informed tax policy discussion that can feed into advice to ministers and wider public debate. It will consider the government's medium-term fiscal position, the pros and cons of possible reform options and whether or not any of these should be dismissed as unworkable.

The aim is to identify issues that need to be considered when reviewing medium-term tax policy, rather than to make specific policy recommendations. Topics to be considered include the fiscal framework, and the structure of personal income tax, corporate tax, GST and tax integrity.

The Tax Working Group will be chaired by Victoria University Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the Faculty of Commerce and Administration, Professor Bob Buckle.

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