Friday, October 17, 2025
Running a business across the Tasman comes with plenty of opportunities – and a fair share of responsibilities.
If your Australian business operates in New Zealand, it’s essential to stay on top of your New Zealand tax obligations.
Inland Revenue (IR) has recently stepped up its approach to unpaid taxes, introducing new technology and stricter recovery practices that all business owners should be aware of.
Ignoring overdue taxes is no longer an option.
Inland Revenue now has the tools and policies in place to identify and act quickly on outstanding debts – often before taxpayers realise how serious things have become.
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
When rewarding staff, many Australian businesses operating in New Zealand use prepaid “open loop” cards — a flexible, cash-like benefit that employees love.
But recent changes from Inland Revenue (IR) mean the tax treatment of these cards has shifted, and understanding the difference could save your business from compliance headaches.
If your Australian business provides open loop cards (like Visa or Mastercard gift cards) to New Zealand-based employees, here’s what you need to know about how the Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) and PAYE rules now apply.
Monday, September 8, 2025
Inland Revenue’s latest decision clarifies when accommodation is a “commercial dwelling” for GST purposes.
Find out what this means for your business — and how to maximise GST input tax deductions.
Thinking about providing short or long-term accommodation? A recent Inland Revenue decision sheds light on how GST applies to accommodation providers — especially when a property is classified as a commercial dwelling.
This clarification could significantly impact your GST obligations and input tax claims. Learn what it means for your business and how to stay compliant.
Thursday, June 12, 2025
If your Australian business is involved in New Zealand film or screen production, there’s a new Inland Revenue determination that could affect how you pay and report per diem allowances.
Understanding this change now will help ensure your cross-border projects remain compliant and cost-efficient.
From 1 July 2025, specific Inland Revenue guidance will apply to per diem allowances paid to contractors and entertainers in New Zealand’s screen production sector – a timely reminder for Australian production companies, crew suppliers, and studios operating across the Tasman to review their pay structures and tax obligations.
Sunday, June 8, 2025
If your Australian-based business owns or manages forestry land in New Zealand, participation in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) can significantly affect your New Zealand tax obligations.
The ETS rewards or penalises forestry owners based on carbon emissions and sequestration, but it also creates income tax and GST implications that are often overlooked.
Inland Revenue’s Interpretation Statement IS 25/13 clarifies how income tax and GST apply to the acquisition, sale, and surrender of New Zealand Units (NZUs) – the carbon credits issued under the ETS.
Understanding these rules is essential for avoiding unexpected tax liabilities and ensuring your forestry activities remain compliant.
Monday, May 26, 2025
Running short-stay rentals like Airbnb or Bookabach in New Zealand can be a great way for Australian businesses to diversify income — but it can also create unexpected New Zealand tax obligations.
Inland Revenue has recently clarified how income tax rules apply when a close company (a company with five or fewer shareholders) provides short-stay accommodation.
If you’re an Australian resident or family business using a New Zealand company to hold or manage property, this new guidance could directly affect how your income is taxed, how expenses are claimed, and what benefits your shareholders may be deemed to receive
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
As New Zealand continues to invest in large-scale infrastructure, the government is revisiting how its tax rules affect overseas investors.
Inland Revenue has recently released a consultation paper seeking public feedback on thin capitalisation settings for infrastructure projects.
For Australian businesses with existing or planned operations in New Zealand – particularly those involved in energy, utilities, transport, or construction – this consultation could signal meaningful changes to how your projects are financed and taxed.
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
When a business in New Zealand changes ownership, it risks losing its ability to carry forward accumulated tax losses — unless it qualifies under the business continuity rules.
These rules were designed to encourage growth and innovation by allowing companies to retain valuable tax losses, even when ownership changes, provided the business itself continues in a similar form.
For Australian businesses with New Zealand operations, understanding how these rules apply is critical.
Missteps could mean the loss of valuable deductions, or worse — breaching NZ tax law.
Thursday, April 3, 2025
If your Australian business operates a platform or provides accommodation, delivery, or ride-sharing services in New Zealand, the latest GST rules from Inland Revenue are a must-read.
From 1 April 2024, major changes took effect that directly impact how GST is collected and reported for online marketplace operators.
For small and family-owned Australian businesses expanding across the Tasman, these changes can seem complex—but understanding them early can save you compliance headaches and unexpected tax costs later.
Monday, March 17, 2025
If your Australian-owned business provides accommodation in New Zealand through online platforms like Booking.com or Airbnb, there’s an important Inland Revenue update you should know about.
From 1 April 2025, new rules will apply to how GST is handled for motels and hostels that list on electronic marketplaces.
The new Inland Revenue Determination DET 25/01 sets specific criteria for when accommodation providers can opt out of the electronic marketplace GST rules.
For many small operators, this determination could simplify compliance and ensure GST is reported correctly across both your direct and online bookings.
Friday, March 14, 2025
When Sarah, an Australian builder, expanded her business into New Zealand, she bought a double-cab ute for her local project manager to use on-site.
It was used mainly for work — visiting jobs, hauling materials, and checking progress. But when the ute went home with him each night, Sarah was surprised to learn it triggered Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) in New Zealand.
This is a common trap for Australian small business owners operating across the Tasman. What looks like a standard work vehicle in Australia can have very different tax consequences under New Zealand rules.
Let’s break down when a ute is exempt from FBT and when it isn’t.
Thursday, March 6, 2025
If you’re an Australian investor purchasing a rental property in New Zealand, you may be wondering whether the interest on an overseas loan can be claimed as a deduction for New Zealand tax purposes.
The good news is that from 1 April 2025, the rules have changed to make this much clearer and, in many cases, the interest will once again be fully deductible.
At NZ Tax Accountants Pty Ltd, we assist Australian-based clients every day with understanding how their New Zealand investments are treated for tax purposes.
Here’s what these recent changes mean and some important things to watch out for.
Thursday, February 17, 2022
As we approach the end of New Zealand’s tax year (31 March for most) it’s a good idea to check off these tax planning tips. It will help us to get the best result for you as we prepare your New Zealand income tax returns.
Many businesses have been impacted by COVID and there are tax planning tips in here that may help. So consider these tax tips in the run-up to New Zealand’s year-end so that we can help you to get the best outcome.
Our experienced team is well versed in the things to watch out for when it comes to Australian companies carrying out business activity in New Zealand.
Thursday, January 20, 2022
Inland Revenue has released a document which approves foreign exchange rate sources which can be used in order to convert a foreign currency amount into New Zealand dollars for tax purposes.
The notice also approves the use of mid-month, end-of-month and rolling average currency conversion methods where appropriate. These methods can be used unless specifically excluded under New Zealand’s Income Tax Act 2007 or if the Commissioner states otherwise.
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
In the past, a tax audit has been a tax audit. However recent legislative changes now allow Inland Revenue to carry out “mini-type” tax audits which may be in the form of general widespread questions.
Inland Revenue (IRD) can take an interest in the taxation affairs of any New Zealand taxpayer at any time, even if you have never been targeted before. Whether it is an Income Tax, GST or Payroll Return, IRD can still initiate an enquiry.
This can result in time and additional costs for us to liaise with IRD and help you resolve any issues.
We have got you covered.
Wednesday, December 1, 2021
We often get questions from Australian employers on how to deal with the situation where an employee is looking to resettle in New Zealand or they are looking to employ someone who is based in New Zealand.
An Australian employer has an obligation to account for withholdings to Inland Revenue if they are carrying out business from within New Zealand and they have engaged the employee to assist them to carry out the business activity over there.
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