It seems that no sooner has Christmas passed than a new financial year is upon us. For us, that means the start of another busy compliance season – and fortunately we are very well organised and prepared for this. For most of our clients, this means finalising the year – and organising your records to bring to us. Here is the year-end process.
Caught out: Associated Persons Rules
The new associated persons rules for land transactions have caused some angst since coming into effect in August 2009. Associated persons rules were initially applied to land transactions in 1973 in response to a perception that developers were treating their activities as investments rather than taxable activities. The 1973 regime survived until August 2009 – and under those rules with a smart accountant it was still generally possible for developers to hold investment properties in a separate entity without tax on the capital gains on their investment properties.
Tax Working Group – Residential Rental Property
Last week’s report from the Tax Working Group makes some comments that are sure to be contentious. The Tax Working Group was established back in May to assist the Government in considering the key tax policy challenges facing New Zealand. Their latest report targets the $200 billion rental property industry, stating that it not only pays no tax, but is actually getting refunds when it might be contributing tax of more than $500 million a year. [Read more…]
Associated Persons Rules for Land
Land dealers, developers and builders who wish to hold investment properties as well as the properties they are dealing, developing or building are in for a much tougher regime from tomorrow. The new Associated Persons rules applying to land transactions are likely to be enacted by parliament tomorrow, which will be the first major revamp in the 36 years since they were first introduced.