Five ways the Covid-19 crisis could change our tax system

From the reemerging debate around capital gains tax to the increasing reach of tax authorities, Terry Baucher, writing for interest.co.nz, looks at a number of implications the coronavirus pandemic could have on the tax system.  “There are decades when nothing happens and there are weeks when decades happen,” Lenin is said to have remarked, possibly … Read more

The Bulletin: Bizarre lawmaking billed as foreign donations ban

Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Government rams through foreign donations law under urgency, substance of cannabis referendum laws announced, and Samoan boy allegedly denied measles vaccine in NZ. Justice minister Andrew Little has announced that the government is banning foreign donations to political parties. Or rather, that’s what the press release was titled, but … Read more

If NZ believed in fairness it’d join other countries in introducing a Google tax now

The government should go ahead and introduce a digital services tax to show the likes of Facebook and Google that their tax planning practices are unacceptable, writes Terry Baucher. Around the world tax authorities and the voting public are coming to the conclusion that current international taxation rules give digital companies an unfair advantage over traditional businesses. A … Read more

The Bulletin: Digital services tax takes shape

Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. Eid Mubarak to all. In today’s edition: Digital services tax takes shape, Corrections makes unexpected money out of prison canteens, and infant formula industry takes hit on China moves.  We’re getting a much better idea of what the digital services tax is going to look like, after the release … Read more