by Munro Benge | May 28, 2019 | Newsletters
It’s taken 17 years to follow in the footsteps of Bangladesh, the first country to ban single-use plastic bags, but we’re finally there! From 1 July, single-use plastic bags can’t be sold or given away in New Zealand. It’s all part of the Government’s programme to...
by Munro Benge | May 27, 2019 | Human Resources, Newsletters
Gen Z (born after 1995) are tech-savvy, entrepreneurial, out-of-the-box thinkers – people you want on your team. Here are four ways to attract and retain New Zealand’s next generation of workers. 1. Tinker with your tech Gen Z live and breathe technology –...
by Munro Benge | May 27, 2019 | Business Growth, Newsletters
Are your ideal customers adults? Then your business needs to be on Facebook because that’s where their eyeballs are. Time-poor or don’t have a clue where to start? Get some answers with these six most frequently asked questions. 85% of Kiwi adults are on Facebook and...
by Munro Benge | Mar 13, 2019 | Technical Updates
The High Court has dismissed a challenge to the Commissioner’s assessment in a multi-million dollar tax avoidance case involving Mr Eric Watson’s New Zealand company, Cullen Group Ltd (Cullen Group). In moving to the United Kingdom in 2002, Mr Watson restructured a...
by Munro Benge | Mar 11, 2019 | Human Resources, Newsletters
From 1 April 2019 The Student Loan Scheme annual repayment threshold increases from $19,448 to $19,760. Average ACC Work levies paid by employers and self-employed people will decrease from 72 cents to 67 cents per $100 of liable earnings. The Earners levies paid...
by Munro Benge | Mar 7, 2019 | Business Health, Newsletters
While sorting your end of year tax paperwork sounds about as fun as spilling coffee on your keyboard, once it is done, it’s done – and now’s the time. Fill your drawers: Can you stock up on stationery, postage and courier bags before 31 March? Claim now and...
by Munro Benge | Mar 7, 2019 | Newsletters, Technical Updates
Payday filing We have mentioned this in the past, but don’t forget payday filing for employers is compulsory from 1 April 2019. Please contact us if you need any help with complying with the new process and rules. Minimum wage glides closer to $20 More than 200,000...
by Munro Benge | Mar 6, 2019 | Newsletters, Technical Updates
In an address to the International Fiscal Association’s (IFA’s) conference on 1 March 2019, the Minister of Revenue, the Hon Stuart Nash, focussed on the Tax Working Group’s recommendations and the next steps, the Government’s tax policy work programme, and Inland...
by Munro Benge | Feb 22, 2019 | Technical Updates
The Tax Working Group’s report was released on the 21st February 2019. It made the following key recommendations with regards to the New Zealand tax system: Capital gains tax: Extend the existing coverage of taxing capital gains. Eight of the 11 members of the TWG...
by Munro Benge | Feb 20, 2019 | Newsletters
You could be selling the most innovative product on the market, using slick systems and the hottest marketing campaign in town, but if you don’t have good people – good luck! People are everything in business. That’s why it’s so important to know your employer...
by Munro Benge | Feb 19, 2019 | Human Resources, Technical Updates
Here’s what it means for you. #FACT New Zealand police respond to 270 domestic violence incidents every day and it’s estimated that’s only the tip of the iceberg – with 80% of incidents going unreported. #FACT Did you know domestic violence already costs New...
by Munro Benge | Feb 19, 2019 | Human Resources, Newsletters, Technical Updates
Hundreds of Kiwi business owners are enjoying the benefits of payday filing – are you? If not, you’ll need to be by 1 April when payday filing becomes compulsory. Now’s the time to work out how you’re going to integrate it into your payroll processes and save...
by Munro Benge | Feb 19, 2019 | Anti-Money Laundering, Human Resources
With New Zealand ranking as one of the most complex payroll environments in the world, it’s no wonder many Kiwi employers choose to offload payroll headaches to bookkeepers, accountants, or payroll intermediaries. This trend is picking up steam: with Inland Revenue’s...
by Munro Benge | Feb 19, 2019 | Human Resources, Newsletters
Soft skills are the personal qualities that make people easy to work with and they’re key for business success. Here are six important soft skills and the best open-ended interview questions you can ask to help find out whether a candidate is right for your business....
