Budget 2025: Facebook, Google escape NZ tax reform

Budget 2025: Facebook, Google escape NZ tax reform
Good news for Facebook. (Image: Getty)
Pattrick Smellie
The Government has abandoned legislation to impose a 3% tax on the New Zealand revenues of multinational online search and social media platforms, and removed forecast revenue from the tax from future Budgets.The Digital Services Tax Bill was forecast to collect some $320 million over four years from the date of its initially intended implementation date of Jan 1, 2025, before settling down to a presumed $98m a year in additional tax revenue.Instead, the Government had decided to “discharge the Digital Services Tax Bill from the legislati...

More Economy

Willis damps down huge depreciation change talk
Economy

Willis damps down huge depreciation change talk

The Finance Minister scotched market talk of a 100% depreciation regime.

Pattrick Smellie 20 May 2025
Start-up founders get tax help; thin-cap regime review
Economy

Start-up founders get tax help; thin-cap regime review

Start-up shareholders will be able to defer tax until a 'liquidity event'.

Pattrick Smellie 19 May 2025
‘Modest’ business tax measure to boost growth: Willis
Economy

‘Modest’ business tax measure to boost growth: Willis

Global trade turmoil has made the Budget harder to write.

Pattrick Smellie 19 May 2025
Slightly higher inflation may raise eyebrows at RBNZ
Economy

Slightly higher inflation may raise eyebrows at RBNZ

Recent data shows inflation is ticking up slightly. 

Rebecca Howard 19 May 2025