by Munro Benge | Feb 14, 2019 | Budget 2019, Newsletters, Technical Updates
On 13 February 2019, the Minister of Finance, the Hon Grant Robertson, announced that Budget 2019 will be delivered on Thursday, 30 May 2019. The Minister said that “this year’s Budget will be the first to use the Coalition Government’s new Wellbeing approach,...
by Munro Benge | Feb 12, 2019 | Newsletters, Technical Updates
The High Court has held that parents must be clear in agreeing on their childcare arrangements and accurately notify the Commissioner of any change in living circumstances that may affect the determination of the care cost percentage and other specified matters for...
by Munro Benge | Feb 5, 2019 | Newsletters, Technical Updates
The High Court has found that some donations made to the Trust Board of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Trust) by a missionary, their family and others, in connection with the missionary’s application to be a missionary overseas were not...
by Munro Benge | Jan 18, 2019 | Newsletters, Property, Technical Updates
On the 16 January 2019, the Finance and Expenditure Committee reported back on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2018-19, Modernising Tax Administration, and Remedial Matters) Bill (72-2). Introduced into Parliament on 28 June 2018, the Bill proposes modernising the...
by Munro Benge | Dec 6, 2018 | Newsletters
The Income Tax (Minimum Family Tax Credit) Order 2018 (LI 2018/239) comes into force on 1 April 2019 and increases the prescribed amount specified in s ME 1(3)(a) of the Income Tax Act 2007 from $26,156 to $26,572. The prescribed amount is used when calculating the...
by Munro Benge | Dec 6, 2018 | Newsletters
Parties and gifts are all part of the festive fun but they can cost a small fortune. Here’s a list of the rules around entertainment expenses so you know what’s deductible and non-deductible before you fork out for your staff and customers. To claim 100% of your...
by Munro Benge | Dec 5, 2018 | Business Health, Newsletters
While the Christmas/New Year period is traditionally a slow time of year for business, you still need to meet your expenses. Ensure your bases are covered before you clock off for the year. 1. Plan ahead Do a budget to figure out how much you are going to need to...
by Munro Benge | Dec 5, 2018 | Business Growth, Newsletters
Many businesses start to worry about their bank balance around now. The holidays looming recall unpleasant memories of last year. All the regular expenses (wages, rent, suppliers and so on) are still due, but the people who pay you are either away on holiday or slow...
by Munro Benge | Dec 4, 2018 | Newsletters
Blackmail, extortion and identity theft might sound like something straight out of a blockbuster movie but cyber crime is not only a reality, it’s on the rise and research shows the average Kiwi business isn’t prepared. Is New Zealand really under threat, we’re so far...
by Munro Benge | Dec 4, 2018 | Newsletters
With the recent increase in spam emails supposedly from the IRD, keep an eye out for the subject heading: “GST returns due in 5 days”. If you get one, delete it.
by Munro Benge | Dec 4, 2018 | Newsletters
Locking the doors is one thing but you need to take extra steps to ensure your workplace is safe and secure before you head away this Christmas.The last thing you want is for someone to access your work space and hurt themselves. Take time to check every square inch...
by Munro Benge | Oct 29, 2018 | Business Growth, Newsletters
Expanding your business can be exciting, but if you grow too fast – and without adequate planning – you could face major problems. Besides the uncertainty of how long the growth period will last, it’s common to lose focus of some of the factors that play a key role in...
by Munro Benge | Oct 29, 2018 | Business Growth
Steady cash flow is the fuel that powers your business, but when you’re busy doing a million things at once it can easily slip to the bottom of the priority pile. Here are some tips to keep the cash flowing while you’re growing: Invoice quickly – good debtor...
by Munro Benge | Oct 29, 2018 | Newsletters
Did you know the mileage rate we’ve been referring to for years is now the kilometre rate? If you’re a sole trader or in a partnership (and use your own vehicle for business), you can claim your running costs as an income tax deduction. Traditionally, if you own a...
by Munro Benge | Oct 26, 2018 | Newsletters
Do your Christmas housekeeping! Chase up unpaid invoices to encourage payment before Christmas to get cashflow off to a good start for the New Year. Make sure your voicemail message and website mention closing date info and emergency contact details. Who’s responding...
by Munro Benge | Oct 7, 2018 | Business Growth, Newsletters
Cecilia and James Robinson founded My Food Bag in March 2013 with Masterchef winner and dietician Nadia Lim, her husband Carlos Bagrie and former Telecom chief executive Theresa Gattung. With a concept based on delivering a week’s worth of recipes and the...
by Munro Benge | Sep 21, 2018 | Technical Updates
On 20 September 2018, the Tax Working Group (the Group) updated the public on its progress and thinking with the publication of its interim report, “Future of Tax”. In a press release, the Chair, Sir Michael Cullen, said that the Group had conducted a wide-ranging...
by Munro Benge | Sep 7, 2018 | Anti-Money Laundering
If you have recently tried to start a new investment or open a bank account, you would have been required to prove your identity, location of residence, and proof of your source of funds. These requirements are all part of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering...
by Munro Benge | Sep 6, 2018 | Newsletters
Planning a summer business trip with a personal holiday tacked on the end? Renting out the bach and unsure what expenses can be claimed? Whatever your situation, we want to make sure you’re getting the expense claim tax break you’re entitled to. Here’s the lowdown on...
by Munro Benge | Sep 6, 2018 | Trusts
Do you have a family trust? Thinking of forming one as a way to future-proof your assets for you and your children? Take note – the Trustee Act is getting a makeover. While there are still a few parliamentary hurdles to jump, now’s the time to get your head...
by Munro Benge | Sep 6, 2018 | Trusts
Up until now, a trustee’s job description has been clear as mud with many families getting into strife unaware of their trustee’s responsibilities. If the new bill comes into place, a trustee’s role will be clearly outlined, and include: Knowing the terms of the trust...
by Munro Benge | Sep 6, 2018 | Trusts
#1 Extending perpetuity laws At the moment, when you set up a family trust, it has a time limit of 80 years. Then you have to wrap it up and distribute the assets. The new legislation suggests extending it to 125 years, which may involve significant succession...
by Munro Benge | Sep 6, 2018 | Trusts
Whether you’re thinking of becoming a trustee for your own family trust or someone else’s, it’s important to know your obligations under the current law before accepting the role. 8 things to know before becoming a trustee It’s a legal responsibility with a lot of...
by Munro Benge | Sep 6, 2018 | Trusts
Family trusts are a popular way to protect and manage your assets, such as the family home, for you and your family, now and in the future. They can have a valuable role to play, but they’re not suitable for everyone. Here are the pros and cons of family trusts to...
by Munro Benge | Sep 6, 2018 | Trusts
Get your paperwork in order: Document your trust actions carefully (if you don’t already) and make sure they’re accurate. Revisit your succession planning: Talk to us to make sure your succession plans still make sense if this legislation goes through. Review your...
by Munro Benge | Jun 7, 2018 | Newsletters
Given the importance of keeping your PAYE and GST record-keeping and payments in order, it might be tempting to think that Fringe Benefit Tax, or FBT, is a relatively minor thing. But don’t be fooled. In 2017, Inland Revenue created a dedicated audit team to focus on...
by Munro Benge | Jun 7, 2018 | Newsletters
New Zealand’s is an export-led economy, driven by a handful of major industries like dairy and wine. But more and more smaller players are also conquering offshore markets with smart, innovative products and services in every sphere. If you’ve ever contemplated trying...
by Munro Benge | Jun 7, 2018 | Newsletters
If you receive the Families Package (formerly the Family Incomes Package), you may be affected by three changes coming on 1 July 2018. They include: a Winter Energy Payment to help older people and low income families heat their homes a Best Start tax credit for...
by Munro Benge | Jun 7, 2018 | Newsletters
If you’re applying for an ACC CoverPlus Extra policy, it’s worth noting that the policy no longer starts on the date of the application, but when you sign the offer letter. So if you have such a letter in your in-tray waiting to be signed, now’s the time to get onto...
by Munro Benge | Apr 12, 2018 | Newsletters
Want to win new customers? Ok great. But whatever you do, don’t ignore the ones you already have. Studies show that the longer your customers stay, the more they’ll spend with you*. Happy customers = loyal customers = boosted bottom line. *Depending on the type of...
by Munro Benge | Apr 12, 2018 | Newsletters
How raving fans can rock your business You may have heard the term ‘raving fans’. It’s a passionate subset, usually about 10-15% of your customer base, who are so in love with your business that they shout it out from the rooftops. They keep coming back, not because...
by Munro Benge | Apr 12, 2018 | Anti-Money Laundering, Newsletters
New legislation puts laundering in the spotlight While New Zealand is hardly the money laundering capital of the world, we still see our share of shady activity. Every year, around $1.35 billion of fraud- and drug-related money is laundered through legitimate New...
by Munro Benge | Apr 12, 2018 | Newsletters
The minimum wage in New Zealand has increased from $15.75 to $16.50 per hour. Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, Iain Lees-Galloway, says the $0.75 rise will benefit around 164,000 workers and their families, and will increase total wages by $129 million per...
by Munro Benge | Apr 12, 2018 | Newsletters
Regardless of your stance on global warming, there’s no denying that we’ve had some unusual weather patterns of late. This summer was one of the hottest and stickiest on record – hampering output at times, and making it difficult to operate efficiently. But an...
by Munro Benge | Mar 15, 2018 | Newsletters, Property
Revenue Minister Stuart Nash has confirmed the bright-line test on residential property sales will be extended from two years to five years. At present, income tax must be paid on any gains from residential property sold within two years of acquisition, with some...
by Munro Benge | Mar 15, 2018 | Newsletters
The end of the financial year can be either stressful or a seamless part of what you do. Ideally, your end-of-year accounts will confirm what you think your business has been doing for the past 12 months. Be a good Scout to avoid end-of-year migraine Being prepared is...
by Munro Benge | Feb 16, 2018 | Newsletters
An employee can take unpaid parental leave from the workplace when they are having a baby or taking on the permanent care of a child under six years old, providing the employee meets the eligibility criteria. If the employee is eligible for parental leave and takes...
by Munro Benge | Jan 31, 2018 | Newsletters
One of the first questions business owners ask when a new government enters power is what changes, if any, are coming in the area of tax. Revenue Minister Stuart Nash provided a good steer on that when he addressed Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. The...
by Munro Benge | Jan 31, 2018 | Anti-Money Laundering
Money laundering is big business in New Zealand. Every year $1.35 billion of fraud- and drug -related money is laundered through seemingly legitimate businesses. In response, the Government introduced specific Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of...
by Munro Benge | Jan 31, 2018 | GST, Newsletters
IRD into Stage Two of Business Transformation IRD’s been working hard to be easier to do business with. As you read this, its new tax system is kicking in, giving you new and simpler ways to manage your GST obligations through myIR. Enhancements include the...
by Munro Benge | Dec 12, 2017 | Newsletters
Season’s greetings! Thank you for all your support this year. Our office will be closed from midday 22 December 2017 and re-opening on the 8 January 2018 although some people will still be away on leave. If you have any urgent issues over that period, please call the...
by Munro Benge | Dec 12, 2017 | GST, Newsletters
Provisional tax and GST are due on 15 January. The timing of these payments isn’t ideal as many of you will be indulging in the delights a summer break offers. But it’s important that you don’t neglect your tax obligations – especially as Inland Revenue will charge...
by Munro Benge | Dec 12, 2017 | GST, Newsletters
Are you planning a Christmas event for your clients? Is gift-giving on your to-do list? Take a minute to refresh yourself on what is deductible as a business related expense. Presents Are you thinking of gifts for clients, business associates or team members? If gifts...
by Munro Benge | Nov 13, 2017 | Newsletters
If you have an excellent reputation as an employer, your productivity and profit should benefit. The thing is, though, a reputation like this comes from what you believe and show. It may require some creativity. Read our feature in this month’s newsletter to...
by Munro Benge | Nov 13, 2017 | Newsletters
Getting a job at Google is reportedly 10 times harder than getting a place at institutions like Harvard or Yale. The company employs 7000 people a year, from 3 million applicants. Google has staff friendly initiatives that attract top candidates. Your business may be...
by Munro Benge | Nov 13, 2017 | Newsletters
You may provide company vehicles to some employees. In some cases, the vehicle is a work tool – for example, a ute for a project manager. In other cases, it is part of a salary package. Whatever the reason, Inland Revenue has good news and bad news. The good news is...
by Munro Benge | Nov 13, 2017 | Newsletters
Fifty years ago, farmers and others sprayed toxic chemicals onto weeds in blissful ignorance of the need for personal protective equipment. How things have changed! Today, regulations govern the handling and use of all hazardous substances. And, like many other safety...
by Munro Benge | Nov 13, 2017 | Newsletters
Tax authorities around the world are increasingly working together to winkle out tax evaders from their overseas hiding places, and who can blame them? Our increasingly interconnected world makes it easier than ever for people to hide money overseas – and evade tax....
by Munro Benge | Nov 13, 2017 | Newsletters
A large percentage of audit targets used to be selected randomly. Time has certainly moved on and Inland Revenue (IR) now has much more sophisticated methods of targeting non compliers, through methods such as ‘data mining’. For example the Land Information New...
by Munro Benge | Oct 11, 2017 | Newsletters
New Zealand is a “standout nation” according to the latest Digital Evolution Index, released by Tufts University in Boston in July. The report, by the university’s The Fletcher School, identifies New Zealand as among the digital elites, having high levels of digital...
by Munro Benge | Oct 11, 2017 | Newsletters, Trusts
Parliamentary plastic surgery is in store for the Trustee Act, to make trust law easier to access and understand. On 1 August, Justice Minister Amy Adams introduced the Trusts Bill to Parliament. This will be the first significant change since the introduction of the...
by Munro Benge | Oct 11, 2017 | GST, Newsletters
Do you hate it when GST return time rolls around? If so, you’re in good company. For many business owners, the pain isn’t so much having to hand money over to IRD, but having to prepare and file a return. But that pain is easy to avoid. Here’s how: If we complete your...
by Munro Benge | Oct 11, 2017 | Newsletters
While it’s easy to think of business culture as a bit soft compared with, say, achieving sales, in fact it’s anything but. A 2014 study reported that public companies named in a “Best Places to Work” list in 2009 outperformed the S&P 500 by 115 percent in the...
by Munro Benge | Oct 11, 2017 | Newsletters
Revenue Minister Judith Collins recently said that correcting simple tax errors and sending that information to Inland Revenue was still largely manual and may be costing business. Here’s some good news. Inland Revenue proposes integrating PAYE into normal business...
by Munro Benge | Sep 11, 2017 | Newsletters
If you use Airbnb to provide short-term accommodation in your house in which you also live, the IRD’s “mixed-use asset (holiday home)” rules don’t apply and guests are not classed as boarders. Except when you list a whole house which is vacant for 62 days each year,...
by Munro Benge | Sep 11, 2017 | Newsletters
If you rent out your holiday home sometimes, you may have to pay tax on that income. The IRD says you have a “mixed-use” holiday home if, during the tax year, you use it for: Private use, and Income-earning use, and It’s unoccupied for 62 days or more. It is still...
by Munro Benge | Sep 11, 2017 | Newsletters
If you receive income, you must pay tax. So if you have rental income, you have to pay tax on it, right? Maybe, maybe not – if you get rent from boarders or homestays. Boarders and homestays When you get income from boarders or homestays, your tax position depends on...
by Munro Benge | Sep 11, 2017 | Newsletters
Sometimes boats and aircraft are used for private and commercial purposes. In such cases, the income from their use may be liable for tax. Boats and aircraft (valued at more than $50,000) become mixed-use assets if they are used privately sometimes, and commercially...
by Munro Benge | Sep 11, 2017 | Newsletters
A threshold for reportable tax debt is now in effect, giving creditors greater protection from businesses owing debts of more than $150,000. The IRD is now allowed to disclose to certain credit reporting agencies, information about companies with significant tax debt....
by Munro Benge | Aug 15, 2017 | Newsletters
If you want to succeed in business, understand that Cash is King. Your business can’t survive without cash. The following six takeaways are essential for business success: Protect your cash position, by knowing what it is. Build a cashflow statement and always keep it...
by Munro Benge | Aug 15, 2017 | Newsletters
The purpose of a business is to make money, and that means you have to know the difference between profit and cashflow. Net profit is what you have left after you deduct all your business expenses from all your revenue. You change net profit only by changing the...
by Munro Benge | Aug 15, 2017 | Newsletters
A tax bill passed in May made changes that affect cashflow. Companies get more choice with RWT From 2017-18, companies can choose to not deduct resident withholding tax on a fully imputed dividend paid to a corporate shareholder. A fully imputed dividend has a tax...
by Munro Benge | Aug 15, 2017 | GST, Newsletters
A key principle of the tax system is taxpayers should pay tax as income is earned. That doesn’t work well for businesses with seasonal or volatile incomes, and is why the Government announced, early this year, a new method for paying provisional tax. The Accounting...
by Munro Benge | Aug 15, 2017 | Newsletters
Taxpayers who earn income from various sources may get caught short if they don’t plan ahead. This could come about in various ways: Airbnb Overseas investment Shares in an overseas company Airbnb income If you rent rooms or homes through Airbnb, you may not realise...
by Munro Benge | Aug 15, 2017 | Newsletters
The way contractors pay tax changed on 1 April, giving greater choice, and making it easier to get tax right. The rules around schedular payments have changed to allow this, and are compulsory for all contractors hired by a recruiter — or other labour hire business —...
by Munro Benge | Aug 15, 2017 | Newsletters
Changed Research and development (R&D) tax credit rules, which came into effect at the start of the 2016 income year, can help business cashflow. The R&D Tax Credit regime allows a “cash out” of an organisation’s R&D tax losses. The cashed-out amount must...
by Munro Benge | Aug 21, 2019 | Business Growth, Newsletters
Small and medium-sized businesses are spending on average 120 hours a year on admin tasks, according to recent research into productivity at UK SMBs. If your people are spending 120 hours wading through tedious and unproductive admin, that’s bad for the business and...
by Munro Benge | Jul 29, 2019 | Business Growth, Business Health
In the online, connected world that we now live in, it’s important for your business to be digital. Digital technology has revolutionised the options you have available as a small business, with a wealth of cloud-based solutions and apps helping to automate the admin,...
by Munro Benge | Jul 27, 2019 | Technical Updates, Trusts
The Trusts Bill (290-3) that was introduced on 1st August 2017, has passed its third reading in Parliament. The Bill now awaits the Royal assent. The Trusts Bill will replace the Trustee Act 1956 and the Perpetuities Act 1964 to make trust law more accessible, clarify...
by Munro Benge | Jul 24, 2019 | Business Growth, Business Health
Starting your own business is a BIG leap of faith. Will you find any customers? Will you make enough income? These are questions that any founder will ask themselves. But with the right planning, preparation and support, you can set the best possible foundations for...
by Munro Benge | Jun 14, 2019 | Newsletters, Property, Technical Updates
Ceiling and underfloor insulation will be compulsory in all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Landlords who don’t comply with the regulations will be committing an unlawful act and may be liable for a penalty of up to $4,000. What do landlords need to do? 1. Check...
by Munro Benge | May 31, 2019 | Budget 2019, Newsletters, Technical Updates
With the focus firmly on wellbeing measures, Budget 2019 made no new tax announcements. The following tax measures were already revealed in the pre-Budget announcements: GST on telecommunications, and repeal of racing totaliser duty. GST on telecommunications The...
by Munro Benge | May 28, 2019 | Business Growth
Are you conducting research and development on home turf? You could be eligible for a tax credit of 15% on eligible R&D expenditure. The Government have introduced legislation bringing in a new R&D tax credit effective from the 2019/20 income tax year (1 April...
by Munro Benge | May 28, 2019 | Business Health
Whatever the size or shape of your business, the New Zealand Business Number (NZBN) will make doing business easier, faster and more professional. Here’s how: Search the NZBN Register and you’ll have details for all the businesses you deal with at your fingertips....
by Munro Benge | May 28, 2019 | Business Growth
Here’s what you need to think about before hitting the (overseas) ground running. What’s your value proposition? Having a short statement outlining what is unique about your product is not only a powerful selling tool, it helps you work out whether there’s even an...
